IDITAROD PIONEER
FuuiiiSHED Every Saturday Evening at Iditarod, Alaska.
VoI 4 Coo M. Arbuckle. Pub’:iher N° s
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Year . ... .,.$10.001 One Month ...
Six Months 5.00 I Single Copy.
Advertisinft Rates on Application.
FUR GOVERNOR OF ALASKA
,L F. A. Sirons
AN ALASKAN POSTMASTER GENERAL
Among the matters to be discussed at the forthcoming
session of the territorial legislature there can be none of
greater importance than the provision of better mail facili
ties for the Interior. A fundamental objection to the sys
tem that now prevails is that the Alaskan mail service is
under the direct control of an official stationed at W ashing
ton. When it should be administered by a man on the spot
with a thorough knowledge of local conditions and invested
with wide powers. In short, we need an Alaskan post
master general, responsible to the governor, and not sub
ject to political influence or the spoils system.
With the appointment of an Alaskan postinaster
general, with headquarters at Tanana or some other central
point, the present anomalies of the Interior mail service
would disappear. Being an Alaskan, the appointee would
appreciate the priceless boon of a regular, efficient and
sufficient mail service in the Interior, summer and winter:
having a knowledge of the geography of the territory and
its climatic peculiarities, he would forward the mail by the
best routes, and would be prepared to change those routes
on short notice should railroad or other blockades render
such a step advisable: and his position depending upon
successful administration of his office, and not on political
pull, he would be ready to listen to complaints and remedy
existing evils without unnecessary delay.
The present system of control from Washington is
quite unsuited to the terrritorv’s needs, and no amount
of talking will improve it. It is a physical impossibility foi
men who have spent their whole lives in the steam-heated,
official atmosphere of the postal department at the national
capital to understand conditions as they exist in Alaska,
and we should cease to expect it. A high standard of effi
ciency in the Alaska mail service can only result from ac
tual experience or prevailing conditio: s gained by long
residence in the Interior: summer tours of inspectors and |
other officials being worse than useless, because they lead
to hasty judgment based upon inaccurate data, and accom-j
plish no permanent good. Dealing with this phase of j
the matter a recent issue of the Fairbauks News-Miner
says:
“Because of the department’s failure to understand
“conditions here, we are always in trouble. Mails carried
“two years ago have not been paid for yet, and never will
“be, because of the lack of understanding of local condi
tions which Washington has. Two years ago a mail for
“Olness was stalled on the Tanana Valley railway. The
“manager took the mail off the train and sent it to Olness
“by dog-team, via Dome. The next mail was sent by team
“from Fairbanks. It happened that the two mails, travel
ing by different routes, reached Olness the same evening.
“The result was a letter from Washington, asking the rail
“road company ‘where these two mails were consolidated’—
“unless they became as one mail the clerk at Washington
“could not understand how the two mails could reach OI
“nessat the same time. Letter after letter has been writ
“ten, but the clerk cannot undersand the thing yet. Lately
“the railroad company gave orders to have the cliarge
“against the government written off its books and charged
“to operating expenses of that year, and wrote the govvrn
"ment that the time of correspondence and annoyance
“amounted to more than the money due (§42) and the com
“pany has written it off as a bad account.”
When Washington officials betray such density in so
small a matter, the wretched manner in which the lditarod
mail service is bungled should excite little surprise. The
only out we can see is along the lines we have indicated
above, and the legislature might do worse than give the
matter their attention, with a view to making recommenda
tions to congress for greater efficiency in the Alaskan mail
service. _
The present healthy condition of the city finances must
be a source of considerable satisfaction to the taxpayers.
When the present council took office last November the city
was overwhelmed with debt; but thanks to rigid economy
and businesslike administration the incubus has been re
moved, and without inflicting hardship on any. Over
§5,000 was paid in by February 15, and that amount, to
FRESH
MEATS
i
!
Beef, by the side,.$ .40 >
Veal, “ 50 j
Solution, by the carcass.. .35 j
Fowl,, per lb. .40 j
Halibut, “ .25
IP1TAROP MEAT CO.
SeDond St. Phone 15
All Hours Alike in This House
CARIOU CA
COME ONCE AND YOU WILL COME AGAIN
FIRST AVENUE. SOUTAR & SUTHERLAND, Props.
SNYDER HOUSE Company Depot j
| Nicely Furnished Rooms FLAT CITY Large Drying Room |
THE HOME FLar C!JL:7£:i
Furnished Rooms, Clean Spring Bods, Bath, Dry Rooms, a”‘1' 'Misi,^,’",'uVt.u'K'j
j Brink Eastern Beer ,mM
| Miner’s Moms Saloon \
i THE HOME OF THE "QUAKER MAID" |
* Foot of Willow St., Iditarod ♦
get her with the balance in hand, was sufficient to take up
all outstanding warrants on the salary fund, and leave a
generous surplus, and also to pay off most of the warrants
drawn on the general fund. After the receipt of the first
license moneys, which should arrive in two or three weeks,
the city will have a clean slate. The council is to be con
gratulated upon the result of its efforts.__
THE APPETITE
this fact will bear repeating; that unless you’re fond of
eating, everything will seem discordant in this world
1 that we infest; if your appetite is slender life will have
no joy or splendor, and you'll think that this republic is ske
daddling galley west. Brooding prophets, gloomy Daniels,
say we’re going to the spaniels, government is all corrupted
and we're headed for the dump; but if they were only able to
get busy at the table, things would seem far more attractive,
and their gloom would take a slump. Nearly all man’s earthly
troubles would be evanescent bubbles, could all people eat with
gusto, morns and eves and sunny noons, could they shovel in
beef and beans and boiled potatoes, succotash and ham and
spinach, macaroni, pies and prunes. They could not be drawn
with horses to the courts to get divorces if their appetites were
working in the good old fashioned way; they would find this
life less hollow if they had desire to swallow buckwheat cakes
and eggs and doughnuts, scrambled Vico and shreuded hay.
Life should be and is a blessing, and the wails and sighs dis
tressing come from folks with balky stomachs, though they oft
misplace the blame. Learn to eat with frenzied ardor, take a
fall out of the larder, and you'll soon be quite enamored with
this cheerful human game.—Walt Mason.
Fairbanks, February 20.—Judge F. E Fuller caused a mild
sensation in the district court here early this week by ordering
Attorney Louis K. Pratt to abstain from chewing tobacco while in
the courtroom.
For years without number Judge Pratt has been accustomed
to “take a chaw” whenever he felt like it, whether in court or out,
until the spectacle of the judge without the comforting “quid” is
hardly to be conceived, liis friends here are wondering whether
lie will give up practicing before Judge Fuller or give up his to
bacco. It appears to be an even bet so far. Anyhow, Judge Ful
ler has put his foot down on the practice, and local attorneys have
long since learned that he has a mind of his own in such matters.
It was only three weeks ago that Judge Pratt was lined $150
for contempt of court, an appeal against which sentence is now
pending.
Fairbanks, February 20.—Disgusted mushers are arriving al
most daily from Ruby, declaring that the camp is a frost, with
little likelihood of becoming a producer of any magnitude. With
out exception the disappointed ones say they are glad to get back
to the Fairbanks district, and have no intention of revisiting Ruby
SHOCKING DEATH
OF DAWSON MINER
Dawson News, December 20;
Billy William', a layman on Billy
Armstrong’s claim on the left limit
of No 60 below discovery, Bonan
za, fell down the full length of a
go foot shaft on the claim at 8:45
o’clock this morning, and was in
stantly killed. He fell headlong
and his neck was broken.
The accident occurred while Wil
liams and companions were work
ing about the top of the shaft, ar
ranging a bucket for a self-dumper
line. Several loose boards lav
across the top of the shaft. Wil
liams stepped on the boatds, and
pulled on a rope connected with
the bucket The boards slipped
and permitted him to be thrown
into the yawning cavity.
Location Notices at Piopeer office.
PLEASANT BIRTRDAY PARTY
AT THURSTON RESIDENCE
A pleasant little party was given
at the Thurston residence last Sat
urday evening, the occasion being
the birthday cf Mrs. T L. Thurs
ton. The function should have
taken place the previous day (St
Valentine’s day), but had been
postponed on account of the basket
ball game and dance at A. B Hall
that night.
Bridge was played, the prize,
winners being: Mrs. J. A. Peter
son, first; Mrs J H. Smith, second;
Mrs. Rusk and J. H. Smith, con
solation prizes. Dainty refresh
ments were served.
Those present were: Mr. and
Mrs. J. H. Smith, Mr. and Mrs J
A. Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Rusk.
Mrs. Clifton, Miss Grant, Miss
Albrecht, Chris Antbonieson, B.
A. Myers and the host and host
ess.
PHILIPPINES i
Washington, February 20.—Chair
man Henry, of the House rules coin
rail tee, is responsible for the state
ment that one of the very lirst meax-!
ures to be taken up by the House, with ;
every prospect of passage, would be i
tiie Philippine independence bill. The
measure, which was drafted by Chair- •
man Jones (Democrat), of the House
insular affairs committee, is now on
ihe calendar.
‘'The rules committee has given a
written pledge to Representative Jones ;
to call up the bill under a special priv- I
ilege rule,” said Representative Henry.
■‘I believe it will pass.”
The Senate was stated to be the
stumbling block in the path of im
mediate enactment of the law. Its sup
porters fear the Republicans will
attempt to prevent its passage.
'['lie Jones bill provides for an ' as
sembly” of Filipinos, to bo elected by
popular vote. It also prescribes time
and methods for lidding subsequent
general elections to this assembly in
case the Filipinos are found capable of
self government. Ultimate withdrawal
of all American supervision is also
provided.
Manuel Queznon, delegate to con
gress from the Philippines, is lead ng
the tight for the Jones bill. He pur
poses to bring several prominent Fili
pinos to Washington to endorse the
independence measure.
PARCEL POST LAW NOT SO
LIBERAL AS IT MIGHT BE
C P. Wood, as local agent for
I the Wells Fargo Express Company,
; points out that in many ways the
! new parcel post law is no! as lib
eral as it might be. For example,
j 'he Wells-Fargo rate between Idit
| hrod and Seattle is the same as the
I government rate -- : 2 cents a pound;
but while the parcel post law limits
parcels to 11 pounds in weight, the
express company accepts any
weight. Then, again, the insur
ance by the government route is
limited to $50, while the express
people will insure to anv amount
—
Hours—ft a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays and
holidays 12 m. to 1 p.m.
Mail Schedule, four round trips per j
month.- In-bound mail due Tuesdays
about 5 p.m.; out-bound mail closes'
Tuesdays at 5 p.m.; register mail
closes 3 p.m.
The public are informed that pack- j
ages (parcels post) maybe sent out
bound during the winter at the follow- j
ing rates from Iditarod: To Diskaket, )
(Jc per lb., Ruby, 7c; Fairbanks, 8c;'
the Outside, 12c.
T. L. THURSTON, Postmaster, j
| Mrs. L. C. THORNTON
j LADIES’ FURNISHINGS
J Confectionery, Drugs j
j Successor to Miss Kotsch FLAT CITY, Cold St. j
HCftlE AGAiiM!
ON THE WINTER TRAIL
ROADHOUSE
Meals All Honrs.
Liquors and Cigars
Tel: “Summit Roadhouse.”
Camp Iditarod No. 27, Arctic Broth
erhood, meets at A. B. Hal! every
Monday evening at 8 o'clock. Visiting
brethren cordially invited to attend.
CYRIL P. WOOD.
Arct ic t Lie f. i
RONALD FROST,
Arctic Recorder.
Turkey dinner and Iditarod spring
chicken at Stanley's Restaurant, I lat,
Washington's birthdav—TODAY.
Dr. Heinrich Wortmann,
Offices: Iditarod and Flat City
Telephones at each place
DR. H. BEHLA,
Dentist
Offices, Pioneer Drug Store,
Flat City.
Appointments by Telephone
Wickersham & Roden,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Iditarod, Alaska
Michigan, 1831 Kentucky, 1891 Alaska, 1910
George Woodruff Albrecht,
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney of this Camp
IV
Outfit Here for Innoko and Mud j
River Camps ?
Dikeman
Boaionse and Store
ROIH . COCKBCRN’, PROP.
Everything First Class
E. M. STANTON,
Attorney at Law
Oilice in Wiekershara & Roden RIct.
Second Ave.
Best of Everything
ALL THK TIMK AT THF.
Stanley Cafe
flat errv
Open Day and Night
__I
We Make a Specially of Printing Big and Littie
On High-Grade Muslin; They are Jest the Thing
to Advertise Your Business Along Winter Trails.
WILL LAST FOR YEARS, AND GET THE BUSINESS