THE IDITAROD PIONEER
Published Every Saturday Morning at Idltarod, Alaska
Vol. 8 CHARLES A. DERRY, Editor No. 6
ARBUCKLE & DERRY, Publishers
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Next Monday is iho anniversary of the birth of that greatest
character in American history- Abraham Lincoln. Coming at a
time when the country faces a momentous crisis, it is well that
advantage should be taken of the occasion to give consideration to
the man’s life and work, which should be an inspiration to every
American who loves right, liberty and justice. It is probable that
wlicn President Wilson was closeted with his own conscience on
Thursday evening last while he gave consideration to the great
problem which he was called upon to decide, he had visions of
the martyred President. Fancy suggests the thought that when he
faced the "very holy and very terrible isolation for the conscience
of every man who seeks to read the destiny in affairs for others a.
well as for himself," the spirit of the immortal Lincoln looked
down on him and inspired him with the determination, the courage
and the wisdom to decide rightly.
No words of praise can add one iota to Lincoln’s fame, and it
is the greatest tribute to the memory of the great heart and noble
mind of the num that in every crisis in the life of the coun
try for which he lived and died the hearts of the people turn in
stinctively to his achievements for inspiration and direction.
_A
THE GERMAN-AMERICAN CRISIS
The breaking off of diplomatic relations between the United
States and Germany carries with it such momentous possibilities
that, although it had been momentarily expected, the people
naturally were somewhat stunned with its realization. We are told
hv the historians that never has such a condition arisen between
great powers without resulting in hostilities; and it is to be ex
pected that war will be the outcome. It will be contended even
by many that the United states should take the initiatory hostile
steps.
That there lias been provocation enough to justiiv the course
of our government will no! be seriously denied, and il is doubtful
whether any other nation would have exhibited the patience and
forbearance that have been shown bj President \\ ilson and his
advisers under the circlin'-' ih.s. The aiinum-tration has been
maligned and traduced for its pacific attitude, and there are those
who sincerely believe that America’s honor has been besmirched
by its policies. It is plain, however, that the attempt to keep the
peace, has had the indorsement of the great majority of American
citizens.
Now that the die is cast there will be no division of sentiment
nmong Americans. With Charles E. Hughes they will say, e
are all Americans, standing behind our President.” Whatever dif
ferences there may have been heretofore will be relegated to the
rear and a united front will be presented to whatever foe wo may
be called upon to oppose.
The people of this country are not a martial people, and have
ever been slew to embark on warfare, even when the cause was
righteous. This has been taken in some quarters to indicate a
craven spirit rather than a desire to settle all differences without
the barbarous resort to the sword. The nation once involved in
warfare will so bear it elf that it will not be sentiments of scorn
that will be evoked from its opponents.
The position of the United States in this crisis is that of the
“big brother” of the neutral nations, leading the way back to
civilization and morality, if we shall succeed in shortening the
era of carnage that hies raged for two years and a half we shall
not have fought in vain. But in any event the United States
protests in the only terms which now receive any recognition by
the world powers—threats of warfare—against a return to sav
agery and the domga that "might makes right."
THE TOLSTOI
Always it is gratifying to hear ami see in print optimistic and
glowing tributes to one’s own home district, and when these are
ba«ed on fact it is pleasant to realize that they presage an era of
prosperity net only for the immediate residents of the community,
but for the many others who always are attracted by industrial
activity, especial y in mining countries. It is seldom that a
mining communty is called upon to contradict too glowing report;
concerning its own i -ources or possibilities; usually it is the op
posite—disparaging stories calculated et a distance must be re
futed.
The Pioneer has made an honest endeavor to keep the public
thoroughly informed as to developments in the Tolstoi country.
Believing from the inception of the excitement that there was
strong probability of new and profitable mining ground being
opened up, on a scale that would furnish employment and reward
for large numbers of prospectors and miners, we have given pub
licity to every scrap of reliable information relating to the new
camp that could be gathered. At the same time an effort was
made to avoid the constant reiteration and exaggeration which
have been so common with reference to new mining districts the
country over. Allowance also has been made for the enthusiasm
of interested informants. We have shown that good mining
ground is being opened up on Boob creek, that there are many
evidences of pay on other creeks, and that altogether the Tolstoi
U one of the most promising fields for the prospector to be found
in .Alaska, and those going there equipped to carry on prospecting
should be encouraged to the utmost.
But the district is a remote one, where transportation is diffi
cult and supplies costly. It would be worse than criminal for a
newspaper or other agency of publicity to give cause for a senseless
stampede of illy-equipped people into the new camp at this time.
So far it is an unproved region with the exception of one small
creek. There is no employment to be had, and much suffering
would result.
The reports coming from the coast show that someone inter
ested in flooding the country with penniless men has apparently
set about the task of deliberately starting an unwarranted and un
justified stampede.
The Tolstoi is a region of great promise. There is plenty of
room for optimism concerning its future without spreading reports
of fictitious and sensational developments.
a.
We have become so accustomed to the sight of the personal pro
noun when used by European monarchs in reference to “my” army,
“my” navy, “my” government and “my” people that it will be a
wholesome change to hear the President of the world’s greatest re
public speak of “our” army, navy, government and people.
GOING AFTER THE BACHELORS
Luke McLuke, the quaint humorist of the Cincinnati Enquirer,
tells of a judge who “fines married drunks twice as much as single
drunks,” “This isn’t fair,” says Luke. “A married man has a lot
of reasons for getting drunk, and what does a single man know
about trouble?”
Which is by way of preface to the relation of an incident which
took place recently at Fairbanks, when the city council of the
metropolis of the Tanana valley passed a resolution as follows:
“Resolved, That a valuation of S200 be placed on the
personal property of all single men who are not paying taxes
on other property in the town of Fairbanks.”
It is stated that this is not in the nature of a “tax on bach
elors,” but the statement is belied by the fact that efforts are to
be made to legalize such a direct tax. Presumably the “city days"
of Fairbanks are married men, and the attempt to mulct the lone
bachelor is but a feeble effort in the way of making his lot more
unpleasant and inducing him to enter the bonds of matrimony.
(hi the theory that “misery loves company”?
-.-«
it is very important, said president Wilson in one ol tus cam
paign speeches, “that statesmen of other nations should understand
America. We have held off from the conflagration in Europe be
cause we wanted to play a different part. We are holding off be
cause when we use the force of this nation we want to know what
we are using it for. There is as much fight in America as in any
nation in the world. We want always to hold the force of America
to fight for the rights of mankind, not for the rights of property.
But in fighting for these right things we should know what the
touchstone is. We must have absolute allegiance to America. We
must be truly American. The rights of humanity are the essence
of freedom.”
-♦
A peculiar twist is given to a Biblical quotation by the Anchor
age Times, which says: “The Bible tel s us that while silver, lead
ami other metals are found in leads, lodes and deposits, gold is
where you find it.” It is a reminder of an old Pennsylvania Dutch
friend who used to attribute all current sayings to the Bible, and
startled his hearers with such remarks as: “‘Every tub stands on
its own bottom,' as the Bible says.” In all probability the Anchor
age editor had in mind Job 2S:1 : "Surely there is a vein for the
silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.” “Fine” in this in
stance is equivalent to “refine.”
-£
The Pioneer has on previous occasions felt compelled to remark
on the unusual reticence of local mining men in reference to de
velopments in this district. This is the more remarkable because
of the fact that when on the Outside they may be said to be fairly
garrulous when interviewed by newspaper men. Miners from whom
not a line of “copy” may be gleaned when at home often furnish
stories to Outside newspapers which make for the general hilarity
when reproduced by the;r favorite little home week.y. One guess
cnlv is allowed as to the reason for this.
----
The German American Alliance has pledged its loyalty to the
government of the United States. But if there were no Germcn
American Alliance no pledge would be necessary.
THE HONORABLE MISS RANKIN
(Louisville Courier-Journal)
The Honorable Miss Jeanette Rankin, who has been elected to
congress from Montana, will face a situation which, reversed, would
cause a man’s courage to ooze from the palms of his hands.
Breathes there a man with heart so brave that he would w'ant to
become one of a deliberative body made up of 434 women and
himself?
Hannibal crossing the Alps. Dieneces at the pa-s of Thermopy
lae, Wi ham Tell of the apple incident, Charles Martel of Tours.
Wellington at Waterloo, Patrick Henry making his first speech
at Hanover Courthouse, the first, aviator in the set of avieting
the first time, the man who went over Niagara Falls on a slack
and dick wire, end the other man who went over in a barrel, were
in the.r difffeknt ways courageous. But what was any brand of
marly courage represented in these performances in comparison
with the hardly imaginable intrepidity of a men confronted with
the opportunity to be the only man among 434 women?
Let us suppose the case of a man elected for some exceptional
reason to membership in the Colonial Dames or the Daughters of
the American Revolution. Would he. could he, face with equanim
ity the prospect of taking his scat in a body composed, with the
single exception, of women?
Miss Rankin is receiving the congratulations in cslmnes:s of
spirit, no doubt. It is of curious psychologic, if not biologic, in
terest that women are less afraid of men than men are of women;
that ti e male of the species is cock of the walk only when others
of his sex rre out walking; that masculinity rather than femininity
is shrinking and inclined to bolt or crawl under a table when it is
a minority of one in a gathering.
Nobony is going to expect Miss Rankin to bo afflicted with
buck ague when she gets to \\ ashington and has an opportunity
to Lt fly the parthiun shafts of her political and seen! and sex
c< nvictiens at big game in the national house of representatives.
She will fed, no doubt, as sure of herself as Dr. Mary Walker in
trousers. A man so situated hardly would survive the bliehting
terrors of the period betwixt the election and the convening of
cf i.erc-s.
--*>
ON TO IDITAROD
(Seward Post)
After Fairbanks, the lower Yukon is the aim of men in the
mining camps of that vast section of Alaska between Mount Mc
Kinley and the Bering sea.
There is Iditarod, Flat, Ophir, Tolstoi, Marshall City and the
Kuskokwim country, an inland empire in itself and practical y un
touched, all waiting for a railroad and cheaper freight rates before
extensive development is possible.
Think of trying to develop a land where it costs a hundred dol
lars a ton to bring in food supplies to the towns on navigable
streams, and from that up where overland travel is necessary.
Preliminary survey for a railroad extending from the Seward
Fairbanks line to this new region has already been made, and the
increased mineral development is sufficient to warrant preparation
for construction of the road.
Fuel is scarce in the lower Yukon country, and at present coal
and wood bring fabulous prices compared to those paid here.
Cheaper fuel will mean the mining of ground on many streams
which could well be worked except for that hundred dollars per
ton freight rate.
Constantine of Greece spends all his time congratulating himself
that, unlike Ferdinand of Roumania, he did not bite into the pie
before it had cooled sufficiently.—New York Evening Sun.
-«
If 0. Henry really learned to write short stories in prison, a
host of his imitators deserve indeterminate sentences.—Pittsburgh
Gazette-Times.
- -jr
Professor Munsterberg says that after the war German kultur
will rule the world. 0 Death, where is thy sting!—Boston Tran
script. _
Ball Band Rubber Boots and Pacs Ball Band Rubber Boots and Pars _u
i PETALUMA GGS i
Q Sj*
^ Cold Storage =
S and Bacon I
1 HUNT’S CANNED FRUITS §
g Fisher’s "Blend” and "Art” Flour l
s Golden Glow Butter—None Better °
j _ >
s Dog Hams, 6c pound Dog Bacon, 12c pound s
[ N. C. Co. Sole Agents for Alaska j j N. C. Co. Sole Agents for Alaska in
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Woodrow Wilson's Tribute to the
Spirit of Martyred President
Many attempts have been made to frame
“the perTert tribute" to Abraham Lincoln.
Woodrow Wilson pictures him as the mys
terious but reassuring product or democ
racy. The spiritual quality or this portrait
no 'less than the art displayed In the use or
less than Iirteen hundred words to paint It
make It memorable. Ily popular subscrip
tion the log-cabin birthplace or Lincoln on
a farm near Hodgenvllle, Ky., lias been In
closed In an Imposing granite memorial
building as a gift to the nation. President
Wilson, called upon to accept the memorial,
September -i, gave tills impressive Interpre
tation of It.—-Current opinion.
No more significant memorial could have
been presented to the nation than this, I
■xpresses so much of what is singular and
noteworthy in the history of the country;
t suggests so many of the things that we
irize most highly in our life and in our
system of government.
How eloquent this little house within
‘his shrine is of the vigor of democracy!
There is nowhere in the land any home so
remote, so humble, that it may not con
tain the power of mind and heart and con
science to which nations yield and history
submits its processes.
Nature pays no tribute to aristocracy,
subscribes to no creed or caste, renders
■'ealty to no monorch or master of any name
or kind.
Genius is no snob. It does not run aftet
titles or seek by preference the high circle
>f society. It affects humble company a.
weli as great. It pays no special tribute
to universities or learned societies or con
ventional standards of greatness, but se
renely chooses its own comrades, its own
haunts, its own cradle even, and its own
life of adventure and training.
Here is proof of it. This little hut was
■ he cradle of one of the great sons of men
i man of singular, delightful, vital genius
vho presently emerged upon the stage of
the nation’s history, gaunt, ungainly, but
dominant and majestic, a naturcl ruler of
men, himself inevitably the central figure
j if the great plot.
No man can explain tnts, nut every man
■an see how it demonstrates the vigor of
democracy, where every door is open in
■very hamlet and countryside, in city and
wilderness alike, for the ruler to emerge
hen he will and claim his leadership in the
free life. Such are the authentic proofs of
e validity and vitality of democracy.
Here, no less, hides the mystery of de
mocracy. Who shall guess this secret of
nature and Providence and a free polity?
Whatever the vigor and vitality of the
tuck from which he sprang, its mere vigor
and soundness do not explain where this
man got his greet heart that seemed to
nmprcliend all mankind in its catholic
, mrl benignant sympathy, the muni that sat
S "nihroned behind those brooding, melan
i holy eyes, whose vision swept many a bori
on which those about him dreamed not of
that mind that comprehended what it had
never seen and understood the language of
iff airs with the ready ease of one to tin
manner born—or that nature which seemed
n its varied richness to be the familiar of
men in every way of life.
| Inis is the sacred mystery oi democracy
that its richest fruits spring up out of soil
I which no man has prepared and in circurn
| stances amid which they are the least ex
! peeled. This is a place alike of mystery
j and of reassurance.
j it is like.y that in a society ordered
I otherwise than our own Lincoln could not
! have found himself or the path of fame am:
j power upon which he walked serenely to his
| death. In this place it is right that we
i Lould remind ourselves of the solid and
j .liking facts upon which our faith in de
j mocraey is founded.
j Many another man besides Lincoln has
| served the nation in its highest places of
council and of action whose origins were as
humble as his. Though the greatest exam
| le of the universal energy, richness, slim
j rlation and force of democracy, he is only
| ne exemple among many. The permeat
j ng and all pervasive virtue of the freedom
I which challenges us in America to make the
1 most of every gift and power we possess,
every page of our history serves to em
nhasize and illustrate. Standing here in
his place, it seems almost the whole ol
he stirring story.
Here Lincoln had his beginnings. Here
he end and consummation of that great life
seem remote and a bit incredible. And yet
there was no break anywhere between the
! beginning and the end, no lack of natural
sequence anywhere. Nothing really incredi
ole happened. Lincoln was unaffected.}- as
much at home in the White House as he
was here.
Do you share with me the feeling, I won
der, that he was permanently at home no
where? It seems to me that in the case of
a man—I would rather say of a spirit—
I ke Lincoln the question where he was i.
i little significance; that it is always what
■ was that really arrests our thoughts and
Ukes bold of our imagination.
It is the spirit always that is sovereign.
Lincoln, like the rest of us, was put through
the discipline of the world—a very rough
and exacting discipline for him, and iu
ispensable discipline for every man who
would know wLat he is about in the midst
of the world’s affairs; but his spirit got
only its schooling there. It did not derive
its character or its vision from the experi
ences which brought it to its full revelation.
The test of every American must always
be, not where he is, but what he is. That
also is of the essence of democracy, and is
ihe moral of which this place is most
gravely expressive.
We wou.d like to think of men like Lin
ln and Washington as typical Americans,
mt no man can be typical who is so un
usual as these great men were. It was typ
ical of American life that it should produce
,.:eh men with supreme indifference as to
he manner in which it produced them, and
a? readily here in this hut as amid the tit
le circle of cultivated gentlemen to whom
Virginia owed so much in leadership and
example.
And Lincoln and Washington were typi
cal Americans in the use they made of their
genius. But there will be few such men
it best, and we will not look into the mys
ery of how and why they come. We will
only keep the door open for them always,
and a hearty welcome—after we have rec
gnized them.
I have read many biographies of Lincoln;
I have sought out with the greatest interest
the many intimate stories that are told of >
him. the narratives of near-by friends, the I
ketches at close quarters, in which those
■vho had the privilege of being associated
.'.ith him have tried to depict for us the
very man himself “in his habit as he lived.’’ 1
but I have nowhere found a real intimate
of Lincoln’s. I nowhere get the impres
sion in any narrative or reminiscence that
the writer had in fact penetrated to the
heart of his mystery, or that any man could
penetrate to the heart of it.
That brooding spirit had no real famil
iars. I get the impression that it never
spoke out in complete self-revelation, and
that it could not reveal itself completely
to anyone. It was a very lonely spirit that
looked out from underneath those shaggy
brows and comprehended men without fully
communing with them, as if, in spite of all
its genial efforts at comradeship, it dwelt
ipart, saw its visions of duty where no man
eked on.
There is a very holy and very terrible
isolation for the conscience of every man
who seeks to read the destiny in affairs
for others as well as for himself, for a na ]
tion as well as for individual”. That pri
vacy no man can intrude upon. That lonely
rch of th» spirit for the right perhapt
no man can assist. the strange child of
the cabin kept company with invisible j
'hings, was born into no intimacy but that |
of its own silently assembling and deploying |
thoughts.
1 have come here today not to utter a
■ logy on Lincoln; he stands in need of
■ne; but to endeavor to interpret the
caning of this gift to the nation of the
place of his birth and origin.
Is not this an altar upon which we may
forever keep alive the vestal fir?_ of democ
rcay as upon a shrine at which some of the
leepest and most sacred hopes of mankind i
nay from age to age be rekindled? For
these hopes must certainly be rekindled, and
nly those who live can rekindle them.
The only stuff that can retain the life
giving heat is the stuff of living hearts. Am ;
he hopes of mankind cannot be kept ali ve j
by words merely, by constitutions and uoc
ines of right and codes of liberty. The
object of democracy is to transmute these
:nto the life and action of society, the self
denial and self-sacrifice of heroic men and i
women willing to make their lives an em- !
bodiment of right and service and enhght- j
ened purpose.
The commands of democracy are as im- j
perative as its privileges and opportunities
are wide and generous. Its compulsion is
upon us. It will be great and lift a great
light for the guidance of the nations only j
f we are great and carry that light high !
for the guidance of our own feet.
We are not worthy to stand here urdes
ve ourselves be in deed and in truth rpal
democrats and servants of mankind, ready
to give our very lives for the freedom and
justice and spiritual exaltation of the great
nation which shelters and nurtures us.
ESTMERE HAD HIS FUNG
BEFORE FINAL CRASH CAME
Charle- Estmere, the civil engineer who
left here last summer, ami who was re
cently adjudged insane by a jury at Mata
nuska, while being taken out over the trail
to Seward caused some trouble to the offi
cials by demanding a jury to rehear his
case at one or two places, according to
the Seward Post of December 26.
An interesting development of Estmere's
case which came to light some time ago
was the fact that the coast papers have j
reen printing a lengthy criticism of the
Alaska engineering commission, which has
charge of the construction of the govern j
ment railway, written by Estmere, which j
was in the form of a latter to Secretary ,
if the Interior Lane. The matter evi
dently was sent out by the Associated Press
under a Washington date, and seems to j
have been rather gleefully' taken up by
anti-administration newspapers.
Now one of poor E-t mere’s aberrations
took the form of writing lengthy communi
• ations on government: 1 problems, and The
Pioneer has on more than one occasion been
cored with voluminous documents from
’’is pen reviewing government methods re
lating to Alaska, which seems to have been
pet delusion. These were so discon
nected and apparently meaningless that no
attention was paid to them. A short time
before he left Iditarod he called a mass
meeting at Flat to discuss Secretary' Lane’s
plan for a government development board
for Alaska, and at the conclusion of the
meeting, at his own expense, he telegraphed
*o numerous Alaska newspapers a set of
resolutions adopted by the assemblage. It
was quite evident to those with whom he
came in contact here that his mind had be
come deranged, and it was therefore no
surprise that he had been committed to
the 8sylum,
A perusal ot the letter to secretary Lane,
as printed in full by the Juneau Dispatch,
causes wonder that anyone could have taken
‘he document seriously, although it shows
an intimate acquaintance with engineering
nrcblems. One paragraph is as follows:
“To Hon. Secretary Lane I plead guilty
fo the greater than normal perception
>owers. I plead not guilty to alarmist nor
Pinchot type of conservation. In all public
fficieney problems the base motive for the
ort for solution of any problem shoul"
a sound and safe fundamentals, efficient
detailed application of methods towards the
greatest economy, and consequent maximum
f output and profit.”
He submitted plans and estimates for the
“most and largest pulp and paper mil!.”
and also gave numerous plans for the guid- i
nee of the commission in the development !
of the country’s resources.
Estmere was taken out to the Morning- I
ie institution early in Janusrv. )
_La_
Fresh Olympia and Eastern Oysters. J
SI.50 per can. Iditarnd M°?.r C
Professional
Michigan, 188' Al»iU, t»*®
Kentucky. 1891
George Woodruff Albrecht
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney of IdJtarod
E. M. STANTON
Attorney at Law
Office: Corner Willow and Second Stj.
Iditarod Pioneer BuildiDj
CHAS. E. TAYLOR
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenus IditarOT
DR. fcSQORE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DRUG STORE
DR. H. E. AURiNGER
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Flat City Hospital. Flat Cfty
Consultation Hours in Forenoon* and fey
Appointment
FLAT DRUG STORE
Best of Everything
ALL THE TIME AT THE
Arcade Cafe
FLAT CITY
Open Dev and Night
FINE WATCH REPAIRING
NUGGET JEWELRY TO ORDER
J. L. SALE, Flat City
PI AfARn<s lll? amI sma11' primed on
i A-rat-ritM/*} p^ncr. cardboard or cloth
on short notice, at Idturod Pioneer office
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
CAFE
FLAT CITY HOHBACK &. DURAND
Bet. the Grand and Bajoy's Bari
THE BEST ALL THE TIME
WE ARE HERE TO STAY
French Joe's Roadhouse
SOUTH FORK KUSKOKWIM
DOG BACON AND FISH
FOR SALE
Big Slocks of Fresh Goods
Everything for the M;ner and
Prospector
fVlAX SIMEL S
Stores at Cripple City and Wouth of Tolatol
J. H. ROGERS
ftiew Restaurant
Open Early and Late
GOOD EATS, QUICK SERVICE
Only Correspondence School Chef
in Alaska
Front St., Idltarod, next to Manuel’a
COLD IN OLD KENTUCKY
Major G. W. Albrecht has received a let
ter from Mrs. Albrecht, who is spending the
winter in Kentucky, which states that on
December 19 the thermometer there repa
ired 12 degrees below zero.
FINNEGAN & CAMERON
FLAT CITY
Agency for Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs and Records
TCEACCO CIGARS STATIONERY
CONFECTIONERY AND BILLIARDS
C. R. Cameron Jas. F. Finnegan
THOS. McMAHON
DEALER IN
FLAT, ALASKA