One Dollar Per Month. IDITAROD, ALASKA, SUNDAY, JULY 31, 1910. Two Bits Per Copy
WILL HOLD
COURT HERE
From assurances received within
the last few days it now appears
that this district will be blessed by
the appointment of an assistant
clerk of the district court, where
upon it will be possible to file dis
trict court cases without going to
Fairbanks.
Judge Overfield has expressed
liis desire to provide for the Idit
arod as far as possible, and has
also declared liiinself willing to
come here to hold a term of court
if he is needed. The latter, how
ever, will trot come off before
spring, in all probability as he has
pressing work in Fairbanks that
will keep him busy for a few
months.
J. C. Moody, an attorney who
has just arrived to practice here,
and Mr. Fairbanks of the N. C Co.
brought the news of Judge Over
field's interest in the new camp
and his assurance that he wanted
word from the members of the bar
here. He would like an expression
of opinion from the legal fraternity
to guide him, and said that he be
lieved an assistant clerk of the court
could be provided at once. He
also wants word about the condi
tions in regard to litigation that he
may make his arrangements for
holding court here.
As soon as it was known that
Judge Oveifield desired informa
tion, the members of the bar got to
gether and discussed the proposi
tion. It was generally admitted
that the choice for assistant clerk of
the court should fall to A. E.
Maltby, the present commissioner,
as he is not only eminently qualified
for the position, but the work will
fall naturally into order with his
present duties.
Word will be sent to Judge Over
field at once, and it is possible
that the arm of the court will rest
here permanently within a few
weeks.
AGED PROSPECTOR
TUCKERED OUT
William Sanereool, an aged pros
pector of 74 summers, left Dikeman
last Tuesday in company with two
other men named McGrogan and D.
Rygel. They made their way through
the nigger heads toward Iditarod, and
when they were within a distance of
about 18 miles the old man, exhausted
from the long and tiresome mush, in
formed his companions that he was un
able to go any farther and laid himself
down. The two men immediately made
the old traveler as comfortable as pos
sible and left with him all the provi
sions the party had left, consisting of
about one-half loaf of bread, some
cheese and several apples and oranges.
The two younger men then made all
haste possible to reach this city where
they arrived late Thursday night, suf
fering neany hardships from mosquitoes
and exposure. They gave the alarm as
soon as they reached here and before
very long the old spirit of the North
had induced the residents of Iditarod
to subscribe sufficient funds to enable a
couple of men to start with horses and
provisions in search of the one left be
hind. They left early Friday morning
and it is hoped will have found the
weary traveler before this.
Religious Services Today
Rev. J. Logan Sample will conduct
religious services at the federal court
house this (Sunday) morning at 11
o’clock and also at 8 in the evening.
Rev. Mr. Sample conducted two
services last Sunday at the same place,
which were largely attended. He is a
gentleman of wide travel and observa
tion, and his sermons were highly ap
preciated. __
Among the recent arrivals from the
Tanana camp are Mi. and Mrs. Arthur
Lowry (nee ,Miss Ida Bostrom). Mr.
Lowry is now freighting on the Idit
'"airod river, and later will engage in
mining. __
Windows, corrugated iron, building
paper and Maltboid roofing at Ross &
Nestor’s,
WILL BLAZE TRAIL TO THE COAST:
Balked by a niggardly congress that spent more
than a billion dollars fixing Outside courthouses and
things, but would only appropriate $100,000 for main
tenance of existing roads in Alaska, Major Richardson,
head of the Alaska Road Commission, and friend of
every prospector in the country, says that he can do
little for the Iditarod this year. He is here, however,
to do all that he can, and says that he may be able to
pinch out a few dollars from the regular fund to pro
vide for necessary work.
Major Richardson arrived in Iditarod City Wed
nesday night in company with W. H. Fairbanks, general
manager of the N. C. Co. He came on a tour of in
spection and to provide for the work that he wants done
on the Kuskokwim trail this year. He says that Mr.
Goodwin will start from Nome with the freeze up, cross
ing to Kaltag, and coming through Diskaket and Dike
man to this city. He will make up his own party and
will proceed from this point to the Kuskokwim, follow
ing down the Takot.na and crossing to the head of Cook
Inlet. On this trip he will blaze the trail from Otter to
the coast, going over the route that Major Richardson
has had in mind for two years and for which he asked a
$50,000 appropriation last winter. Failing to secure
the appropriation, the only work that can be done on
the trail will be the marking of its general course, and
it is not expected that the route will be suitable for
general travel this winter.
In speaking of the appropriation, Major Richard
son stated that the $100,000 allowed by congress, must,
under the terms of the act be used for the repair of ex
isting trails, and that the most of it will be spent on
the Fairbanks-Valdez trail. He believes that the mail
for the Iditarod must come in that way, at least for this
winter, but he did not know what, if any, arrangements
had been made by the postoffice department looking to
the establishment of a regular winter service. He is
of the opinion, however, that the Kuskokwim route to
coast is the most feasible for this section, and that he
will be able to secure assistance from congress next
year to build a road through. The growing importance
of the Kuskokwim, and the assurance that this will be
a good and prosperous camp makes it imperative that
something be done to shorten transportation to the
coast.
Working for Wireless Communication
Convinced that the need of a wireless station in the
Iditarod in a paramount orre, and believing also that the
government will take some action this fall looking to the
installation of a station here, Major Richardson, who ar
rived in Iditarod City last week, has committed himself to
the extent of offering all assistance he may give to boosting
for telegraphic communication with the Outside.
Stated briefly, it is now up to the citizens of the new
camp to back Major Richardson in a fight for immediate
action on the part of the war department. He believes
that having established wireless communication in the ter
ritory, the war depaitment will not back down on the ex
pense of another station.
Given a substantial camp, and the commersial needs of
over 2,000 people, a wireless station here will pay for itself
within a short time, and would be of the most unquestioned
benefit to the people.
On his recent and hurried visit to the Iditarod, Gen
etal Maus, commander of the Department of the Columbia,
and as such, general military supervisor of Alaska, pro
nounced himself ill favor of wireless for the district. He
committed himself so far as to say that be would recom
mend to the war department a station here and it is entirely
safe to assume that he did not view the matter in a differ
ent light when he reached Seattle.
With two forces working for the same end, and with
the knowledge already possessed by the war department of
this part of Alaska, there can be little doubt that the proper
representation from the citizens of the Iditarod will bring
results, and perhaps secure action before navigation closes.
Citizens Consult With Major Richardson
One of the most important meetings that has yet been
held in the new camp took place Friday evening at the
courthouse in this city at which were present Major W. P.
Richardson, chairman of the Alaska Road Commission, and
a large number of citizens representing all sections of the
Iditarod valley. The purpose and object of the meeting
was to give Major Richardson such information concerning
local conditions as would assist him in determining as to
where to build roads and expend the sum of money at his
command for that purpose.
Major Strong, who was elected to preside over the as
setubly, called upon a large number ol people to give their
views upon the situation. Many responded, and finally
Major Richardson gave those present the information they
so eagerly longed for. *
The major gave a brief review of the work accomplish- j
ed by the commission of which he is the head, and deplored
the fact that Congress failed to make a larger appropriation
than it has done to continue the good work of constructing
highways throughout the territory and connect the local
camps with each other, and with the outside world.
After lengthy consultations between the people and the
Major it was finally concluded that the best way to expend
the funds in the hands of the commission would be to
brush out and mark a trail from Dikemau to the town o!
Iditarod; to improve as much as possible the roads now
leading from this city to the mines and to blaze and brush
out a trail from Iditarod to some point ou Cook Inlet
thereby greatly assisting intercourse between these interior
portions of Alaska and the coast. The plan proposed by
the Alaska Road Commission io only construct roads and
trails to places the permanency of which is reasonably as
sured, was heartily endorsed by the meeting, and no one
present doubted for a moment that Major Richardson would
be convinced of the stability and significance of this new
camp as soon as he has had sufficient time to get around,
size up the situation and hear the reports as given him by
different people. Major Richardson expressed his willing
ness to comply with the requests of ihe people in the way
•f building roads and will commence operations as soon as
he has had an opportunity to feel the pulse of the general
public concerning the situation.
The meeting adjourned at a late hour and all went
home with the conviction that something of real benefit to
all persons in the camp had been accomplished.
PERSONAL TOPICS
Sammy Stein, the hustling young
merchant of Discovery Otter, made a
short business trip to the metropolis
last Tuesday.
Harry Landahl, the book store man,
spent a few days on the creeks during
the early part of last week. He says
the district looks good to him.
Dr. C. D. Carter, the dentist, paid
the city a short visit during the early
part of last week.
Bob Adams, the widely-known min
ing man of Nome, intends visiting the
diggings about the middle of next
month.
Mrs. James Fredrickson, wife of the
contractor, started for California last
Friday morning, where she will spend
the winter, returning here next sum
mer. She will travel via. St. Michael.
Robert Simpson, the jeweler located
at Discovery Otter, was a visitor in the
city a few days last week.
A. C. Kramer, an old-timer of the
Klondike and Tanana camps, who re
cently arrived from San Francisco, has
just returned from the creeks, which
he has been sizing up with a view to
possible investments. While he is re
ticent regarding his intentions, Kramer
says that the possibilities of this be
coming a good camp “looks good to
him’’ at this early stage.
THE WEATHER
[Major Albrecht, Volunteer Observer.]
July 24, 65 deg. in shade.
July 25, 71 “
Julv 26. 62 “ “
July 27, 75 “
July 28, 65 “
July 29, 59 “
July 30, 51 “
Average, 64 deg.
All observations taken at 2 p.m., this
being the warmest part of the day.
Capt. E. T Barnette’s 30-horsepower
gasoline launch “Dan” was reported
yesterday as being at Richmond on
the way up to this city.
The winter is coming, so get your
homes made comfortable while you can
get the material. Anderson Bros. &
Nerland, wallpaper, paints, sash, doors.
LOST—About 1$ miles from Iditarud
city on creeks road, a ralise (suit
case size), owned by John Young;
finder notify Pony Express, tel. 22.
Cash register for sale, Inquire Mer
chants Cafe.
ALONG THE BUSY WATERFRONT
On Monday the launch Cecil, from
Dikeman, landed 18 passengers who
came from Seattle via S. S. Victoria to
St. Michaels.
The Pup steamed into port on the
28th from Dikeman with 20 tons of
freight for Charley Worden and leaves
down this morning to meet the Tana.
Capt. Jack Greon reports a fair stage
of water due to the rain and wing dam
combination.
The “Little Snug” arrived on the
morning of the 28th after a somewhat
tedious voyage from Fairbanks. She
brought a barge with about 60 tons of
freight and lumber. About 20 tons was
cached about 30 miles above Dikeman,
the remainder mostly lumber for Park
er was landed here. Some alterations
will be made to the Snug’s machinery
and then she will be a valuable addi
tion to the mosquito fleet.
The Swallow with five passengers
from the Seattle No. 3, arrived yester
day at noon and reports the Martha
Clow having arrived at Dikeman on
the 28th with barge of lumber from
Fairbanks. The Clow immediately left
for the Tanana valley ports.
Launch Joyce, from Dikeman, In
yesterday 2 p.m. with five tons of mer
chandise.
The launch Helen M., which is mak
ing semi-weekly trips to Dikeman, took
out half a dozen passengers on Wednes
day.
There are several other launches,
poling boats and horse scows doing
their share of the good work in land
ing our winter supplies, which come
and go unheralded, so we are unable to
give them the mention they deserve.
Those bugaboos of steamboat men—
the hull and boiler inspectors—whom
Uncle Sam annually turns loose to look
after the safety of the traveling public,
are expected at Dikeman any day now
and then there will be great overhaul
ing of boats and equipment, and it’s a
safe bet that more than one chesty
life preserver, swelled out with alfalfa,
will be given a chance to see how far
it can trayel on its own hook. The.in
spectors are about as eagerly welcomed
by steamboat men as the road tax col
lector is by us landlubbers. »
RULES FOR MOTOR BOATS
The following rules define the equip
ment required by law to be carried on
small motor boats:
Whistles, Fog Horn and Bell.—All
motor vessels, without regard to size or
use, must be provided with an efficient
whistle, an efficient fog horn and an
efficient bell. The power to operate
the whistle is not prescribed, but it
must be of such a character as to pro
duce a “prolonged blast,” which is de
fined as from four to six seconds’ dura
tion.
Lights.—When navigated between i
sunset and sunrise they must carry reg
ulation lights, namely, a bright white
light at the bow or head of the vessel,
a green light on the starboard side and
a red light on the port side. Side
lights must be properly screened. They i
may be so affixed to the coaming or to
the sides of the deckhouse as to be
properly screened, provided the lantern
be backed with metal. Whenever the |
green and red sidelights cannot be fixed
they must be kept lighted and ready
for use as provided by article 6 of the
act of June 7, 1907. The law does not
appear to permit the use of a three
color “combination” headlight. A
white light must be carried aft, show-j
ing all around the horizoD, to range
with the headlight.
Copies of Rules.—Such vessels are
required to have on board two printed
copies of the rules which must be ob
served by them, which rules will be
furnished by local inspectors of steam
vessels on request.
Life Preservers.—All such vessels of
15 gross tons or less engaged in carry
ing passengers for hire, in addition to
the equipment above stated, are re
quired to carry one life preserver for
each passenger and shall be operated
only in charge of a person duly licensed
by the local inspectors of steam vessels
Such vessels when used only as a pri
vate pleasure boats and not at any
time engaged in the carrying of pas
sengers for hire are not obliged to
to comply with the provisions in regard
to life preservers and licensed oper
ators. The life preservers must be of
a sort prescribed by the .regulation* of
the board of supervising inspectors
and must bear the United States in
spectors’ stamp. While the law does
not require it the department recom
mends in the interest of safety to life
preserver for each person on board be
carried on all motor boats, regardless
of size or occupation.
Documenting, Inspection, Etc.—All
motor boats of over five net tons en
gaged in the carriage of freight and
passengers for hire must be document
ed; that is to say, licensed by the col
lectors of customs. Vessels under five
net tons are not documented in any
case. The license of the vessel ob
tained from the collector of customs is
additional to and must not be confound
ed with the license required for the op
erator of a motor boat of 15 gress tons
or less carrying passengers for hire.
Motor vessels of over 15 gross tons en
gaged in the carrying passengers or
freight for hire must also be inspected
by the Uuited States local inspectors
of steam vessels and must carry a li
censed engineer and pilot. Document-;
ed vessels must have name and home
port on stern and name on each bow.
Official measurement is necessary only
in case of vessels requiring to be docu
mented. While the law does not re
quire it, the department recommends
that the name bo conspicuously dis
played on undocumented motor boats.
Forwarding Big Petitions
A petition for a direct winter
mail service from Seward to the
Interior has received many sig
natures during the week. The
list here now contains fully 600
names, while another one sent to
the creeks should contain the
signatures of the rest of the pop
ulation. The petition will be for
warded to the postoffice depart
ment at once, and since Major
Kichardson is to start work on
an overland trail to the Coast,
we should have a pretty good
mail service this winter. The
postal authorities have been con
sidering the matter of a more
direct mail route to Nome and
Bering sea points for some time,
and now with an increased per
manent population in this camp
and with hundreds of prospectors
in the Kuskokwim, in all proba
bility the lower-river mails will
be diverted from the Valdez
Fairbanks route to that of Sew
ard-Iditarod to the great benefit
of all concerned.
We arrived with a large stock and
are now prepared for business. Com
plete line of groceries, hardware, build
ing material, household goods, burlap
in all colors, plain or print, canvas and
houselining, ranges, cooking stoves,
kitchen utensils for hotels and families.
All goods are fresh from the Outside.
Call on us and convince yourself.
M. SICKINGER,
Willow st., near First ave., Iditarod.
The Empire Commercial Co. carries
the only wholesale stock of wines, cor
dials, liquors, beer, mineral water and
cigars between Fairbanks and Nome.
FIGHTIN’
Fightin’, fightin’,
Fightin’ for the right,
Fightin’ hard for Freedom’s cause,
Fightin’ with all his might;
Fightin* for our Libertj,
Fightin’ with a vim.
Hurrah for the People's Champion,
Alaska’s Fightin’ Jim! j. w.
Jim Blodgett, the freighter, arrived
in town Friday evening with his big
span of horses—the heaviest team in
Alaska. Jim had just completed blaz
ing a wagon road from Bikeman to
Discovery Otter, which task occupied
a week’s time. He says the round
about course he was compelled to take
between the two points, in order to
avoid swamps, measures at least 55
miles. Citizens of Dikaman furnished
the necessary funds for the road, and
M.'. Blodgett with seven men did the
work. Several strong bridges were
constructed by the builders.
At Riverside Hotel
John Young, Jack F. Baird, A. J.
Daly, city; A. Barbash, Wm. Daugh
erty, Samuel Gustafson, Seattle: A. C.
Kramer, San Francisco; D. G. Fergu
son, Nome; Bev. J. Bogan Sample,
Pittsburg; H. J. Bandahl, Dawson:
J. S. Ousby, Wm. McMullen, Otter;
Tom Shallow, creeks; Jonas E. Brewis,
Black; Doc Madding, Flat; Joe Treml,
str. White Seal.
Was Satisfactory to Doc
Doc Madding came in from
Plat creek yesterday with a
cleanup, which those who are
close to him claim to have been
in the neighborhood of $10,000.
Mr. Madding, on being inter
viewed at the bank, refused to
state the exact sum, but the way
he smiled and said that “the
cleanup was highly satisfactory”
while stuffing his clothes full of
Uncle Sam’s machine-made cur
rency made our reporter sorry he
ever swapped the muckstick for
a pencil.
As Doc is now working 35 men
on his claim such cleanups ought
to keep coming right along.
FINED FOR
TRESPASS
'Following his trial before a jury
list Monday on the charge of crim
inal trespass, (Frank Grame is now
in the federal bastile where he is
facing a 53 day stay in default of
the money to pay the fine and
costs.
Grame was charged with having
criminally trespassed upon the lot
claimed by Mrs. Gliftou, back of
the Clifton hotel; on the corner of
First and Willow. He was made
joint defendant with Joe Burns who
has purchased Walton’s interest iu
the ground, but before the matter
came to trial Burns was dismissed.
The jury heard the contentions
of the parties aud brought in a ver
dict of guilty against Grame,
recommending, however, the mini
mum Cue.
Judge Maltby fixed the fine at $5
and costs, amounting in all to $ic6,
which Grame must serve out at the
rate of $2 per day unless he puts
up the money in the meantime
HORSES DEMOLISH
TOWN’S SIDEWALKS
Equine pedestrians have enter
tained the people of this city dur
ing the past week, the net result
being some amusiug incidents,
some serious incidents and the need
for a veterinary.
True to their nature, which is
second in intelligence only to the
Dodo bird, the horses that are
familiar with this city have ac
quired habit of walking on the
sidewalk. None of this moss busi
ness for their’s when the sawmill
has provided slabs.
Growing ambitious, one large,
corpulent pack horse essayed the
walk in front of the Vienna cafe
during the middle of the week,
thinking to go to Frank Miller’s
place. An excitable individual
saw him .and started to shout,
whereupon the horse naturally be
came confused and tried to back
pedal on the expedition.
The result was disastrous. Each
! separate and distinct foot found a
vulnerable spot in the board walk
about the same time, and the ani
mal gave a representation of a large
obiect wading through a sea of
boards. It required the assistance
of the tax collector and the village
dentist to pull him out.
Fortunately there were no broken
legs, but it requires only a mo
ment’s reflection to understand that
horses in this town must be corral
ed or tied lest they destroy prop
erty and themselves.
GOOD SAMARITANS
J. J. Corbett, the old-timer of North
ern camps who was lying in a lodging
house here, a sufferer from catarrh of
the stomach, is the latest unfortunate
to profit from the true spirit of broth
erhood, which prevails in frontier com
munities.
Billy Newman and Harry Stenson
circulated a subscription list the be
ginning of the week, which together
with the proceeds of a dance a week
ago netted the sufferer $303.25.
The dance, which was held in John
son's steamboat building on Frontstreet
a week ago was largely attended and
was a most enjoyable affair, the good
cause it represented enhancing the
pleasure of those who attended. The
use of the building was freely given as
also were the services of the musicians
and others who rendered assistance.
Captain Merrill, of the launch Helen
M., started the sick man on las way by
furnishing him transportation to Dike
man, from which point the N. C. Co.
will continue the good work by sending
him to Seattle.
Corbett goes to the care of a sister In
Arizona, where it is hoped the dry,
bracing air will have a beneficial ef
fect in his case as in many similar ail
ments.
Lacov. Monogram. Old Tyler, Ather
ton and ( edarbrook whiskies, also
cash registers, bar fixtures and bar
glassware. Empire Comtperciai Co