One Dollar Per Month. IDITAROD, ALASKA, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1912. Two Bits Per Copy
AMBASSADOR REID
DIES AT LONDON
London, December 19. — United States Ambassador Whitelaw
Reid died here this morning from a complication of diseases. He
had sent in his resignation and was about to leave for America
when tie was taken ill.
Mr Reid was 75 years old. He was the chief owner of the
New York Tribune. In 1892, when Benjamin Harrison ran for re
election, Mr. Reid was a candidate for the vice-presidency,
No Successor Yet
Washington, December 20. —President Taft announces that he
will leave the appointment of a successor to the late Ambassador
Reid to President-elect Wilson.
The dead diplomat’s remains will be brought home on a U. S
warship.
WILSON PROMISES VENGEANCE
UF9N THE PANIC ORGANIZERS
New York, December 19.—President-elect Woodrow Wilson re
turned from Bermuda. He will spend his 56th birthay at his home
town, Staunton, Va., December 28.
Vengeance Upon Wrongdoers
New York, December20.—President-elect Wilson made public
a statement today to the effect that next administration will wreak
vengeance upon those representatives of predatory interests who
are organizing a panic in order to discredit the Democratic ad
ministration. Tomorrow (Saturday) Mr. Wilson will have a con
ference with Mr. Bryan on public affairs.
Labor Leaders Confer
Trenton, December 20 —Samuel Gompers, president of the
American federation of labor, and Frank Morrison, secretary, had
a conference with the President-elect yesterday on labor matters.
DEPDTY-MARSHAL SHEPPARD
DISLOCATES HIS SHOULDER
Fairbanks, December 20.—While en route to the Iditarod
Deputy-Marshal Harry P. Sheppard fell and dislocated his
shoulder. The accident occurred near the Ohio roadhouse. Mr.
Sheppard was brought to Fairbanks, and is now in hospital. He
expects to be well enough to resume his journey in a few days.
COCKBURN IS FINED S500 AND COSTS
Charged before Commissioner G. W. Albrecht yesterday with
having committed assault and battery upon Jim Fullerton, of the
Pioneer hotel, Dikeman, Robert Cockburn, also of Dikeman, was
found guilty by the jury. He was fined $500 and costs.
Cockburn has given notice of appeal and released under bonds
of $2,000. Ed McArdle and Angus Sutherland are the bondsmen.
The case arose out of a dispute over the trail running into
Dikeman,‘and the assault took place on the 11th.
TEMPERATURE TABLE
The following temperatures for these
■week ending noon Saturday, December
21, are from observations taken at the
Budweiser observatory, corner Second
and Richmond—
NOON MIDNIGHT
Saturday, Dec. 14. 0 6
Sunday, “ 15. -8 -7
Monday, “ 16 . 2 -10
Tuesday, “ 17. -8 -22
Wednesday “ 18. -30 -31
Thursday “ 19. -31 -37
Friday, 11 20. -28 -17
Saturday, “ 21. -25
J. Wada, who left for Moore creek
Tuesday, expected to meet the party of
musheis who had started from Seward
with him, but somehow passed them on
the trail.
Paul Budweiser is taking a vacation,
with Flat City as his headquarters.
Paul is going to have his teeth fixed,
so he is sure of a most enjoyable time.
Order your Christmas Candy TODAY
from the Postoflice Candy Store.
George Lee and Clarence White
left last Friday for the Reindeer dis
trict, where they will do some rep
resentation work.
COMING AND GOING
Pete Jensen came in from the creeks
Tuesday and returned the same day.
Lawrence Auten, who left here on
one of the last boats for the Outside,
writes from Minneapolis that he is
doing well. He is one of the pillars of
the largest printing establishment in
the city. In the evening Lawrence
attends a business colleg.e In spite of
many attractions on the Outside he is
sighing for the North.
Deputy Marshal Tom Howell went
down to Dikeman Wednesday on offi
cial business, returning the next day.
Reports from Mud river which ar
rived during the past week are to the
effect that while insufficient work has
been done to demonstrate the possibili
ties of the section, yet there is no
doubt that gold exists in many places,
and it yet may develop into a dredging
proposition of some importance.
Capt. Worth, N. C. agent at Dike
man, came up to Iditarod for a brief
visit Thursday.
Nels Glantz came in from Flat Mon
day.
FIRST OUTSIDE
HAIL AT ROHE
Nome, December 20.—The first Out
! side mail for the season arrived today.
There has been some very cold
| weather during the past week, the
i tem perature dropping to 22 below for
three nights in succession.
j John Hansen, of the Halfway road
house, was a visitor in Iditarod the
| first of the week. He says there, has
been quite a lot of travel the past two
or three weeks. Mr. Hansen was one
time interested in the Idaho associa
tion, but sold out. He is now part
owner of the Montana association, also
at the head of Flat.
The balance of the Wada expedition,
consisting of three Japanese mushers
and two sleds, arrived at Iditarod last
Wednesday, 41 days out from Seward.
POPULAR VOTE
UNOFFICIALLY
Washington, December 20.—The
popular vote for President has not
yet been officially declared, but the
following figures may be taken as
approximate!v correct:
Wilson . . . 6,156,748
Roosevelt,. 3,928,140
Taft. 3,376,422
Debs. .... 673,783
Gbafin.... 160,644
BRIDGE FALLS WITH
A SIX-HORSE TEAM
Nome, December 20. —The Nome
river bridge collapsed yesterday while
a six-horse team was crossing. Horses
and rider fell on to the frozen river,
but being unhurt, were able to proceed
on their journey.
“Slim” Sbeldou arrived from the
Yukon Monday with a fine bunch of
furs, which he disposed of at good
prices. Ha says Iditarod is the best
fur market in the Interior. Mr. Shel
don was formerly connected with the
Grant creek roadhouse, 30 miles below
Gibbon.
Frank Fontas and Dan Campbell ar
rived from Mud river Tuesday and will
remain until after the holidays.
Frank Anderson was a visitor in
Iditarod during fhe week.
----
TAX RATE FIXED AT 11-2 PER CENT
•- I
The question of the tax rate to j
be levied for the purpose of raising •
revenue to defray the expenses of j
running the town of Iditarod from ■
April i, 1912, to March 31, 1913
occupied the attention of the coun
cil for several hours on Wednesday
evening, and again on Thursday
evening, resulting after much
heated argument, in a rate of 1 y?
percent, being decided upon.
Under the head of new business
Councilman Bayles arose and said
he thought the members would like
to hear from the chairman of the
finance committee on the subject of
the tax rate.
Councilman Smith, chairman of
finance committee, said he had not
gone into the question down to
dollars and cents, but taking a val
uation of $500,000 he thought a
levy of 1 per cent, would be suffi
cient. Matty of the principal tax
payers and holders of city warrants
were willing to carry the latter over
for a while if the tax levy were
small, but he thought it only just
and right, in view of the bad con
ditions of trade to make the levy as
small as possible, and leave the
next council to pay off some of the
indebtedness.
Councilman Acheson said he was
in favor of a 1 per cent, levy if they
could see their way to meet the I
city’s indebtedeess and pay current
expenses, but it did not seem to
him that such was possible.
Councilman Bayles submitted fig
ures to prove that by fixing the
rate at I per cent, the council
could pay off all of its indebtedness, j
pay running expenses for the pres-1
ent, and make future warrants
worth ioo cents on the dollar. Mr.
Bayles wai insistent upon the fact
that it was the duty of the council
men to find means to meet the city’s
obligations. They had been elected
to fill an unexpired term for that j
purpose, and so far as he was con-j
cerned he thought they should
make every effort to do so. Consider-\
able discussion ensued, in which all
of the councilmeu joined. Eventu
ally Bayles moved, seconded by
Acheson, that the rate be per
cent. The voting resulted as fob ■
lows:
Ayes—Acheson, Barnes. Bayles,
Mutchler. Noes—Smith, Weir.
The motion was therefore de
clared carried, but on Mutchler
stating that he had voted for the;
motion by mistake, a motion to re- :
consider was put and carried.
The whole matter was gone into
again, and several votes taken
which resulted in a tie—three for
x and three for i x 2 per cent.
When it was seen that no agree
ment would be reached, a commit
tee composed of Bayies, Acheson
and Mutchler was appointed to in
terview the manager of the N- C.
Co., and get his views on the mat
ter. The meeting adjourned at
11:45.
When the council was called to
order Thursday evening the com
mittee turned in their report.
Bayies said that he had seen
Manager Wood, and had a lengthy
interview with him. Wood had j
expressed himself as satisfied to
hold the warrants until the money
came in from the licenses, provided
a i per cent, levy were made, blit
if the council could see their way
clear to lake up the old warants
they were willing to pay i 1-2
cents.
Achesou said Wood informed I
him he would favor 1 1-2 cents ifj
the old warrants were paid, rather j
than 1 per cent, and hold the war.
rants.
Bayles then submitted the follow
ing statement of the city’s finances,
based upon a tax levy of r 12 per
cent.:
RECEIPTS
Total taxes collectible at 1 1-2 per cent, on $450,000.$6,750
Less 20 per cent delinquent ...$1,350
T ess 10 per cent, rebate on 80 per cent, of taxes paid .. 432— 1.782
Net amount collected. $4,968
Possible receipts from 1911 delinquent iist 500
Receipts from retail liquor licenses (Ramps Peterson). . ... 1,000
Other liquor and commercial licenses during 1913 . 4,500
$10,968
EXPENDITURES
Outstanding indebtedness. $4,590
Clerk’s salary (five months). 200
Purchase of city hall lot. 500
Fuel. 375
Due to school fund. 1,000
Patrolman’s salary (5 1-2 months). 1,100 1
Water (4 1-2 months). 450 i
Sundries . 200
For school purposes (25 perceut. of licenses) .. 1,242
Balance to carry forward. 811
$10,968 '
Bavles pointed out thst by ac
cepting his figures all indebtedness
would be cleared off' and the city’s
credit re-established. Regarding
the $500 he had allowed for the
purchase of the ground upon which
the city hall stood, he thought that
it was a good investment as they
were now' paying $40 a month rent
for the same—pretty good interest.
By his figures there would be a bal
ance of $811 to carry over, and he
again moved that the rate be fixed
at 1 1-2 per cent. Achesou sec
onded
Smith produced figures to sup
port his contention fora 1 percent,
levy. Acheson said he believed 1
per cent, and the federal license
moneys would pay the indebted
ness, but how were they going to
run the city, in the meantime?
Their credit w as no good. If they
could show him how it could be
done he would be willing to agree
upon a 1 per cent., but they had
produced no argument to prove
that it could be done—so he favored
1 1-2 per cent.
Smith said that they would get
less money at 1 1-2 per cent, than
they would at 1 per cent. He had
seen several of the big taxpayers—
the N. C., the bank, Crowley &
Porter—and they had agreed with
^ him not to pay until forced by the
courts if the rate were made i 1-2 :
cents.
Bayles said it was something new '
to him that people should conspire 1
not to pay their taxes. Personally 1
he did not want to work a hardship 1
upon anybody, but as for threats he j
would not consider them for one 1
second. That was a bugaboo. 1
They were living up to the ordi '
nance—are are empowered to pro
vide revenue for the city.
Wood explained that he had told :
Smith candidly that his company
would let the taxes go if placed at
1 1-2 cents, but after that the com- (
mittee had waited upon him and
presented their figures, which ap
peared reasonable to him, and he
decided to leave the matter entirely ,
with the council; it being under- .
that in the event of a 1 1 2 per cent. <
assessment the old warrants would '
be taken up. 1
In order to get some action, Weir j
suggested 1 1 4 per cent., but bis j
motion was lost. Smith could not i
see there was any sense in making
it 1 1-4; that was no better than 1. 5
j' \
Acheson, with all due respect,
pointed out that 1 1-4 was just 1-4 ,
better than 1 and 1 1-2 was just 1-2 1
BARNETTE GUILTY
WING ACQUITTED
Valdez, December 20.—Captain E. T. Barnette was today
found guilty of publishing false statements regardlug the Wash
ington-Alaska bank. Lew Wing, cashier of the institution, who
was indicted with Barnette, was acquitted.
Barnette is now being tried on the embezzlement charges.
NOME PREPARING FOR BIG
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
Nome, December 20.—Great preparations are being made for
the Christmas festivities, which this year are on a grander scale
than any that have gone before. The big roof garden of the
Pioneers will be held Saturday night, the 21st. On the 23rd there
will be boxing and wrestling matches. The big carnival takes
place on Tuesday, December 31. The voting contest for queen of
the carnival was a big money maker.
Dr. John M. Sloan, has been elected president of the Nome
Igloo of the Pioneers.
Many small outfits are mining this winter; there are many
men employed and few are idle.
GREEKS FIGHTING TO FORCE
ENTRANCE TO DARDANELLES
Constantinople, December 20.—Greek war vessels are engag
ng the Turkish forts at the entrance to the Dardanelles in an en
ieavor to force a passage and attack Constantinople from the sea.
Greek aviators are causing havoc by the use of bombs, the
'amous fortress of Janina being attacked in this manner.
London, December 20 —Albania’s claim to representation on
he peace conference has been recognized by the Powers, and the
conference begins tomorrow.
ALL IS READY FOR CHRISTMAS TREE
Chairman J. D. Barnes, of the A. B. enterainment committee,
mnounces that all is in readiness for the big Christmas tree, en
ertainment and dance, which takes place at A B. Hall, Iditarod, on
Christmas eve- A splendid programme of vocal and instrumental
nusic has been prepared and one glorious time is assured.
Many visitors from Discovery and Flat are expected, and in
order to accommodate them the Mutchler stage will leave Dis
oooery at 10 a. m. and Flat at 10:30 a. m. Ladies and children
will be carried free, as a Christmas present from the Mutchlers.
Those who wish to give presents from the tree should hand
hem in early.
letter than i—the city would get
id of its indebtedness that much
iooner.
Mayor Barnes left the chair to
iddress the meeting. He outlined
he history of the city’s indebted
jess, and admitted there had been
ixtravagance in the past; but that
vas all over. Although every dol
ar was a hardship now, he did uot
hink, under the circumstances;
mybody would kick at the extra
-2 cent, seeing we had a patrol
nan, fire protection and school at
uch small cost.
Much more argument followed,
Gayles’ motion to make the rate
1-2 being eventually carried by 4
o 2. The final vote stood:
For—Acheson, Barnes, Bayles,
,Veir; against—Mutchler, Smith.
All breathed a sigh of relief and
he meeting adjourned with its
vork successfully accomplished
md arrangements made to meet sll
if the obligations of the city in a
)Usiness-like and honorable man
ier. Much credit is due to Messrs.
Kcheson and Bayles for the steady
ight they made to place the city’s
inances upon a business-like foot
ng, as they undoubtedly now are.
JFithin a few months the town
hould be out of debt, and its paper
vorth 100 cents on the dollar.
E. M. Stanton acted as legal ad
■isor of tbe^ couucil .during the
neetings.
WALTERS - WATRODS WEDDING
Word reached Iditarod by the last
mail of the marriage of Miss Eunice
Watrous to Carson Walters, better
known as Mizzou No. 2. The wedding
took place at Seattle last month. Both
parties are well known here: the bride
being the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Jos. Watrous, formerly of Dikeman,
and sister to Lloyd Watrous, who was
drowned in the Yukon last fall. Car
son Walters is brother to Mizzou, and
was with the I). C. Co. here.
Mrs. Thurston's unexcelled home
made Candy can now be bought at the
Pioneer Drug Store, Flat City, at town
prices. _
George F. Kilroy, accompanied by
Mrs. Kilroy, visited Iditarod Thursday.
They traveled by dogteam.
A DANCE
Will be given by the A. B.’s of Flat at
the A. B. Hall, Christmas night. The
committee in charge is making every
effort to give all who attend a merry
time. There will be good music, and a
dainty lunch. All are cordially invited.
Admission for gentlemen will be $3,
and ladies, as usual, will be admitted
on their good looks and winning ways.
This opportunity is taken to announce
that there will be no doings by the
A. B.'s at Flat New Year.
C. R. PECK, Arctic Cuief,
A. E. BAIN,
Chairman Entertainment Committee.
OUR CIGARS
LOVERAS—Clear Havana,
Noble and Imperial Sizes
WEBSTER, MARC ANTONY,
VAN DYKE AND OPTIMO,
ROYALIAN and Others— KeyWest
Smoke ! While You Joke
The Pioneer Merry Christmas ramps peterson
Imported Port, Sherry, Sauterne, and Other Wines that are Delicious and Palatable
We Sell by the Gallon, Quart, Bottle, Measure or Glass,
Other luxuries can be waived, but a stnile, ne’er a pass.
Turkish
Cigarettes
Pall Mall
Milo,
Philip Morris,
AND ALSO
The Native Son’s Delight!
OUR LIQUORS
“MONOGRAM” “MARQUETTE” AND “GIBSON”
Other Standard Whiskeys
and Brandies Upon Call
BEST MIXED DRINKS IN TOWN
Appolinaris and White Rock for those
who don’t indulge in any
other beverages