THE IDITAROD PIONEER
Published Every Saturday Morning at Idltarod, Alaska
Vol. 7 CHARLES A. DERRY, Editor No. :l(i
ARBUCKLE & DERRY, Publishers
Subscription Rates
One Year $10.00 ! One Month $1.00
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WHY KNOCK?
Nothing is more exasperating nor more offensive to the civic
pride of a community than that false and misleading statements
should he published "with regard to it. One can forgive honest
criticism based upon actual observation, and can even tolerate
a plain recital of actual facts that reflect injuriously on one’s home
city or district. But when a visitor actually misrepresents condo
p,.'ns ;,s !u- sees them in on!, r to give his own home town a
it would seem that there are no mitigating circumstances
whatever, i airbauks people are known all over the territory as
■•boosters" of th, r city and district, and whenever they get an
opportunity to say a word for the prosperity, past, present and
prospective, of their city in the public prints they take advantage
of it. This is commendable; but it should teach them at least a
spirit of ioleration of oilier localities supposedly less favored than
their own A recent issue of the Fairbanks News-Miner contained
the following:
"Returning to Fairbanks after an absence of some months,
bother C. Hess arrived on the steamer Alaska this morning.
During his absence from luirbunks he hies \isited lilitaroil,
Marshall City. Ruby and other mining camps, and none of
them look better to him than does 1-airbanks.
" lditarod looks like a deserted village at the present time,
he says, only about one in every live buildings being occupied.
There is little or no mining in operation there now except the
dredges, and little employment for men. 1 he A uknn Gold
Company has one dredge, and Riley has one in operation and
exsects to have another working soon. Outside ot these,
thin- is practically nothing fining. One or two small outfits
are taking out some money, hut n does not amount to a
great deal
"Ml- Hess dill not have an opportunity to visit the Tolstoi
district, but lie was informed by reliable mining men that it
was a greatly overestimated camp. The only thing found
there is one good prospect. I he men who rushed then- fitsi
and staked claims have done practically no development work,
uli of them trying to sell the ground before any real strike is
made."
The Fairbanks new-paper Hoes 11m quote .nr. ness teruumi.
but ii is fair to pre-lime that it gives the gist of his remarks.
A- to Iiiitaiml looking like a deserted village, it is probable that
to a man coming from such a metropolitan burg as hairbanks it
doe- appear ratl'.er quiet, but to -ay that only one building in
live i- occupied is putting ii rather strongly. A- to his remarks
about "lit 11t nr no milling" being in operation, except by the |
dredges, this. loo. is probably a comparative statement. Being
used! a- Fairbanks people probably are. to seeing large placer
operations, small properties such a- are operated in this district,
employing from forty to one hundred men, appear not worth men
i,oiling. By the way. we wonder just how many mines in the
Fairbanks ui.-tricl at the present time are employing as many
nun as does l)a\e Strsndberg, on tin Up-Grade, or A1 Walsh, at
the Summit, or Frank Manley and Jonas Brewis, on Willow creek,
or Riley it McMillan and Bates A Co., on Otter creek and tribu
taries. to say nothing of dozens of smaller plants.' Probably it
will be news to thi Fairbanks man to know that in the plants
mentioned alone from -oil to 3(10 men are employed when condi
tions permit of empUying full crews. Mr. Hess is quoted a- sav
ing that “one or two .-mall outfits are taking out some money,
but it does not amount to a great deal.' We imagine that some
of the loads of bullion and dust brought in by the ".-mall outfits"
mentioned would seem to amount to a "great deal, even to a
banker. .
With reference to the Tolstoi, al-o. it would seem that Mr.
Hess went a trifle out of his way to deliver a vicious knock. On
the authority of a “reliable mining man lie says it is greatly over
(Miniated, and that “the only thing found there is one good pros
pact.” The fact that during the past few days owners of two
different claim.- on Boob creek have been in the r, y for the put
pose of purchasing machinery to work their properties would in
dicate that at least there was something more than “one good
,,,-ospect." The fact of the matter is that there are innumerable
■ good prospects” in the Tolstoi district, and at least three or four
t bums upon which excellent pay has been found. 11.e statements
sent out from Iditarod with reference to the Tolstoi in all prob
ability will be found to be very conservative, and that Iditarod
people, at least, while believing intensely in the possibilities of the
n, w district, are not guilty of "overestimating it.
By the way. old-timers say that there is now more pay in sight
in thi. Tolstoi district than there was in the whole I arbanks dis
trict at the time the stampede to that point started.
“The reports that reached F'arbank.- to the effect that Mr. Hess
was going to put a dredge in the Kuskokwim country is without
foundation," concludes the News-Miner’s story. While Mr. Hess
was in Iditarod The Pioneer published a rumor to the effect that
Mr. He.-s was contemplating putting a dredge upon his Marvel
creek property, of which he had but recently secured control of
extensive areas. The Marvel creek ground is admittedly low
grade, and the rumor was a reasonable one. It was not supposed
that Mr. Hess had bought the property for farming purposes, and
miners explain that dredging furnishes the only profitable means
of working it.
It is somewhat of a mystery why a man who has extensive
interests in Alaska should find it necessary to issue damaging
statements with reference to any di-trict or town within its borDrs,
even were the statements justified by the facts; and more surpris
ing -till that a Fairbanks newspaper should lie found willing to
publish such statements
Now. just a word as to actual conditions in me imianiu ms
irict. for the information of Fairbanks people anil newspaper? in
particular. The Iditarod is not booming, and its citizens are not
putting forth its claim? a.- the "best mining camp on earth." They
can point to the fact, however, that production in the Iditarod
district hist year amounted to >2 210,01)0, and in 1011 to ?2.'JtiO.
000j the production of the Fairbanks district for 1011 \\a?
52.500,000, the figures fur 1915 not being at hand. The Iditarod
figures are for the Iditarod district alone; those fur Fairbanks
probably include the product of adjoining districts, such as the
Hot Springs and other regions which have a comparatively large
output. In actual output, what is known as the Iditarod district
probably is the second largest producer of placer gold in the terri
lory, and in amount of gold produced within a given area, prob
ably leads all others. It is not too much to say that Iditarod is.
as it has been for the past few years, in the estimation of miners,
laborers and prospectors, one of the most inviting fields in the
North, and the maintenance of the wage scale, which is a good
criterion, will bear out this statement.
There is not a region in the North which offers so many in
ducements to the prospector as does the country immediately ad
jacent to Iditarod; and the numerous creeks upon which pros
pects have been found in late years are but indications of future
activities which shall go to increase the output of the Iditarod dis
trict in vears to come.
If the truth be adhered to, Iditarod can well afford to stand
comparison with Fairbanks or any other camp in Alaska, When
there is so much to induce an optimistic outlook, why should it
be necessary to “knock” (
LOGIC AT A DISCOUNT
An authority on railroad and transportation matters. Samuel
O. Dunn, says in concluding an article on “Railways, Train Em
ployes and the Public,” in the North American Review:
“The logic of the situation and the interests and rights of
the employes, the railways and the public demand legislation
providing for compulsory arbitration of labor disputes, in
cluding the one pending, that may lead to interruptions of
railway service, and delegating the duty of arbitration to the
body which regulates the rates of railways and other phases
of their business—the interstate commerce commission.”
If logic is to govern in these matters of railway problems, the
truth of the above is apparent. The interstate commerce com
mission, having at its finger tips all information relative to oper
ating expenses, capital invested, rates charged, taxes imposed, de
preciation, and the thousand and one items that go to make up
the statistics which it compiles, is in better position than any
other body or individual could well be to say what rate of wages
the railroads could reasonably pay; and furthermore, if the de
mantis of (he employes were considered just, they could allow an
increase of rates commensurate with the increased cost of labor.
But evidently in the pending struggle between the railroad
employes' organizations and the transportation companies the
unions have taken a leaf out of the corporations’ book, and logic
seems to have little to do with the matter. Apparently it resolves
iudf into a cold-blooded proposition of whether the unions have
the strength to compel the railroads to grant their demands. The
unions do not appear to be interested in what the railroads are able
to pay, but in what they are able to force them to pay. The matter
of ability to meet their demands is left for the railroads to grapple
with.
In this position they but follow the tactics employed by trans
portation companies everywhere in their dealings with the public,
in charging ail they can reasonably expect to collect for the trans
portation of freight and passengers. Recently Alaskans have had
an example of this in the action of the steamship companies in
arbitrarily raising freight and passenger rates to and from the
| North. Prior to the going into effect of the new rates the com
panies made no offer of arbitration of their new tariffs- they set
a date for their going into effect, and there was no appeal from
their decision. As a result the people of Alaska have been com
polled to pay what are considered abnormally high rates. This
also was the method adopted by the railroads prior to the adop
tion of the act regulating railroad rates. It is now contended
that because the government regulates the rates it should also
regulate the wages.
The calling of a strike which would result in tieing up the
railroad traffic of the entire country would be one of the most
fearful disasters which has ever overtaken this country. The ef
forts of the President to avert it are to be commended. But the
I uhlif should not lose sight of the fact that the railroads them
selves can avert the catastrophe just as well as can the railroad
employes. In all probability if the railroads can make the show
ing which they claim they can, to the effect that the new schedule
would be ruinous to their business, congress would allow them to
put the added charge on the backs of the people through increased
rates. It is an incident in the struggle between capital and labor,
and for once labor has capital at a disadvantage. There is no
sentiment in this; it is purely a business transaction. No sym
pathy should be wasted on either side. If the railroad employes
are able to compel the railroads to grant their demands they are
hut following the example set by the railroads. Were the bitter
in position to do so. they would by similar concerted acton reduce
the compensation of the employes.
[f the matter is allowed to develop into a shut-down of the
railroads it will but hasten the day when the people will demand
that transportation facilities, upon which the very life of the
nation is dependent, shall be administered entirely by the gov
ernment.
Doubts concerning thp fate of the British battleship Warspite,
which mav have been caused bv the German assertion that she
was sunk' in the Jutland battle, were dwelled recently when
neutral newspaper correspondents visited the ports where the
squadron of Sir David Beattie were viewed. \\ hatever damages
it suffered in the battle have been repaired, it is said, and no
>(.ars are visible. “She was able to return to port at a speed of
twenty-one knots.” a naval officer is quoted as saving, "and was
in dock, undergoing: repairs. tw<^hours after her arrival.
The news that Delegate James Wickersham is on his way
North to look after his political fences show- that he regards the
candidacy of Senator Sulzer more seriously than that of other
candidates who have opposed him. Some time ago it was an
nounced that Mr. Wickersham would remain in Washington until
the adjournment of congress. Ills change of plans has no doubt
been brought about by the unexpected strength deve.oped by
Mr Sulzer. who evidently i- rallying around Mm the supporters
of'the national alministr'ation. heretofore largely with Mr. Wick
ersham.
—
The White Star lino, owners of the wrecked steamship Titanic,
which collided with an iceberg something more than four years
ago in the Atlantic ocean, causing great loss of life, has completed
•' settlement of all claims against the company. lbe claims
approximated the sum of S19.0tn.000. Some of the claims were
for freight lost and others for life indemnities.
The bill providing that homestead entries may be made m
\1 ask a by persons who have already exercised their homestead
rights in "other states or t'-rritories has been approved by Prest
di-i.t \\ 11 , .n. and is now law.
-
LINCOLN AND MEXICO
(Nome Industrial Workersl
"For a few years past the condition of Mexico has been so
unsettled as to raise the question on both sides of the Atlantic
whether the time has not come when some foreign power ought,
in the general interest of society, to intervene to establish a pro
tectorate or some other form of government in that country and
guarantee its continuance there.
"You will not fail to assure the government of Mexico that the
President neither has. not can ever have, any sympathy \\Lh such
designs, in whatever quarter they may uri^e, or whatever character
they may take on. ,
"The President never for a moment doubts that the republican
system is to pass safely through all ordeals and prove a permanent
success in our own country, and so to be recommended to adop
tion bv all other nations.
-But he thinks also that the system everywhere has to make
its way painfully through difficulties and embarrassments which
result from the action of antagonistic elements which are a legacy
of former times ami very different institutions.
“The President is hopeful of the ultimate triumph of this sys
tem over all obstacles, as well in regard to Mexico as in regard
to every other American state; but he fee's that those states are
justly entitled to greater forbearance and more generous sym
pathies from the government and people of the United States
than they are likely to receive from any other quarter.
"1 find the archives here full of complaints against the Mexican
government for violations of contracts and spoliation and cruelties
practiced against American citizens. It is not the intention of the
President to send forward such claims at the present moment, lie
willingly defers the performance of a duty which at any time
would seem ungracious until the administration in Mexico shall
have had time to cement its authority.
Who wrote that ?
That was written in 1862, when American capitalists who
sought to loot or hold loot in Mexico demanded intervention of
Abraham Lincoln.
Ilis noble attitude toward the rest of the Americas contrasts
not unfavorably with the blatant imperialism of the modern in
terventionists, who abuse his name on the platform by claiming
to be his followers. W as he a mollycoddle ?
-A
WRONGDOERS AND THE NEWSPAPERS
(Douglas Island Newsl
There is not a newspaper man in the business who has not
been asked thousands of times to suppress some item of news “for
the sake of the man’s family.” It happens here in Douglas every
week, and will happen as long as there are newspapers published
and so long as thoughtless persons ever and anon “get a leg over
the trace.” The following from a Florida exchange fits the case
very aptly:
“Occasionally a man who has been hauled into police court
asks that his name be withheld ‘on account of his mother. And
this paper, being long-suffering, generally shows a respect for the
boy’s mother that the boy himself does not show, and grants the
request.
“It takes a lot of nerve for a man or a boy to ask a newspaper
to wthhold his name in connection with a police court story, be
expects the paper to show a respect that he lacks.
“Staying out of police court is optional with most persons.
But until the end of time, white-livered individuals who get in
will crawl to the newspaper offices and ask others to respect moth
ers whom they, by their presence in police court, show that they
do not respect.
“It also happens in newspaper offices that friends of men who
deserve no mercy ask newspaper men to suppress facts or omit
comment ‘out of respect to the man’s family.’ The wrongdoers
furnish the family and the newspapers furnish the respect.”
' -<
The Fairbanks News-Miner announced on July 29 the inaugu
ration of a “special daily report” from Berlin to augment its war
dispatches. “This arrangement is made possible,” it states,
“through the courtesy of the New York Staats-Zeitung, the semi
official newspaper of the German government.” Perhaps the Fair
banks newspaper said more than was expected of it. At any rate,
the dispatches so far appearing have a most optimistic tone from
the Teutonic viewpoint. Adhering to the policy of the German
American press, nothing but German successes and allied failures
are reported.
As we figure them out, the platforms of both parties just dare
the women to gel that vote.—Philadelphia Inquirer.
HISTORIC NEWSPAPER
A copy of the Ulster County Gazette,
published at Kingston, Ulster county, New
York, and dated Saturday, January 4, 1800,
was brought to The Pioneer office lust Sat
urday by Mr. Twitched, the owner of the
reindeer herd which is now pasturing in this
vicinity.
The quaint old newspaper, deeply bor
dered in black, contains the news of the
interment of George Washington, which
took place at Mount Vernon on Wednesday,
December 17, 1799. His death occurred on
December 14. There are numerous refer
ences to the death of the “Father of His
Country,” besides an original poem by u
young lady on the event. The passage by
congress of resolutions of respect is also
recorded.
The foreign news contained in the pub
lication is a reminder of present conditions
in Europe. Then, as now, all Europe was
m the throes of war, and the dispatches,
some of them months old, being brought
by sailing packet. An account of the bathe
of Zurich is given, and the evacuation of
Holland by the Russians is detailed.
Naval disasters and victories were re
corded, among the former being that of the
famous Lutine, with the loss of all members
of the crew hut two. The French Army of
the Rhine about the 8th of October defeated
the Austrians, with the loss of 8.000 killed
and wounded. Their loss was 1,000.
Not the least interesting part of this old
newspaper is the advertising section. “Writ
ing. wrapping and bonnet paper” is for sale
at the printing office, and John Schoon
maker of Rochester advertises for sale a
“stout, healthy, active negro wench." One
merchant named Luther Andres lapses into
poetry to call attention to his goods, and
one of his verses is as follows:
T would not live to rouse your passions,
For credit here is out of fashion.
My friends and buyers one and all.
It will pay you well to give a call;
You always may find me by my sign,
A few rods from the house divine,”
Mr Andres says that “wheat rye, buck
wheat. oats, corn, butter, IIax, ashes and
raw hides will be received in payment at
the Esopus prices," but that “cash will not
be refused.”
A number of years ago many thousands;
■ if copies of this old newspaper were re
printed, the typography being followed in
the minutest detail, and even a special panel
being used in imitation of that of the origi
nal, yellowed with aae. Mr. Twitchell -
copy may lie one of these reprinted copip
but if so it reflects great credit on the skill
of the printers, as it is to all appear; nee
one hundred and sixteen years old, as it
purports to be.
“AS REPRESENTED”
(Chicago Hen M i
The Deutschland will soon leave for Ger
many, carrying all the cargo she can con
tain. She will also carry complete and
tangible proof that American neutrality
exactly a.- America has represt nted it from
the beginning.
Confronted with the charge that our im
mense traffic in munitions with (he allies is
essentially unneutral. America has always
replied that our markets are ooen to the
world; that Germany or any other nation
is free to come and buy what ,-iu chouse.-;
and that if. for reasons over which America
has no control, any nation lacks the trails
portation facilities required to take the
goods home, that is the misfortune of the
nation and not the fault of America.
Well, Germany has managed to find a
way to carry a few samples of American
commodities home. And the enmmoditie?
are quite at her service. She ha? no more
.iiffieully in getting them than Great Brit
ain or France or any of the allies. No
American is worrying because the cargo she
desires is going to Germany instead of
somewhere else. If the Deutschland hap
pened to be as big as the Vateriand and
there were a whole fleet of them the situa
tion would do the same.
Germany will not get the maximum bene
fit from the Deutschland's voyage unless
she draws from it the legitimate deduction
that American neutrality has been, is, and
will continue to be, entirely genuine.
—«—
THE QUALiTY OF COURAGE
(Council Bluffs Nonpareil'
The quality of courage is largely an in
herited trait. Some people are as natur
ally timorous as others are naturally brave.
These varying qualities exist among ani
mals as they do among men. A bulldog of
fighting strain often wi 1 whip a mastiff
double his weight because he has that tena
cious courage peculiar to his type of the
species.
But there is wider diversity in qualities
of courage among men than among ani
mal?. With men much depends upon the
angle from which they see things. A vet
eran who served through the campaign
around Vicksburg with Grant said the
bravest man he ever knew was a poor fel
low who occupied a position one day where
the bullets were flying thick and fast. His
knees knocked together and his teeth actu
ally chattered because of hi? excessive
fright. But he was sustained by a most
magnificent sense of duty. He was loyal to
his country and the flag. Overwhelmed
with physical fear, his reason sustained him.
He would not seek safety when such seek
ing meant disobedience of orders or deser
tion of comrades. That was a case where
moral courage triumphed over physical fear.
A
BALLAINE MAKES ADDRESS
TO SEATTLE LABOR COUNCIL
The Seattle Union Record of June 3 con
tains an article telling of an address made
by John E. Ballaine, the Reward promoter,
before the Central Labor Council of that
city in which he does not fail to “blow his
own horn.” The article is as follows:
“Calling attention to the fact that it was
before the Central Labor Council some five
years ago that he had started his fight for
a government-owned railway in Alaska, and
that the council was the first organized body
to take favorable action in the matter, to
be followed up by other labor bodies, and
then later by commercial bodies, culminat
ing in the decision of the government to
build the Alaska railway, John E. Ballaine
on Wednesday evening last told the dele
gates to the Central Labor Council some of
the difficulties which had been overcome in
bringing about the beginning of the opening
of Alaska for the people of the United
States.
“Ballaine told of his experiences as a
'railroad promoter and builder, and gave
the council information concerning the min
eral and agricultural wealth of Alaska to
be developed by railroad construction. He
declared that if the Guggenheim-Morgan
Alaska Syndicate did not succeed in stifling
the government construction project, against
which, he said, it had worked for years, the
IVorthern territory would furnish homes for
^hundreds of thousands of settlers from the
States. The territory, he declared, would
easily support a population of 20,000,000.
“Ballaine went deeply into the history of
the Alaska government railway project and
Meclared, among other things, that it had
been made necessary by the alleged fact that
the Morgan Guggenheim combination had
'publicly declared in 1010 that there would
be no more railroad building in Alaska until
the government issued patents to coal claims
tn which the syndicate was interested, the
‘intention and desire of the syndicate being,
Ballaine charged, to exploit the mineral re
sources of Alaska for its exclusive profit.
“Ballaine gave President Wilson credit
and unstinted praise for making the Alaska
railroad possible, and charged that W. H.
Taft, Wilson's predecessor, had, on the eon
trary. done all in his power to block the
project. Recent delays in the construction
i f the government road, due to failure of
appropriations, and even to labor troubles.
'Ballaine ascribed to the machinations of
the Alaska Syndicate. Ballaine was roundly
applauded and was given a vote of thank.-;.’’
-- <e>
HER LAST FAREWELL
NEW YORK, Aug. 5. Sarah Bernhardt
is to come to America again, as a recent
wire to her American representative. \\.
1. (simmer, proves. It was as follows:
ng from Liverpool end of Sepfom
afier an engagement, in London, where
I will present a very novel piece in English
and ITepch.”
After a record of fifty years on the stage
-he submitted to an operation whereby she
lost a leg, and shortly after . ; r !, at the age
of 71, she appeared for four months in
England, returning to France to give six
performances in the trenches fi r the French
T liers.
And now, at 72. she plans to present a
play in English in London, and ^ubseijuently
make her ninth tour of America.
*
SUPERIOR ASSUMPTION
“IL.v is yuiir boy Josh getting along in
his -:udies?”
“I can’t tell.” rc{ lied Farmer Corr.tascel.
“lie knows jes’ enough more’n I do t" make
me feel embarrassed if I try to ask him
any question-." Washington Star.
❖
Job Printing at The Pioneer office.
13rofe«3iona 1
Michigan, 1881 Alaska, 1910
Kentucky, 1891
George Woodruff Albrec+it
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney or Iditarod
E. M. STANTON
Attorney at Law
Office: Corner Willow and Second Sts.
Iditarod Pioneer Building
CHAS. E. TAYLOR
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
DR. MOORE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DP H. E. AURIIMGER
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Flat C.ty Hospital, Flat City
Consultation Hours in Forenoons ar.d by
Appoi utment
DR. H, 3EHLA
DENTIST
FLAT CITY
FINE WATCH REPAIRING
NUGGET JEWELRY TO ORDER
J. L, SALE, Flat City
Second St. { [j ITI? O fV'S gi. ^ H C^C»^» Plionol5
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
~MERCHANTS’ CAFE
... GOOD MEALS 1
ragasgaM SHORT ORDERS
FIRST AVE. OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
Prop.
C* R A !\i D K A R 8-year-old gibson rye
JUAN DE FUCA and
FLAT CITY MARC ANTONY CIGARS
Gold St., Flat City
Mrs. Geo. Mutchler, Prop.
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
HARRY DONNELLEY
EEE GENERAL MERCHANDISE
DISCOVERY, OTTER
FINNEGAN & CAMERON
FLAT CITY
Agency for Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs and Records
TOBACCO CiGARS STATIONERY
CONFECTIONERY AND BILLIARDS
C. R. Cameron Jas. F. Finnegan
W. E, Iron Bedsteads
Bed Springs
Mattresses Comforters
Blankets Pillows
McMAHON
General Merchandise
FLAT CITY