| IDITAROD PtONEER j
Published Every Sunday Morning at Tditarod, Alaska.
FRANK E. BECKER. EDITOR
Vb! / Ceo. M. Arbuckie. Publisher No. 9
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Year.. $10.00
Six Months. 5.00
One Month .. 1.00
Single Copy. .25.
Advertising Rotes on Application.
THE BUILDING OF A CITY
Three months ago the plaintive cry of the marsh birds
could be heard within a stone’s throw of the corner of First
and Richmond streets. The whirring wings of homing ducks
Hashed there in the rosey glow of evening. Today the
merry song of the hammer assails the ears of Father Time
the whole day through, the song of a prosperous and con
tented people.
Three months ago a number of wisenheimers stuck
dainty feet into the edge of the tundra and poked disdain
ful fingers at the surrounding hills. “Look you,” said
they, “What a lovely mining camp, aber nit. Me for Fair
banks, Nome, Outside,—anywhere but here.” And on the
first wet-tailed craft that crept from her moorings they beat
it down the broad Iditarod to cast the tidings far and wide
of a huge nature-fake and transportation catch-as-catch
oan.
Today these higli-brow mining experts are stealing
back, their little pie-boxes under each arm, and there on a
well-built dock they find a mat with “Welcome” written
large and full.
With wonder they traverse broad, paved streets where
throngs of people hurry hither and yon. With wonder
they gaze upon fine, big business blocks where busy car
penters swarm on every cornice. They hear the rattlety
bang of hammer and maul and listen with awe to the sacred
song of the serrated saw.
Of course we can hardly blame them for being dis
appointed when they first gazed upon the site of this now
beautiful city. We can not take offense because they made
a mistake in judging the camp without looking at the
creeks. We do feel a little bit sore that these one-day so
journers should loose their fool heads and spill a lot of
slush through the foreign press about a fake camp and a
stampede whose followers would slowly starve to death in
the cold of winter’s snow.
Welcome to our city, little one. Have you seen our
new high school ? Greetings, stranger. Have you gazed at
our two-story hotels, our banks, mercantile establishments,
our newspaper plants, gin mills, joy palaces, lumber mills,
docks and wharves ? Bon Jour, partner. Do you not hear
the tinkle of the piano and Caruso’s voice vying with the
dodo as it calls along the rim of night ?
"What boots it that the tundra muck still sucks greedily
at hurrying feet just beyond the environs of our busiest
thoroughfares ? What boots it, that the rubber mukluk is
still the symbol of adventure and the tinkling pack-hoise
the last word in modern transportation ? Poughkeepsie
was not built in a day,—no by jingo. But Iditarod City
was built in three months, right here on the unmassaged
face of Nature, and we guess that’s going some.
GREEN PASTURES BEYANT
In spite of the fact that the operators on the creeks are
short handed at $10 a day, a continuous line of heavily
laden travelers cuts the divide to the Kuskokwim, on the
move at every sunrise. In spite of the fact that one of the
richest creeks yet known in Alaska, is being opened
up here daily, men are hiking across the hills into the dim
fastness of the virgin wilderness, stumbling blindly along
in the wake of beckoning Fortune, a phantastic mirage that
dupes so many of her faithful sons.
It is the green pastures over beyond. That pleasant
land where care lives not, where wimpling brooks idle
peacefully through smiling meadows : where rushing creeks
lay bare the golden sands, and tiny rainbows guard the
door of countless treasures.
The call of the stampede has come again, and away
they go will-nilly blowing, careless of the future, forgetful
of the past, dreaming only in the restless hours of the night
of treasure-trove waiting just across the hill.
How many will come wearily back e’re winter’s icey
winds are cutting through the valleys. How many wifi
come trudging in, tired and disheartened, their money gone,
summer work closed and no bean on the ta-ble \
We would not discourage stampedes,—they are the
means of opening new countries. We would not discourage
initiative and adventure,—it was such that opened the
Iditarod. Yet we would beg a slight pause in this mad
rush to other parts, where miles of country has been staked
MgMMEQN
MINERS’ OUTFITS A SPECIALTY
EVERYTHING IN GROCERIES
Full Stock of Overalls, Rubbers, Cloves, Boots,
Undeawear, Etc.
FLAT CREEK_
Sllppern’s Mill.
ROUGH AND DRESSED LUMBER,
SASH, DOORS, GLASS AND
BUILDERS’ SUPPLIES
Mitarod
WATCH FOR BIO STOCK
Of Ladies’ and fVSen’s Goods now on way
from Dikeman coming for
ISADORE GOLDSTEIN
Front Ave., Between Richmond ,:nd Willow Sts., Iditarod
Orders Promptly Delivered. Telephone 36
Carries the LARGEST and MOST COMPLETE Stock of
MIRRORS AND BUILDERS' HARDWARE IN IDITAROD
Store Fronts and Fancy Windows
Of any Size and Design Made to Order
LOWEST PRICES GUARANTEED
Telephone No. 5 Cor. Third and Otter
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RICHARD’S
WILLOW STREET
and where even now the grub question is becoming one of
serious import.
There's plenty of country in the Kuskokwim. There’s
plenty of time to go there, especially since another month
will seal the rivers and clothe the earth with the blanket
that becomes the winter trail.
In the meantime the mines here need workmen,—and
the workmen need money. “A piece of bacon underneath
tlie bough, a loaf of bread, a jug of lamp and thou, trudg
ing beside me in the wilderness, Ah, we’ll find it much
better going 1 trow.”
liien its “stop, look and listen.” Think of the nice
grubstake earned by freezenp time. Think of the long,
hard winter when perhaps you will find it and perhaps you
won't. Think of the long, hard nights when the frost king
lays his heavy hand in the silent places, and the batter
going loir in the can.
Stampeding is all right in its place, but its just as well
to stick around a bit for the concert,—the string is not
played out right here by a long shot.
RIVER doctor; disagree
Some steamboat men say that the expenditure of $2000
for river improvements was one of the best investments in
the country. They say that the building of those wing
dams between here and Richmond was responsible for the
arrival of so much freight this fall, and that although they
may not be needed at present time on account of high water,
their presence has improved the channel, and although
they may be washed out, and are now undergoing des
truction, the work was by no means in vain.
Other steamboat men of equal judgment say the spend
ing of that money was a dam phool proposition. They say
the work was futile, and accomplished nothing, and that
every vestige will be wiped out.
Now when river doctors disagree, what are you going
to do about it \ It only goes to show that two men cannot
look at the same object from the same view point, and al
though there may be no profit in scraping about it, there is
some comfort in the reflection that freight is coming up the
river every day. _
In order to preserve his failing youth, the physicians
of John D. Rockefeller have prescribed a daily bath in
whiskey, 120 proof, two points down. We’re sorry John
had to pay out good money for that advice, Ave could have
told him all that for nothing. Anybody will tell you that
whiskey is a flue thing to rub in your hair. Applied Avitk
a large sponge, it polishes the features and lends a peach
bloAv to the complexion.
BETTER GO ALL THE WAY THRU
It would seem entirely consistent’ with the policy adopted by
the federal authorities some time ago, that a few more actions be
brought for the purpose of clearing the city streets. If buildings
were a public nuisance on Willow street, they are no less a nuisance
on Richmond, and there is no reason for blowing hot and cold on
the proposition.
Again it has’ been rumored that attempts have lately been
made by individuals to jump alleys in some of the blocks of the
city, particularly the alley running through the block lying between
First and Second and Richmond and Willow.
Now this is not a pretty thing to do- In addition it is decidedly
dangerous and unpopular. If public sentiment which became so
virtuous a few days ago as to take the law out of the courts and
forcibly return buildings to lots from which they had been re
moved, means anything, then the same public sentiment should
get on the job and stop any more of this disgraceful lot jumping.
A little too much is more than plenty. Lot jumping has ceased
to be a virtue if it, in fact, was ever one. It has become the
weapon of the crafty and unlawful, and the stench of it smells in
the nostrils of respectable people
If it be no longer safe to leave a street or an alley open for the
convenience of the public and for proper fire protection, then what
right have we to call ourselves an American city ? What right
have we to gather in open meeting assembled and prate about our
rightsand on liberties, when we stand idly by and let some Patri
otic C itizon something for nothing.
I5e fowl or fish ; be straight or crooked. The officers of the
law have tried to do their part,—let them go to it again. The
citizens have tried to right things by a general burst of enthusiasm;
let them be consistent and take a decided stand against the further
continuance of this childish work that will make us a laughing
stock throughout Alaska.
We w7ouldn t live in this country if it wasn’t for the climate.
It is so bracing and invigorating. Keeps one on the jump all the
time. Yes, stranger, just keep humping, for if you don’t you’ll
mildew.
September 25th is the date fixed
by the N. N. Co. for the last sail
ings for the outside via St. Michael,
the date meaning the departure
from Dikemau. This boat will
doubtless be the Reliance, which is
expected on the river at any time,
following the completion of repairs
which she is now undergoing.
By way of Dawson, the last sail
ing from Dikemau is fixed at Sept.
12th, and the last sailing from Fair
banks to the Iditarod and the Out
side is Sept. 25'.h.
It is the plan ot the company to
send the' Reliance to the Yukon
tiom Dikemau on Sept. 25th, and
from Fairbanks on the same day.
Thus the Reliance will transfer her
passengers from Fairbanks to a Yu
kon boat tor St. Michael and will
take on passengers from Fairbanks
destined for this point. The Re
liance will then go into winter quar
ters at Diseman.
The sailing dates for the inde
pendents have not been given out,
but from conditions on the Iditarod
river in the past, it is prcbable that
Sept. 25th is the last date on which
it is safe to bank on Outside sail
ings from Dikemau.
From Fairbanks it has been pos
sible to leave for Dawson after the
rst of October, but the slow moving
Iditarod Feezes earlier than the
Tatiana and will doubtless be closed
before that time.
oo ire
Looking to the future and con
vinced that the Kuskoktvim will be
a big centre of placer activity next
summer, certain interests here
headed by Capt Bingham, owner
of the steamer Lois, are already
drawing up plans lor the construe
li hi of a light draft boat to be used
in Kuskokwim waters next season.
A boat suitable for reaching the
upper waters of some of the tribu
taries of that stream is what is de
si.ed, but it is still a matter of tin
certainty whether the materials will
he forwar led from this point, or the
construction carried on entirely
across the divide.
Aitken Takes Over
Another Flat Lay
For a consideration that is not made
public, Tom Aitkon and associates, the
big Flat creek operators have recently
secured a lay on No. 3-4 on Flat creek,
the ground owned by Britt & Maher.
This is understood to be a quick work
ing proposition with a 40-H. P. plant
on each claim.
SUTHERLAND GOES
TO KUSKQKWIM
With a laden pack-horse and pro
vided with means for an extended stay
in the new Kuskokwim country, Dan
Sutherland, formerly U. S. marshal at
Juneau, accompanied by Jack Sheedy
and W. Reneaud, left about ten days
ago for the scene of the late strikes.
Sheedy was expected back this week
whereupon it was the intention o' Fred
Carter to load up with fresh supplies
and join his partners on Julian creek
or Black river.
New Phone directory Out
With a list of 05 subscribers the first
telephone directory of the Iditarod
Telephone Co. is out showing that it is
now possible to ’phone from this city
to 1-A Otter, to the head of Flat creek,
and to Otter City at the mouth of
Otter—the ’phone of E. W. Griffin at
that place being not listed through an
oversight.
The creek rate of $30 per month for
Flat creek and Otter creek ’phones is
announced, subscribers having service
to all ’phones in Iditarod city. These
directories may be had by applying at
the telephone office here.
W e can put you in a good, comfort
able house in a jiffy. See Anderson
.1 ros. & Nerland— sash, doors, wall
paper, carpets, window shades, etc.
I
I
With a poke of gold weighing
I nearly ioo pounds, Geo Riley
' came into town last Thursday from
i the second cleanup on t-A Otter,
J and deposited over 1000 ounces of
dust in the local bank.
This means a run of about io
days, and shows a marked increase
: in the value of the ground that he
| has been working over there, since
! he figures that it now goes over
$2 50 to the foot. The first cleanup
j went $16,000, but was the result ol
j much longer run on lower grade
. dirt. It appears to Ire getting bet
ter all the time, and those who are
familiar with the dirt say that more
i cleanups like this cau be expected
until the freezeup.
THE WATERFRONT
After each ill" 44 tons of freight for
; E. W. Griffin at the Samson liar, 25
miles below Iilitarod City, the small
steamer Lois reached this port Wednes
day night with 45 tons for Griffin &
Baird and five tons for the N. C. Co.
making the record load for that boat
this fall. C'apt. Bingham reports fine
water conditions and predicts a heavy
tonnage here before the freezeup.
Dikeman Cleaned Out
According to the talk of river men,
the freight at Dikeman is pretty well
cleaned up, excepting some 200 tons of
N. C’. Co. freight and about 400,000
feet of lumber. Most of this will be
brought in this week, but it is rumored
that 4000 tons of miscellaneous freight
is expected at Dikeman which there
seems little hope of landing here before
the freezeup.
The Delta discharged her last cargo
at Samson bar and has now gone on
her way to the mouth of the river.
The Little Delta reached the local
waterfront Wednesday night with a
load of lumber for Ross & Nbstor.
Anderson Bros. & Net-land — sash,
doors, store fronts, wallpaper, house
linings, all came on the high water.
See us. Willow and Second st.
DR. 8. F. BROOKS,
Physician and Surgeon
Opposite It' d Cross Drug Store
Trkphonn .'!<)_
Dr. Heinrich V/ortrnann
Physician and Surgeon
Office ut City Drug Store, Tel. 36
First, Ave., bet. Willow and Richmond
DR. E. T. BRADBURY,
Dentist
Opposite Red < ross Drug Store
CHAS. D. CARTER,
Dentist
Offices, Pioneer Drugstores,
Flat and Otter
! Will be al Fiat last iws aseks or each month
HENRY RODEN,
Law
Iditakod, A lask a
McGowan, (lark & Altaiit
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Iditakod, Alaska Phonk No. 7
The Pioneer Attorneys « f This Camp
ALFRED E. MALT BY,
ft*. S. Commissioner]
Attorney at Law
Notary Ft.TiiT.io
Practice only in District Court. I DiTAROD
F. E. BECKER,
Attorney and Counselor at Law
Office -Iditarod Pioneer
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
.Attorney at Law,
Notary Public, Couvcyancingr,
Abstracts of Titles
Flat Creek
J. S. HARDING.
Attorney at Law
I ditaro d, Alaska
Charles Tripp Falls Over Saw
Stumbling over a crosscut saw,
Charles Tripp, an employe of the
Slippern sawmill, sustained a had
accident last week, rutting a long
gash in his left ieg just below the
knee. The wound necessitated the
taking of several stitches by Dr.
Brooks in whose care the patient
now is.
Fresh grocery stock at Sickinger's.
SALOON |
filler & Jerman, Props, j
TheBestPIace to Outfit
FRESH STOCK PRICES RIGHT
Crowley St Porter
First Avenue, Between Willow and Richmond Streets, Iditarod
Pony
Express Co.
Telephone 22 Eric Palmen
Daily Trips to All Greeks With Passengers, Express, Freight
Ship Your Valuables With Us Also City Service
Clark Lumber Co.
iditarod
New Wharf Now Ready to Receive
Freight and Steamers
L_____