IDITAROD PIONEER
Published Every Sunday Morning at Iditabod, Alaska.
FRANK E. BECKER. EDITOR
Vi/ 1 Geo. M. Arbuckle. Publisher No. 10
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WANTED : A LIVE POSTOFFiCE OFFICIAL IN ALASKA
The creek mail service is in a deplorable condition. Its
really very rotten because there isn’t any service at all.
Out of several hundred people who move and have
their being on the creeks there is a considerable majority
that have a peculiar penchant for liking letters from home.
These misguided individuals are compelled to dig up oue
samoleum a month for the privilege of having their letters
brought from Iditarod City by the express company. If a
newspaper or a doilie from sister Ann happens along, then
the express company soaks them two bits or half a dollar
extra. One shudders to think what would happen if a
Montgomery Ward catalogue should find its way hithei.
Well now. anyone can see that such doings is no good
business for the United States postal department. We are
not taking this occasion to knock any express company,—
the goings bad and maybe they are entitled to it—but when
large and thriving communities are left up against it in this
manner, then someone should let out a loud and prolonged
wail against it, and we’re doing that thing.
Our mail service i? really beautiful to contemplate. Its
a well-oiled dream of perfect harmony and efficiency,—we
do not think.
Housed at last to action, a chief clerk down at Nome
demands bids for a weekly service, just before the freezeup.
He wants to know how much somebody will charge to carry
mail from Kaltag to Iditarod City through the Innoko dig
gins, and make a trip a week. Now it is obvious that he
has demanded the impossible. It is also obvious that some
member of our perfectly good Alaska service should have
Keen here looking over the situation so that they could have
avoided the mistake of asking for such a fool bid.
Not having sent anyone here to look the matter in the
face, the postoffice department of course, does not know
that providing a mail service from Kaltag to Iditarod City
is only half the story. Apparently, from the conditions
that exist today, they don't know anything about the
Iditarod anyway, and don’t care.
They of course, don’t know that there should be post
offices at Flat City and Discovery City where free-born
American citizens can walk up and demand their mail with
out shelling out several bucks for the privilege of reading
a home paper. They don’t seem to realize or care that the
people out on the creeks are at least entitled to a weekly
mail service as is this city without paying independent car
riers therefore.
Feeling convinced that nothing can come of Chief
Clerk McManus’ call for bids for the service from Kaltag
here, unless he decide to whittle away a few reams of red
tape, we would like to offer a suggestion to creek people,
which if carried out quickly might result in some good be
fore the winter is over.
Both Flat City and Otter City residents should decide
upon the person they wish for a postmaster. Then they
should sign a petition asking for the appointments. These
petitions should be forwarded to McManus with an urgent
request for a creek mail service, with a complete account of
the conditions prevailing.
We don’t say that any action would be taken on this
proposition before the wild mustard again casts its incense
o'er the lush lalapoloosas, but it might do some good,—you
never can tell.
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE WANT?
The writer is a very much harassed person. Having finished
reading proof on one of the latest effusions of the star reporter on
the esoteric philosphy as correlated to the miocene degeneracy of
sycophantic cycles in the Tanana valley, Constant Reader from
Nome sticks his head in the door of the sanctum and inquires
mildly if he can have some of the next issue for laying the carpet.
Hurriedly calling Emergency Man No. 1 we ask fora philiolog
ical discussion of the Third Beach Theory as distinguished from the
mammillary propensities of Anvil creek, and have just bowed out
Constant Reader when Old Subscriber from Dawson butts in and
wants to know why in the seven hundred shades of Caesar’s sacred
ghost we said nothing about the blowout at the Forks in the last
issue.
After a somewhat heated interview with the night editor, who
has sole jurisdiction over blowouts, we assure Old Subscriber that
we will have the full Dawson birth list in the next paper, provid
ing it don’t rain to wet the cabbage leaves, and are just patting
McMahon
MINERS’ OUTFITS A SPECIALTY
EVERYTHING IN GROCERIES
Full Stock of Overalls, Rubbers, Cloves, Boots,
Undeawear, Etc.
_FLAT CREEK_
Slippern’s Mill..
ROUGH AND DRESSED LUMBER,
SASH, DOORS, GLASS AND
BUILDERS’ SUPPLIES
^xxxxxx^^ Iditarod
WATCH FDR BIB STOCK
Of Ladies’ and Men’s Goods now on way
from Dikeman coming for
ISIDORE GOLDSTEIN
Front Ave., Retween Richmond and Willow Sts., Tditarod
—AT
rCITY DRUG STORE—
-Circulating Library
J. A. SLIPPERS,
Carries the LARGEST and MOST COMPLETE Stock of
Sash, Boors, Glass,
MIRRORS AND BUILDERS’ HARDWARE IN iDITAROD
Store Krootts and Fancy Windows
Of any Size and Design Made to Order
LOWEST PRICES GUARANTEED
Telephone No. 5 Cor. Third and Otter .
RICHARD’S
WILLOW STREET
him on the back when Vox Populi hurries in excitedly to stop his
subscription. He says we don’t have any telegraph news and
would just as soon read Dr. Pa.yres’ Almanac as wallow through
all the slush we have been handing out to a long-suffering public.
We assure him that the office cat fell into the Merganthaler pot
last week and made the Ems fuzzy, which misfortune, coupled with
the fact that the wires were down, completely demoralized the
telegraphic edition and put the colored supplement on the bum.
These burdens we could bear if it were not for Anonymous
who sends in a communication complaining that he doesn’t care to
read on Sunday a piece of local news that originated next door to
him last Monday.
Fond Mother believes that the racy column should be obliter
ated and the space embellished with some of Ruth Ashmore's latest
dope on box pleats and Kiddo’s Food. Indignant Citizen explodes
an epistolary squib under the editorial swivel chair by demanding
in irate language where we got our information about the time he
stole sheep the winter of the salmon famine, but we could stand it
if Taxpayer were not so bitter about the stampede cutting the
actual value below his own sworn statement.
We try to face it with official sang froid and editorial avoirdu
pois. We have grown an habitual grin of self efface men t and
when the busy day is o’er, all sounds of strife and turmoil stilled,
we creep silently through the purple shadows to the kind old press
standing sweetly sympathetic in its twilit corner. There we bow
for a moment in silent communion, and then we kick that press
three times violently on its iron shin.
MENTAL ATTITUDE
Success is in the blood. There are men whom Fate can never
keep down—they march jauntily forward, and take by divine right
the best of everything that earth affords.
But their success is not attained by the Samuel Smiles policy.
They do not lie in wait, uor scheme, nor fawn, nor seek to adapt
their sails to catch the breeze of popular favor. Still, they are ever
alert and alive to any good that may come their way, and when it
comes they simply appropriate it, and, tarrying not, move steadily
on.
Good health ! When you go out of doors, draw the chin in,
carry the crown of the head high, aqd fill the lungs to the utmost;
greet vour friends with a smile, and put soul in every hand-cfasp.
Do not fear being misunderstood, and never waste a minute
thinking about your enemies.
Try to fix firmly in your own mind what you would like to do,
and then without violence of direction you will mere straight to
the goal.
Fear is the rock on which we split, and hate is the shoal on
which many a bark is stianded.
When we are fearful, the judgment is as unreliable as the com
pass of a ship whose hold is full of iron ore; when we hate, we have
unshipped the rudder; and if we stop to meditate on what the gos
sips say, we have allowed a hawser to befoul the screw.
Keep your mind on the great and pleasant thing you would
like to do; and then, as the dark days go gliding by, you will find
yourself unconsciously seizing upon the opportunities that are re
quired for the fulfillment of your desire, just as the coral insect
takes from the running tide the elements that it needs.
Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you de
sire to be, and the thought you hold is hourly transforming you
into that particular individual.
Thought is supreme, and to think is often better than to do.
Preserve a right mental attitude—that of courage, frankness
and good cheer.
The only way to get friends is to be one.
All success consists in this: You are doing something for some
body—benefiting humanity; and the feeling of success comes from,
the consciousness of this.
Interest a person in useful work, and you are transforming
chaos into cosmos.
Blessed is that man who has found his work.
Fear less, trope more; eat less, breathe more; bate less, and
love more—and all good things are yours.—Elbert Hubbard.
JUST A FEW THINGS
The present situation in regard to
the Kuskokwim suggests a triangle,
with Discovery Otter at one corner of
it.
The left limit corner, going from
here, is Julian creek, and it’s a good
40 miles gotting there. Crossing then
to Donian creek, where Stnealon and
Larson made their strike, it is just
about 40 miles over the hills. Coming
back from Donian to Discovery Otter,
one gets a little the best of it, for that
is the shortest side of the triangle.
There will be food at the mouth of
the Yukwonilnuk this fall. In other
words, there will be grub at George
town, at the mouth of the aforesaid
river.
The steamer Lavelle Young has al
ready made two trips to the mouth of
the Yukwonilnuk, where the stamped
ers will be able to outfit themselves.
Doc Green, the new commissioner in
the Kuskokwim, is reported to be on
his way from the mouth of theTakotna
to the new diggings on Julian creek.
Such a proposition seems entirely com
mendable since it is apparent that he
would have nothing to do at the point
to which he was originally assigned.
With bis arrival there will unques
tionably he many things stirring, and
I
many a budding genius will be apply-1
ing for a saloon license.
It is said that the trail across Bo- '
nanza is made difficult by the largo j
number of birds that one is compelled |
to stumble over. Then too, there are j
the ancient relics of long forgotten '■
game trails on the other sido of “de I
lump.” However the prospective j
mushor should not neglect to take along j
pleuty of the smoked meats for use in ■
case of emergency.
As a matter of fact they have found j
nothing more on Donlan creek than
good prospects, according to the word ,
of one who recently returned.
The association plan of staking claims
is receiving Us most thorough exempli
fication in the new district. Any man 1
with a largo pencil can stake several j
miles if his arm does not tire.
Word from Julian, Grouse, Kieland,
Donlan and other creeks in that district i
indicates that some of the most artistic
work lias been done with tiie long pen
cil over there. Each man that arrives
wants it all, which by the way, is only j
1 natural. In the general rush of greed
j for gold, it matters little if the funda-:
j mental laws of the nation are being
> violated.
EMPIRE COMMERCIAL |
ENTERS NEW QUARTERS
- I
Staged on boards that will receive
the plaudits of the populace for some
time to come, the Empire Commercial
company has opened for a long en
gagement in the Nestor building, and
will continue to play to large houses I
while the popularity of the piece exists. |
It is understood that the preliminary
engagement will be changed to accom- !
module a well-written thing in several
acts which will be played continuously
as long as the stock holds out.
In other words, the Empire Cora- i
mercial company contemplates a well
appointed saloon where one may pur- i
chase the red stuff that cheers in small
or alopathic doses. All of which means '
that another club room has been added
to the fight against gloom for the com
ing winter.
WELCOME TO OUR CiTY
In the period of innocuous aberration
intervening between the last and the .
present issues of this paper, have ap- [
peared two numbers of tiie Iditarod
Nugget to be known to the world i
henceforth as the child of a capable
brain and a good Democrat.
Major Strong has a great deal on his '
mind besides his hair. It would be well :
for the public to listen to him since he i
frequently hands out a hot one which
is apt to sting you on your pessimistic
epidermis. In fact it is a habit with .
him.
He weilds a large brush, and paints ;
in vivid colors. Besides his pictures j
are good to look upon.
Therefore let ic be said that a news- ■
paper striving for the common welfare,
backed by one whose outlook is sane,
healthy and optimistic, can only add a
little bit more pleasure to a life already
filled with the better things.
Will Throw Water
on it Next Spring
—
Having practically completed their:
ditch from Alder creek while they (
strip off a few leagues of the accumu-:
tion of ages, Martin, Chronister. Ellin- j
ger and Thomas are just about ready to j
look into the secrets of Granite creek j
when crystal rivulets trill again.
They have what might be called a
delightful hydraulic proposition. In
fact, there is no getting away from it. !
Whan spring again waves a careless j
hand o’er these hills and dales, these
energetic gentlemen will be pouring
large streams of water on their ills and
cares, while down in the sluice box
the riftlos will murmur with a song of
life and laughter.
LOSES ENOS OF
TWO FINGERS
While making overtures to a;
pump at his plant on i-B Otter j
creek, Mickey McHale, one of tlie
best known operators of the dis
trict met with a painful accident
last week and is now minus the
ends of the two middle fingers of
his right hand.
Caught in the iron grip of the
machinery the ends were crushed \
completely off, leaviug the bone1
exposed, making it necessary for
Dr. Spaulding to. put him under |
the influence before the injured j
members could be properly dressed.
Cloth signs for trail advertising
at the Pioneer office.
©utiot for Earno3t Endoavor
Tjinatl with music and filled with dis
tillery goods and nice oats, a saloon
opened on Willow street last Thursday '
night, accompanied by one of the most
popular outbursts of public approval
that has yet been witnessed in this i
city.
In other words, the proletariat voiced '
itself in mild appreciation of the fact
that it is still possible to open a line of
retreat along the shadowy path of i
gloom. They gathered round in large,
enthusiastic bunches while soventeen
bartenders beat it up and down the j
mahogany and three stewards looked i
upon the shrimp salad when it was
bereft of mayonnaise. Over in another !
corner a large orchestra of two mu- !
sicians made considerable noise which j
added to the general non compos men- {
tis, while Wallace and Hutchison, the j
proprietors, smiled quietly and admit-j
ted that it looked good to them.
Those new-fangled sanitary, conveni- j
ent and odorless water closets made at I
the Pioneer Sheet Metal Works are1
in big demand by parties desiring eco
nomical conveniences, and cleanly and
healthful surroundings.
Boas Makes Improvements
One of the first merchants to display
a stock of goods on Willow street last
spring was H. Boas, the old-time Fair
banks clothier, and he has been doing
business there every day since he
jumped off the steamboat. His store
room was all tern up last week while
a gang of workmen were hurriedly
building an attractive addition to the
front of tlie house, which, when all is
completed, with the high ceiling and
large window glass, makes the Boas
clothing house one of the finest of the
city.
Tlie winter is coming, so get your
homes made comfortable while you can
get the material. Anderson Bros. *
Neriand, wallpaper, paints, sash, doors.
DR. B. F. BROOKS,
Physician and Surgeon
Opposite Red Cross Drug Store
Telephone 30
Dr. Heinrich Wortmann
Physician and Surgeon
Office at City Drug Store, Tel. 36
first Ave., bet. Willow and Richmond
DR. E. T. BRADBURY,
Dentist
Opposite Red (Toss Drug Store
CHAS. D. CARTER,
Dentist
Offices. Pioneer Rru<t Stores,
Flat and Otter
Will be at Flat las! two weeks ot each month
HENRY RODEN,
Attorney at Law
IniTAROD, Alaska
McGowan, Clark A Albrecht
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Iditarod, Alaska Phone No. 7
The Pioneer Attorneys of This Camp
ALFRED E. MALTBY,
fl'. S. Commissioner]
Attorney at Law
Notary Public
Practice only in District Court. JDiTAROp
F. E. BECKER,
Attorney and Counselor at Law
OSice—Iditarod Pioneer
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law,
Notary Public, Conveyancing,
Abstracts of Titles
Plat Creek
J. S. HARDING,
Attorney at Law
Iditarod, Alaska
TheBestPlace to Outfit
FRESH STOCK PRICES RIGHT
Crowley &. Porter
First Avenue, Between Willow and Richmond Streets, Iditarod
THE SIDEBOARD
Old Tyier Whiskey
a Specialty
Front st. J. R. ANDERSON, PROP. Iditarcc
H. C. Hamilton Raymond Brumbaugh
E. E. Kellogg, Consulting Engineer
MINING MACHINERY, HARDWARE,
STOVES, TIN AND GRANITEWARE
E. J. Baker, Manager Str. Samson, Regular Sailings
Refreshment Rest Recreation
Manuel’s
Saloon
FRONT ST. IDITAROD CITY