1 IPITAROD PIONEER }
PVBUmr.O EVKBV SUNDAY MOttNIKO at lDITABOD. ALASKA,
FRANK E. BECKER. EDITOR
tft I 0*o U. Arbutklo. Pabllxktr Ha. 3
•UHaCMIPTlOH KATE*;
One Year...*10.00! One Month . 1.00
Sii Moutbe. 5.00 J Single Copy. . .25
Advertlalna Katas on AoBlicatlon.
THE NEED OF POSTAL FACILITIES
At a time like this, when an adequate jiostal service for
the Iditarod is chiefly notable for its absence, we can not
help wishing that Major John P. Clum, the best postal jug
gler that ever hit Alaska and the only man here who was
not completely buffaloed by the red tape of the postoffice
department, were again in this territory, throwing out pos
tal routes where they were needed, and then explaining to
the seventeenth assistant postmaster general at Washington
why he didn't ask permission first.
We have always been an ardent admirer of Clum, and
believe that he knows more about the needs of Alaska’s pos
tal service than any man who has ever had anything to do
with it. Besides, Clum had a lot of friends in the depart
ment at Washington, and he wasn’t afraid of them.
When he saw something that needed doing he would
go ahead and do it. By and by he would get a stern and
menacing letter from His Knobs at Washington asking
what in thunder he meant by daring to take action without
waiting a year or two for the thing to get ripe in a pigeon
hole, Then Maje would get sassy right back, cut a few
reams of tape, tell a funny story and politely request the
cub who wrote the letter to go and jump in the Patomac.
Shortly after, the incident would be closed and a new route
would be working.
Knowing these things, we started an agitation
nearly two years ago, advocating the establishment of the
office of director of posts for Alaska, and boosting Clum for
the Job, We harped on the matter at considerable length,
advising a special act of congress, establishing the office,
and earnestly soliciting aid from the people to see that
Major Clum be hoisted into it.
Right now, in the Iditarod, that movement should meet
with particular favor, for if there was ever a large and pop
ulous community blessed by complete neglect, it is this
new camp. We have an emergency steamboat service that
may peter out at any time, and we have no idea at this time
what, if anything, has been done to prepare for a winter
service.
With Clum on the job, we are confident that be would
have the mail coming here regularly throughout the winter,
and by the moat expeditious route, whether ihat be by way
of Fairbanks or by way of Seward.
We further believe that the people of this section, and
of all other sections should demand of the next delegate a
fight for a director of posts, whether Clum gets the job or
not.
However, for the interim, something sdould be done to
provide us an immediate opening of overland mail service
with the close of navigation, else there will in all probabil
ity ensue a period of many weeks that we will be cut off
from communication with the Outside world.
For the time being, it appears that mail from the reg
ular Yukon route will be handiest, yet there are many who
insist that it can be brought in direct from Knik or Seward
Sloppy Roads
see BOAS’ CLOTHING HOUSE
For 6old Seal Rubber Boots, McKinley Rubber Shoes
And Full Line of Clothing and Furnishings
Iditarod Idltarod
Beattie House
Best Equipped Lodging House in Iditarod
Rates Reasonable
First Avenue, Between Willow and Black Streets
F. W. Rooney & Co
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS
Cigar* and Tobaccos
Best Assortment Fresh Goods in City
(Miami Bowls a SociallyFirst Aiama, IJitarod
AVOID SICKNESS
...Hartnett & Co., City Scavengers...
ALL KINDS OF SANITARY WORK DONE
Leave Orders at Beattie Lodging House
IS ADORE GOLDSTEIN
COMPLETE LINE OP
Ladies’ and Gents’ Furnishings
SPECIALTY IN LADIES’ AND GENTS’ SHOES
Front Ave., Between Richmond and Willow Sts., Iditarod
YOUR DOCTOR
Will tell you that it is the bottle that carries OUR
LABEL that he has learned to have confidence in
BEJAUSE we have proven to his satisfaction that
the drugs we have are all that could be desired for
his assistance in caring for his patients, and BE
CAUSE every prescription is put up by a gradu
ated pharmacist of 14 years’ experience in the larg
est drug stores from New York to Seattle.
Fav & Lnnccar Ph prescription pharmacy.
1 O/ **• UUUWClVj nil First t*r., Bit. WiUew ant Kldmanf
much more easily and quickly. If such is the case then
steps should be taken at once to provide for the establish
ment of that trail with the first snows.
It is said that the distance from Seward to Otter is
about the same as from Valdez to Fairbanks, over a coun
try that is entirely practicable. If this be true, then there
certainly exists no reason why mail should be brought
through Fairbanks.
The Iditarod is and will be a populous section of the
country, and the Kuskokwim is filling up rapidly. They
will find it necessary to get their mail direct from the coast,
and if so, then the route should come straight on over to
the Iditarod.
With lack of ample means to prosecute work, the road
commission is sadly hampered this year, and perhaps little
can be expected from them in new trail building, yet it is
reported that a fairly good dog-trail exists.
It is up to the road commission to investigate that trail
at least, and up to the postoffice inspectors to provide a ser
vice over it if practical—two thousand people here and one
thousand in the Kuskokwim cannot be ignored.
A FEW WEEK8 OF DISTRICT COURT
Two and a half thousand people suddenly pull up the ties that
bind and hie themselves to other parts. They quit the old homes
and firesides to wander in a new land, to build up new homes and
gather around new firesides. With them they take their loves and :
hates, their greed, their generosity. With them tags the grim j
shadow of jealousy, behind them sneaks the lurking form of dis-'
honesty. Before them, clad in the majestic robes of free spirit :
and justice, strides the commanding figure of Liberty leading her
human band of fraility to the new fields of their endeavor.
This in brief, is the history of the latest Alaskan hegira; an
epitome of the stampede; a synopsis of the story of the birth of
the Iditarod.
It means that a new country has been peopled, that new cities
have grown up, that new communities have come into being with;
all the life, the business, the prosperity, the struggle and the j
hardship, that accompanies the battle of human hordes who have
migrated to virgin fastnesses.
The story brings us down to today when the wilderness has in
part been overcome, when cities arc thriving and placer fields are
turning out yellow gold to satisfy the greed of those who came so
far to get it.
We who witnessed this wonderful tapestry of romance and pro
saic sordidness in the weaving, know that a populous and power
ful section of peopled country has been added to the empire of the
North, we are aware that in spite of its novelty and its newness,
it carried with it all its needs of government, ail its fundamental
doctrines or control and restraint.
The people who came here brought their love of liberty anti
their love for strife. They brought their need for courts, they
are still children that fear the iron hand of law and respect the
calm dispensation of justice.
Going then, directly to the heart of our discussion, there can
be not the slightest question, that under the present system of;
judicial procedure as outlined for Alaska, an isolated portion of
the territory inhabited by more thun 2,000 souls, cannot long exist
in the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of life, liberty and property,
without the presence ol a district court.
We know that a commissioner and justice of the peace, strive
as; he may to heal the public ills, cannot under his limited juris
diction, hear but a limited number of petitions of those clamoring
for justice. We know that instantly with the establishment of
large communities or the discovery of large placer fields, the need
of the larger legal jurisdiction of a district court attaches, and
holds as long as the country thrives and prospers.
Knowing these things, our petition would be: Grant us a visit
of the judge of the fourth judicial district this fall, if only for a
few weeks. Let Judge Overfield come here, bringing with him,
the power and authority of his office, and let him lend ear to such
of those who would invoke his assistance—we are convinced that
he would find his time most thoroughly occupied.
Granting the need of a proper forum in which to try out many
rights and wrong already evident, there can be little argument
that from a basis of justice and economy, such forum should be
located here, at least for a time, rather than it should be held at
Fairbanks.
It requires but a moment’s thought, to picture the enormous
expense, inconvenience, delay, loss of time, and injury to business
that must follow upon the conduct of Iditarod cases in the Fairbanks
court. Contrasted in refreshing relief is the certainty of speedy
justice, saving in time and money, were the court called here for a
term, entailing as it would but the transfer of a small part of the
court machinery.
The judges of the district courts of Alaska are clothed with
great power and much discretion. They can accomplish much for
the good of the people or they can be a most active instrument for
wrong and oppression. It should, and in most instances has been,
their honest endeavor to serve the greatest number of people with
the greatest expedition. Legal forums are established by the peo
ple and the judges thereof are their servants.
We call upon Judge Overfield to give heed to the need of the
Iditarod. _
THE ONLY ISSUE INVOLVED
Let there be no mistake about the issue involved in the com
ing election for delegate to congress.
That Alaska is a territory of the United States; that citizens
of the United States living in the territory have the right of local
self government if they want to exercise that right; that those now
here and those who may elect to come have the right, nnder such
restrictions only as have hitherto applied in undeveloped terri
tories of the United States, to take and use for their own needs and
Purposes the unappropriated natural resources, including laud,
mineral, timbei and water—these are the things contended for by
Wickersbam, and advocated with such zeal and fidelity to principle
that the administration so far, at least, has been unable to influence
congress to stamp them with its disapproval.
That Alaska is a dependent possession of the United States,
bought, paid for and held and administered for the purpose of pro
ducing wealth for the United States; that peopie here have no
rights except those from time to time granted, through congress,
by the United States -that is tire theory that would be strength
ened by VVickersham's defeat.
There is no other issue.—Tanana Leader.
ED. S. ORR GETS INTO THE RACE
The news from Juneau anent the Republican conveu-j
tion surprises us but little, aince we had a strong bunch i
that Leroy Tozier would not be in the running. We didn’t!
count on Orr being up for office siuce one excursion into!
the political field, we figured, had cured him of such aspir-!
ations, and we do not figure him in the running now, al-j
though we entertain the highest regard for Mr. Orr’s integ- ]
rity and ability.
Tozier would have made a likely candidate, but he
knew that the regular Republican nominee would have no;
show for the money. In fact. Tozier, although now strongly ;
anti-Wickersham, really believes Wickershatn unbeatable, i
in spite of his unpopularity in some small sections of the!
territory, and in this we concur with Mr. Tozier.
" ■ ■ .—
The fact that “God helps those that help themselves”;
was most strikingly illustrated during the last week by thei
way the heavens came to the assistance of the workers on |
the river who are now putting in wing dams and deepening j
the channel. The rains of the last few days have raised
the level of the river and will undoubtedly help in moving
the freight from Dikemau.
Starts From Iditarod
Having reached the limit of good
business in freighting from the
mouth of Otter to Flat, Bert John
son, who has been running a string
of nine horses on that route,
changed his schedule last week and
; _--——
| will now work his pack train he-'
I tween Iditatod city and the creeks.
j The work so far done on the
trail lias helped travel to a slight
degree, hut it is still heavy going,
and worth all it co-ts.
Cloth signs for trail advertising j
at the Pioneer office.
I
Merchants Cafe
First Avenue, Near Corner Richmond Street
STRICTL Y FIRST CLASS
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
Charlie Miller, Prop. Iditarod, Alaska
DR. B. F. BROOK8,
Physician and Surgeon
Opposite Retl Cross Drujj Store
DR. E. T. BRADBURY,
Dentist
Temporary Hcadquarte-s. Tied Cross
Urujf Store
CHAS. D. CARTER.
Dentist
Offices, Piomeer Drufc Stores,
Flat and Otter
Will kt at flit lut tea *u« of oick eoitk
A. J. DALY.
Attorney at Law
Iditarolc Alaska
HENRY RODEN,
Attorney at Law
Iditarod, Alaska
McGowan, ('lark & Albrecht
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Iditarod, Alaska Phonk No. 7
The Pioneer Attorney* of This Cimp
ALFRED E. MALTBY,
(U. *. Comcii i*^ioiierJ
Attorney at Law
Notary Public
Practice only iu Uijtrict Uourt. 1DiTAK(jU
F. E. BECKER,
Attorney anil Counselor at Law
Ofllce—Richmond St., near Second
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law,
Notary Public, (,'onve}Hnci*ig\
Ab>traet* of Titles
Flat Creek
MRS. HARRIS,
I
General Stenographer
N. C. Co. Building
When you visit Flat creek cal! at
Carroll's Globe Bakery and Coffee
House for a lunch.
Subscribe for The Pioneer now,
The Riverside
MOSQUITO PROOF BEDS
First Aienue, Fiat Creek
JACK CONNOLLY
ROBERT SIMPSON.
Watchmaker
DISCOVERY, OTTER
Formerly with E. A. Suter, Fairbanks;
Diamond House, San Francisco
For a
Home-Cooked
DINNER
TRY
Miss Karlson,
First Ave., Iditarod
Henry Schneider
FOK
Wallpaper, Paints,
Oils, Glass, Sash
and Doors
SIGNS
Get Our Prices
Fort Gibbon's Up-to-Oate House
Golden North
HOTEL
Finest and Neatest Rooms
Caters Especially to Family Trade
NO Ear
KD y. LEE. PROP.
Enlarged Remodeled
BLACK’S
HOTEL
F'ort Gibbon
G ■ 1
STANLEY'S At the Mouth of Flat Creek
SERVES THE BE.-.T
MEALS AND LODGINGS
Telephone Connections With All the Principal Creeks.
Well Stocked With Soft Drinks, Cigars,
Tobaccos, and Fre9h Fruits of the Season
A place where you can meet all the boys.
FRANK B. STANLEY, PROP,
1 Formerly of the Stanley House. Hot .Springs, Alaska
Pioneer Barber Shop
Front St., Id It a rod
Otto Kientz, Prop.
STRICTLY UP TO DATE
Oh,Ho! Here’s a Tin Shop!
Pioneer
Sheet Metal Works
Willow Street, next to Anderson Bros., Iditarod
FRED BRUHN,
Mining Broker,
Real Estate, Employment Agency, Notary Public
Postoffice Building, Iditarod
Clark Lumber Co.
IDITAROD
New Wharf Now Ready to Receive
Freight and Steamers