IDITAROD PIONEER
ill - ISIiKU hYl.in SAT I Ml ‘AY MOli.MMj AT ihlTAltUU, ALASKA
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THE NEW YEAR
The year !915 starts out most auspiciously for Alaska. With the
reassembleg oi ccr cress comes tne announcement ot lice dcirmte loca
tion of the Erst unit of the system of government railroads to be con
structed in the ten it ary. TIrifollowing closely upon the heels of the
passage ol the coal lands 'easing bill, cannot but give gieat impetus to
the inquiry into the possibilities of Alaska, and with intci est once
aroused, a period of great development is bound to ensue. It will per
haps be some time before active work is started upon the unit m wir.cn
the people of this district are most interested—that from Seward and
Susitna to the Kuskokwim, mnoko and Iditarod rivers, to which points
surveyors’ recor.noisances have been made. But wnalever aids any
part of interior Alaska will undoubtedly aitect beneficially this region,
and the great problem of transportation is m a lair way to solution.
It is uni c.elv tin t the European war wall tic allowed to mte.feic
with the government’s program in Alaska. The sum involved >s in
significant w hen compared with tire general gov ernment expenditures,
and while there is a disposition to curtail expenses, u is more than
likely that the washes ol the administration in tms matter will be al
lowed to prevail.
Altogether the outlook for Alaska, and especially the great Interior
valleys, is most hopeful, and the new year should bring a leauzation
of the dreams of the most optimistic.
The brief dispatch stating the position of ex-President Taft on the
prohibition jiiestion rray be the cause of misunderstanding unless his
views are more definitely outlined. Mr. Taft, as is we’ll known, has an
almost reverent respect for the provisions of the constitution, and he
is doubtless actuated by the belief that if the bars provided by that in
strument for guard.ng the rights of states to legislate upon what have
heretofore been considered purely local questions be taken down, the
tendency may be to encroach more and more upon states rights, an;,
incidentally upon the individual liberties of citizens. More profound
statesmen than Mr. iaft have expressed alarm at the spread of the pro
hibition movement on the same grounds. And yet, in spite of the
iealous regard for state lights and the desire to safeguard individual
liberty, the belief is becoming more and more impressed upon Inc
people of the worid today that there are ideals worth sacrificing even
cherished “rights” for._
Out of all the mass or vituperation winch has Deen printed as a re
sult of the destruction of beautiful and historic buildings and cities in
Belgium and France there shines forth this hopeful sentiment from the
Frankfurter Zeitung: ‘ War which destroys also opens a way to new
creators. At ail times mankind lias regained courage to create new
works stronger and more beautiful than those which had been de
stroyed. If the German armies in their victorious advance have had to
hunt the enemy, not only from the fortresses but also from the ancient
and sacred seats of civilization, we have at least the consolation that a
victory bought so dearlv will eventually produce greater and more
beautiful works than medieval churches towering to the sky.
German humor as perpetrated by Bernhard Dernberg is a fearfui
and wonderful thing. Mr. Dernburg is described by the American Re
view of Reviews as “one of Berlin’s foremost bankers, a member of
the upper house of the Prussian parliament, and who was for four
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g jK || ^y|| Mrs. Geo. Mutchler, Prop.
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years the emperor’s minister of colonies. He is in the United States
at present ostensibly in the interest of the German Red Cross, but from
the amount of literature appearing over his signature in current
publications attempting to justify Germany s position in the present
war, he is more probably one of the men referred to by other writers
as constituting Germany’s press bureau in this country. This grim
humorist, speaking oi the building up of Belgium’s agriculture as an
adjunct to Germany’s commissary, says: ‘ This, by the way, will be
done by Germany as soon as Belgium has been liberated entirely from
her invaders!” __
DIVIDING ALASKA -
There have been hints from time to time that a movement was on
foot to urge upon congress the necessity of dividing the territory of
Alaska into two separate political divisions or territories, evidently the
intention being to make of the coast region one territory and Interior
Alaska another. Apparently there is but little prospect of this scheme j
being successful, and up to dale no newspaper published in Alaska has [
had the temerity to openly advocate the proposition. At last, how
ever, there has appeared an open indorsement of the plan by J. H.
Heckman, a canneryman recently elected to the legislature from the
First division, and he thus gives his views in a published interview:
Another thing that 1 aru strongly in favor of is the division of the territory into two
separate parts, as the interests of Southeastern Alaska are altogether different from the
interests of the Interior or Western Alaska, and i d. n't believe in taxing our interests for
the benefit of the other sections, and we need every dollar for the improvement of our
own sections, and the part of the country that is being taxed.
From the standpoint of selfishness the logic of Mr. Heckman s argu
ment is absolutely unassailable. ihe interests ci the canneryman
prompt a desire to be taxed as little as possible and to secure as much
benefit as he can from the expenditure of the money derived from
taxation. His business is the taking advantage of the prodigality of
nature and exploiting it to the best purpose. The fact that the rest of
Alaska may have some remote interest in the natural riches of her ad
jacent waters never occurs to him. His market is outside o: Alaska;
consequently he is but little interested in the development of the coun
try except in so far as his own business is concerned. The develop
ment of Interior Alaska means nothing to such as he. The Interior has
poured its millions in gold and other products through the commercial!
channels, and its commerce has created towns where Indian villages
existed before, but this has been of no interest to the canneryman.
Now that the territory has grown into importance through the develop-;
ment of mining in the Interior, the canneryman sees nothing but in-j
c reased responsibility and liability through the coast region being j
linked with the Interior in the plan of government. As a matter of
fact, the ideal condition for the canneryman who sees nothing but the
immediate profits of his business would be an entire absence of govern- j
ment of a local nature, as he is as a rule entirely independent of the
surrounding country. The Alaska canneryman usually imports his
labor from the Outside and returns it there when the season is over, and
likewise his supplies are imported.
It is extremely doubtful whether the proposed plan will receive even
serious consideration by the Alaska legislature, which, if it were so dis
posed, could do nothing more effective than memorialize congress in
the matter. Should such a movement ever receive impetus, it would
be bitterly opposed by all who have the welfare of the territory at
heart.
Under the present form of territorial government the Interior cannot
at best hope to be adequately represented in the law-making body.
The difficulty of travel, the length of time required in attendance at
legislative sessions and the meager compe '.ration, ail combine to dis
courage representative citizens from seeking legislative positions. The
consequence probably will be to fill the legislature with men representa
tive of large interests, who do not necessarily represent the people, or
self-seekers who have no permanent interest in the welfare of the dis
tricts which they represent
It will be interesting to note the manner in which Mr. Heckman’s
proposal will be received by the different sections affected, and it is to
be sincerely hoped that the legislature as a body is not composed of
men with such narrow views as the gentleman quoted displays.
The Christmas tree and entertainment at Flat City were worthy of
'the people of that lively burg, and the description by our modest con
tributor is in keeping with the celebration. y
Bernhardi and the lame cobbler of Zabern are heavy loads for the
German apologists. They cannot be explained away, says Life.
THE NEW YEAR
The year is young and joyous, the yc3r is glad anti gay; no gloomy doubts annoy
us. as we jog on our way. We’ve shaken all bad ban;:-', we re righteous as can be.
anti s>:. as blithe as rabbits, we gam •> 1 in our glee. No more from brimming flagon
well blov the creamy foam; no more, with vipine jag on, we’ll go at midnight
1 me. The fle.-hp-ts are deserted, we scorn the demijohn; the jugs with which we
flirted are b .i.i. hed now and gon-c We've fired the old rank briar that caused do
me sic trife; we re striving for the higher, the better, nobler life; we’ve joined the
moral fimir.s who are in virtue versed, and shun the long, black stogies which smell
like wienerwur.'t. No more io b.wk the ponies our footsteps will be bent; the bank
will get cur moneys and pay us three per cent; well dodge the stale devices that
very spendthrift knows, and swallow cherry ices instead of tangletoes. Our pledges
are not shallow, they’re founded on the rock; an 1 every man a halo will wear around
his block. Now may the gods who guard us ,fj£m their siesta rouse and brace us
and reward us with strength to keep our vbws! W may our lives be holy while this
glad New Year stays, and may we never slowly drift back to evil ways. Walt Mason.
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Written for The Pioneer by C. IMward
Cone, 4*ihe Bard «T tin* KuMcokwirn” >
Coine up to the shack and spend Christ
mas. Jim.
J'vp got her fixed up snug and trim.
And a big. fat chunk of mountain sheep
That, to tell tlm truth, was hard to keep
For this oecasmu: but that’s all right,
Tor 1 hung onto it good and tight,
And it's hi the oven, Miioking Imt.
With checiiako spuds that didn't rot.
I was intending to go outside
To .--pend this Christmas, and hard I tried,
But the claim didn't pan out extra well.
And nary a wildcat could I sell,
so l had to play the same old role—
Put in the winter sinking a hole,
keep on digging without praise or blame,
When one is playing this .Northern game.
! But what’s the use of moralizing here.
! I util you’ll think 1 am getting queer?
So come on up, if you’re agreed,
And we'll have the great, big Christmas
feed.
I've a little hootch I've been saving, too! —
Just a Christinas drink for me and you.
So coine, 1 say. and let us eat
And have our little Christmas treat.
Yesterday Christmas? Hell, you say!
it don't make much difference, anyway,
For days are very much the same
When one’s playing this Northern game.
A day too soon or a day too late
Isn't any cause for a debate.
So we'll drink our hootch and eat our sheep
And the Christmas Spirit try to keep.
I The Pioneer, your favorite weekly, sent
to your Outside address, will keep you bet
ter informed on Alaska events than would
.scores of letters.
DIDN’T MATTER
When a lot of stranded Americans were
coming over from Europe recently a lady
noticed the captain hurrying across the
deck, and as he seemed very much per
plexed, she said:
“Captain, what is the matter?”
“Our rudder broken,” replied the cap
tain.
“Oh I wouldn’t worry about that, said
the lady, “for as long as it is under water
ail the time no one will notice it.” St.
Louis Olobe-Democrat.
As
THE FOOL
The story is told of a well-known traveler
who on one journey was much annoyed by
a pedantic bore who forced himself upon
him and made a great parade of his learn
ing. 'ihe traveler bore it as long as he
could, and at length, looking at him gravely,
said:
“My friend, you and I know all that is to
be known.”
“How is that?” said the man, pleased
with what he thought a complimentary as
sociation.
“Why,” said the traveler, “you kno."
everything except that you are a fool, and
I know that.”- Tit-Bits.
When you come in from the creeks,
don’t ferget to stop in at the Crosby Mas
sage and Bath Parlors and try the Electric
1 Vibration and Vapor Baths.
, SONGS OF LONDON TOWN \
- \
The common greeting in London is “How are you getting along with yow v,al
son?" Everyone is writing a war song, hoping to give Britain another “Marseil
laise." But so far none of the recruiting songs which the music halls are trying to
popularize have taken with the recruits, whose favorite remains the entirely un
martial “It’s a long way to Tipperary.” The favorite whistling tune on the march
is by all odds the “ Marseillaise," although the soldiers’ chorus from ‘Taust’’ and
any spirited air has only to be started to be taken up by the entire line. This is
why most of the war song composers choose the old tunes rather than those mado
to order.
One amateur poet sent a set of verses to the Times with the chorus:
“Here’s to Lord Kitchener, brown as the sun,
Gentle, persuasive and balmy,
f Giving his orders and getting them done,
All that he wants for the army."
in mis case me writers aueinpi m r.nyine nanny wnn army caused greai'T in
dignation among the untutored recruits than among the scholarly poets, for barmy
in common use means weak in the intellect.
Barmy, however, is used in its correct sense by the brokers’ battalion of the
Glasgow stock exchange, who call themselves Cameron men. Their wail begins:
“Why did we join the Cameron men?
Why did we join the army?
Why did we come to Aldershot
Because we’re bally well barmy.
Skilly and duff, skilly and duff,
Because we’re bally well barmy.”
The Liverpool regiment has a distinctive marching song in the Lancashire dia
lect. It runs:
“We all coom fra’ Lancashire,
We all coom fra’ Lancashire,
Gradely fowk from a gradely place.
By gum, we mean to show the pace.
We all coom fra’ Lancashire,
We’re all bairns of a feyther.
If tiia'11 ha’ one wi’ me,
Then I'll ha’ one wi' thee,
Ft) i' wt Te all got d pals together."
SEWARD NEWS NOTES
OF INTEREST IN IDITAROD
(Seward Gateway)
Arrival of First Mail From Iditarod
The first mail arrived from the Iditarod
last Saturday night, live days ahead of
schedule, and so made it absolutely cer
tain once for all thta this is the best route
ever tried to the Interior of Alaska. Colonel
iteveile considers the feat a most remark
able one. considering the fact that the mad
had to be huuie. 1 over bare ground for hun
dreds of miles. He gives all the credit
to the boys who were entrusted with the
work of bringing the mail in. Each and
every one oi tnem, he .‘•ays, worked as
though the beating of the schedule time
would be a personal triumph for himself.
The mail came in so late at night th o
there were few to meet it. but the splendid
work done is none the E.-s appreciated. The
quick trip shows clearly that this is the
way now for all Interior travel.
Mert Marston Talks of Mail
Snow had fallen only between Iditarod
.Lin 1 Moore creek when M. A. Marston came
. \. r the trail. The distance between I< 1 • t
a rod and Moore creek if fifty miles. The
remainder of the way had to be mushed
over the niggerheads. Mr. Marston had
three dogs, which he gave to Colonel I»e
vtlic f. r use in carrying the mail this win
ter In M: rch he will return from the
Outside and in the meantime lie will take
a trip to Honolulu. On his way out tie
met the mail on the other side of Susitna,
four days ahead of schedule. He »ays that
every man along the route makes the quick
carrying ( f the mail a matter of personal
and enthusiastic interest, and so splendidly
are they doing their work that even with
enr snow there is a chance that the mail
*. il arrive at Iditarod before the sched
uled time.
Eleven Days From Iditarod tc Knik
It took a party that recently arrived
fr the Iditarod just eleven days to reach
Knik from that camp, although snow war
found on only one and a half miles of the
■ rail. This party was made up of thirteen
men, but they divided up in order to pre
vent overcrowding at the roadhouses. All
<>f them expect a tremendous 1 ;t of travel
through Seward this winter.
Aitkan and McLaughlin in Seward
Tom Ait ken, one of the most prominent
mining nen in Alaska, is in the city after
a journey overland from the Iditarod. Bob
McLaughlin is also in Seward after a sum
jttfr in tbe Kuskokwim. It is said that
Air. McLaughlin has been lucky in that
country this summer during drilling opera
tions. and that Mr. Aitken has become in
terested in property there.
REVENUE CUTTER MANNING
HAS INTERESTING REPORT
Completing a cruise of approximately
15,000 mils, the United States revenue cut
ter Mannitg, Captain F. G. Dodge, reached
Seattle recently. The Manning sailed from
Seattle n May 1. She went north via
Gape Flat cry, cruising in the Gulf of
Alaska untl June 15, between Yakutat and
K: dink fraa June 15 until July 15, then
between kodiak and Unimak pass, and
finally intc Bering sea, where she spent the
rest of the season.
At Nushagak, Bristol bay, the Manning
loaded sixjy head rf reindeer, which were
t aken to Atka island, of the middle Aleu
tians.
lhe reinicer will be used in stocking the
itlant!, and w ill furnish food for the natives
during the long winter. During her cruise
of the seal islands the Manning picked up
some of tie seal commissioners who went
to the far North aboard the United States
revenue cutter McCulloch. They were taken
to Seward.
Officers r.f the Manning said that the
Aleuts of Aka island are dying of tuber
culosis. and it will be only a few years until
the island is depopulated. They live in huts
built of ear.h, and in their damp, poorly
ventilated himes contract disease rapidly.
In a village near Agiza, on the Ugashik
river, where here was a population of about
fifty-seven Aleuts, one birth and ten deaths
have occurrel during the past year. Every
person in the village, men, women and chil
dren. was nttre or less afflicted with the
disease.
lhe Manniig reported that IOC Chinese
cannery hand* at Koguing, at the mouth of
the Kvichak river, Bristol bay. refused to
return South on the cannery vessel in port,
saying she was not safe. They demanded
transportation on a steamer and said that
if they were compelled to spend the winter
in the North they would burn the town.
The owners ol the cannery finally furnished
them transpotation on the steamer Dora.
No seal poachers were found during the
cruise of the s»al idands.
FORTHE HOLIDAYS
French perfumes and soaps, toilet waters
—Pinaud, Rogers & Gallet, Lubin’s, Crown,
Kirkoff—1 to Soz. b tiles.
Dr. Mooc’s Drug Store, Flat City.
A QUESTION UNANSWERED
(By C. Edvard Cone'
What is it that holds me like a vice
And keeps me here in this land of ice?
That makes me drag his .-led of mine,
IEy after day, where the cold winds whine,
Till 1 slink like a tired dog at night
To rest until the daw of light
(alls again to the we try fight?
And for what is this ight. and strife,
This daily toil, this avful life
In a land unfit for man or beast,
Where a good, square meal would seem a
feast ?
Can it be ’tis the lure of gold
, Has kept me in its hellish hold
Until i have at last giown old?
| Grizzled and worn, and all played out.
| Wreck of a man once young and stout,
I And still I struggle on. and on!
With feeble hope, and strength ’most gone,
Year alter year! And all lor wlat
: I cannot tell, so ask me n: t;
! If once i knew, I have forgot.
: VALDEZ CITIZENS TRUE AMERICANS
(Valdez Commoner)
John I'd A. X. V. Z. Strong ana all his
■ coterie oi followers, together with tip “fed
! eral brigade” and the corporate iiterests.
i succeeded in carrying poor old taxridden I
! Juneau for the fusion candidate, Burned.
' by 34 votes. Dan Guggenheim d< hiidings, j
j composed of stand-pat Republican and j
Murphy Democrats, pulled poor old Cor-j
! dova across the line by two votes, art the
j A1 Daly Democratic Club at Nome loi the
| ‘‘deserted village” by one vote. Bu the
I Vnl !ez Americans, in whose veins corses
| (he red bio ;d of the typical Alaskan, >eat
back the combined fusion forces md
j brought Alaska’s liberator under the lin in
Valdez with 99 majority written on iis
back. How do you “fusionists" like it
Gy Their Works Yo Shall Know Thet
Howard
OR
WATCH
Ina 12 size, thin model, 17 to 23
jewels, makes an ideal Christmas \
present.
Ivory and Nugget Jewelry to
order at prices to suit the times
Win, Taylcr, Flat
Adams House
FIRST ST., IDITAROD
Clean, Warm Rooms, Gao-Lighted. The
Only First-Class Horse and Dog
Stables in Town
A Fine Dog Team to Rent
Free Library and Reading Room
Salmon for the Dog Mushers
PIONEER CREEK AGENCIES ~
FLATCITY- Mrs. C. C. Chittick
DISCOVERY OTTER Harry Donnelley
DR. ^JOORE, j
Plivsitian anil Suwon
J O
Gold St., Opposite Postoffice, Flat City
Eye-Glass Fitting Telephone
DR. H. E. AURIiNJGER,
Office: Gold St. Flat City, Alaska
Consultation Ilnurs in Forenoons and by
Appointment
E. M. ST RUT ON,
Attorney at Law
mf
Office: Corner Willow and Second Sts.
Iditarod Pioneer Building
W. F. HA RRSSO}\i,
Attorney at Lav/
IDITAROD, ALASKA
Room 12, ReQina Hotel
CM AS. E. TAYLOR.
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
HOUSE
Dis., Otter Miss M. Earl, Prop.
Warm and Clean Rooms
Porcelain Tub Baths
CONVENIENT DOG KENNELS
Best of Eve
ALL THE TIM K
Arcade
FLAT CITY
Open D a v and Night
it i y i y i
ror a Quiet Sleep
FURNACE HEAT
REASONABLE RATES
Second and Willow Streets
MRS. N. P. GILMORE
DISKAKET AND CRIPPLE CITY
Big Slocks, Standard Good*
Gasoline and Lubricating Oil
Good Roadhouse in Connection
Both Winter and Summer
Locations
INQUIRE AT THE ROADHOUSE
BEST LIQUORS AND CIGARS
Tfiree-Times-Move Bar
(Formerly the Stanley House)
JOHN BAGOY, PROP.
;OOD ROOMS CLEAN REDS
_FLAT CITY _