| IDITAROD PIONEER |
PUBLISHED E\ KHY SATURP.W MORNING AT IDITAROD, ALASKA
Poj 5 Charles A Derry, Lessee end PuhUsner No. 36
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■'’* TO THE PUBLIC
In assuming the publication of The Iditarod Pioneer, I do so with
a thorough appreciation of the expressions of good will and assurances
of support on the part of the residents of the community. The popu
lation of the Iditarod district is comparatively small, and the burden of
sustaining a live newspaper has fallen more heavily on individual
business men than is customary in larger and more populous districts.
Yet this support has cheerfully been given, and I hope to merit a con
tinuance of the friendly relations between publisher and public.
The task of issuing a newspaper in a district such as the Iditarod
is no light one; and moreover, the standard heretofore set has taught
the public to expect a newspaper somewhat more comprehensive in
scope than that attempted by the average “country newspaper pub
lisher. It is my purpose to give the people of the Iditarod district the
best to be obtainable in the way of news service, and to this end I asx
the hearty co-operation of the residents of the entire district.
CHARLES A. DERRY.
▲
UNIQUE FIGURE IN ALASKA JOURNALISM
Senator 0. P. Gaustad of Fairbanks took charge of the News
Miner of that city on August 9 as editor and manager, succeeding one
of the unique figures in Alaska journalism, W. F. Thompson, who has
gone on an extended trip to tne Outside. The Fairbanks public will
miss the breezy if somewhat turbulent Thompson, but Mr. Gaustad
appears to be eminently qualified for his new position.
Thompson is one of the best-known men in the newspaper field
in the North. He was for several years publisher of a daily newspaper
at Dawson during the most prosperous days of that famous camp, and
has been in the Tanana valley for many years past. He has achieved
more than local recognition, not so much because of his ability as a
writer, which is considerable, as by reason of his unique methods of
iournalism, which have partaken very much of the personal order.
Recently his exploit of raising a relief fund for the starving Belgians,
using the name of the Literary Digest and giving credit to that publica
tion, without even consulting its publisher, netted for a worthy cause
some two or three thousand dollars; and the quality of the advertising
matter which he used stamped him as a publicity expert of the first
magnitude, suggesting that had his talents been turned in that direction
he would have made fortunes for the successors of Barnum and have
aroused the envv of members of the Ad Clubs.
Recently Thompson has been in financial straits, and he has un
burdened himself to his public, not by any means in a plaintive way,
but merely, as he said, to satisfy their curiosity as to his financial stand
ing, because, as he put it, they would talk about him after his de
parture, and they might as well have matters straight.
In a lengthy farewell letter to the Fairbanks public, which is a gem
of its kind, he says:
You know too well the sorrows of the poor old man who has been conducting the
destinies of the News-Miner for the past six years; how it has been nip and tuck between
me and the sheriff; how I have been “down and out” every day of the 2.280 days I have
pulled the News-Miner along by the scruff of its neck through the hopeless circumstances
with which you have insisted upon surrounding this enterprise. Starting in over six
years ago $20,000 in debt, how could it be otherwise? You concede that I was ‘‘some”
four-flusher, and when you received your News Miner every night, expecting it to be the
last of the series, you no doubt marveled at the ingenuity of the “down-and-outer” who
was dragging the paper dong. I have appreciated your feeling in the matter and your en
couragement. It h8s been no easy matter to. with my small family, exist in your midst
upon the miserable pittance of $6,000 a year which this company has provided for me,
and you can imagine my surprise when last evening upon leaving I discovered that I was
leaving Fairbanks owing no man or woman in town a dollar, with money enough in my
pocket to pay my expenses on the trip; without having sold my home, and still owning
numerous thousands of dollars’ worth of the stock of the Tanana Publishing Company.
I should have mentioned this in passing, because you know that it is the spirit of the
camp to relate the delinquencies of departing citizens, especially their financial affairs, and
while it will doubtless spoil many a good story about me in the months to come, it
should have been told in these hills, because it is the truth. * * * I also have other
surprises for you up my sleeve. First. I know where I am going, and why, and I’m com
ing hack. I expect to spend the winter, or part of it. as a paid booster for Interior Alaska;
if I can't do it as a paid booster I will do it as a voluntary one. I am going to cover the
American continent pretty thoroughly. I used to do that every year when I lived in the
unregenerate Outside world, and I know how to do so yet. In every' town I hit I am
going to endeavor to fill the newspapers full of talk of Interior Alaska -the coast can take
care of itself. The innate stupidity of man permitting him to believe nothing save that
which he can see. I propose to try to bring every man I can to Interior Alaska next year,
that thereafter he may be able to tell the story of the Interior intelligently and well. After
leaving the old home back East. I am going to do no other hard work but that until l
return in time for the Potlatch —it is always a Potlatch when I hit town, if the other fel
lows have anything to Potlatch. I am going to talk Fairbanks, write Fairbanks and lie
like sin about a lot of you people, for the short-tripper who may visit you will never
tint, me out during his short stay', for on such occasions you always put your best hoof
foremost. I am going to tell them that we have the finest and the most prosperous and
the most promising camp on earth, and I am going to try to hring them to town, where it
can be proved to them. * For me the roses of the Outside ceased to bloom and
lost their fragrance long years ago. and the fireweed on the hills of Alaska is the rose
color of life to me. Also, the “rye” has blossomed and distilled for me until it, too, has
run its course and is not for me. Fifty years in advance of the coming of a railroad,
GROCERIES FOOTWEAR
Tom McMahon,
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
FLAT CITY
MINERS'OUTFITS HARDWARE
Fresh Meats
Sasond St. IDITAROD MEAT CO.
seven of those years in the North, and 1 can remember or care for no other country and
no other people. For your peculiarities and “orneriness” I love you, for those are my
own distinctive traits. * * * You are better than you really believe you are, and bet
ter than your neighbors concede that you are. You need a little fixing in spots, some of
you, but "for anybody save the Great Fixer to try to correct your curves would be to spoil
you. I hope that nobody will attempt the feat during my absence, for if I came back and
found you different than you are today, Fairbanks could never be “home” to me again.
Thompson is on his way to visit his aged parents, whom he has
not seen for many years. There are many who, like The Pioneer, will
wish him a pleasant journey and a speedy return, for there is no better
nor more sincere “booster” for this great Northland than that same
Thompson.
ALASKA AND THE MUSE
The Ruby Record-Citizen notes the arrival of a school teacher at
Rampart who is unfortunate enough (according to the Ruby news
paper) to be the author of a book of poems. At the outset of remarks
in review of the volume the writer says that “lack of familiarity with
Dr. Gilman and her literary products is discreditable to a mining-camp
editor rather than to herself. . . . She has made a good book, but
what for? Her verses measure up to a high standard of mechanical
excellence, and may contain much of the essence of real poetry, but
who cares? There is a feeling deep down in the hearts of many Alas
kans that this country is a poor place for poets, except they come here
hoping to be cured.” He also expresses the opinion that Rampart
“will turn out a poor place to practice poetry in.”
To us it seems somecvhat regrettable that this flippant and cynical
attitude should be assumed toward those who woo the Muse. In read
ing the article one is prompted to inquire why the development of the
artistic temperament should be discouraged in Alaska more than else
where—indeed, there would seem to be more than the usual encour
agement in the surroundings. What more natural than that the poetic
spirit should be awakened and quickened in the presence of the majes
tic natural wonders of Alaska—her tremendous mountains and noble
rivers, with the immense wild spaces inhabited only by the diversity of
wild animal life with which Alaska has been endowed; the long sum
mer days with their wonderful reawakening of vegetation and life; the
phenomenon of the midnight sun; the winters of terrible aspect and
darkness, with their accompaniment of rays of that miracle of nature,
the aurora borealis, and the marvelous silences of a semi-arctic winter?
If these are not sufficient to inspire the poetic soul, what, under
heaven, is?
1 he true Alaskan looks forward to the time when the territory
will be the abode of a happy and contented people. In spite of the
fact that the country is full of those whose only desire is to enrich
themselves that they may enjoy the comforts of life “Outside,” there
are very many whose attachment to this Northern land amounts almost
to a passion; who would no more think of remaining “Outside" than
they would contemplate spending the rest of their days behind iron
bars, to such as these Alaska is “home,” with all that the word im
plies. Their domiciles are fitted up with all that makes home life dear
—good books, music, and the accessories of modern culture. They
have the same desires, ambitions and yearnings that normal beings else
where possess, and far more energy. To these there is nothing incon
gruous in the fact that a resident of Alaska should be moved to express
his sentiments in poetic form, no more so than if he were to exercise
talents for placing his impressions of the natural wonders that sur
round him on canvas. Many canvases are spoiled by inferior artists,
but we do not discourage painting on that account. Why should the
composition of poetic effusions be discouraged because of the mediocre
efforts which often come to light. Many of the world’s great poets
have been condemned for having written puerile and meaningless
poems; but this did not detract from the later products of their genius.
Much of the prose that has been written about Alaska were better not
to have seen the light of day; but we do not discourage the ambitious
writer on that account.
The materialistic and cynical tone of the article quoted would lead
one to believe that in this land of hard knocks nothing is worth while
but the practical and prosaic. Such is by no means the case. If a
poetic or other artistic genius develop in our midst, Alaskans will be
as truly appreciative as would the residents of any other section, and
will be as ready to perpetuate the name and fame of he who sings the
praises of Alaska as ever Scotchman was to honor the name of Burns.
-A
Speaking of Mexico, a leading American magazine says: “The
death of General Porftrio Diaz in Paris last month caused many thought
ful persons to wonder if, after all, the Mexican people are not more
fitted for the rule of a well-meaning and public-spirited despot than for
a modern system of representative government. Under President
Diaz, with all his faults, Mexico had at least developed steadily for
thirty-five years, and earned ever-ncreasing respect, though education
and democracy had made less advance than corporation wealth.” The
last sentence tells the whole story of Mexico’s troubles. We are almost
persuaded that the Mexicans have grown in intelligence, since they re
fused longer to tolerate the impoverishment of themselves and their
country for the benefit of foreign capitalists. Is it possible that the
present disturbed conditions in that country will at last come to be re
garded as a gigantic protest against robbery and exploitation of an ig
norant people?
One of the diplomatic events of the past month, says the Review
of Reviews for August, was the sending by the Austrian government
of a memorandum to the United States protesting against the American
trade in arms and munitions of war, which now benefits the allies be
cause of their control of transportation by sea. Austria’s doctrines are
not consistent, however, inasmuch as she has joined Germany in de
manding of Roumania the continued freedom of passage for munitions
intended for use by Turkey against the allies. The freedom that Aus
tria demands in Roumania is that which she opposes in the United
states. It is true that the existing i^mditions give the allies an oppor
tunity to buy things that they wish in the United States and to take them
away. The Germans have equal opportunity to purchase, but they are !
unable to take the war goods safely to Europe. The United States has
not sought to bring about these facts. At present there seems no
remedy.
-*
At the last session of the territorial legislature many harsh things
were said about the manner in which Alaska’s insane patients were
cared for at the Morningside sanitarium, at Mount Tabor, Ore. Repre
sentative Snow of Ruby, who has just returned from a trip to the Out
side, during which he took occasion to visit the institution, says in the
Ruby Record-Citizen:
I had no time nor opportunity to investigate the rules or customs governing the
institution. Those in charge seemed ready and anxious to give any information asked
for. To the casual observer things appear very good, and if there is or was ground for
the accusations made it must be uncovered by a thorough investigation conducted offi
cially, which by all means should be encouraged. After all is said, it is still a fact that
Alaska’s insane are under the contract system, the very existence of which should cause
rebellion in the heart of every true Alaskan.
BUYING AT HOME
I bought some rags of Tailor
Skaggs, and paid him when I got
’em; he wept with glee, “For now,"
said he, ‘Til pay my bills, dod rot
’em." So on the run he took the
mon, and paid the corner grocer,
whose trade was bad and who was
sad, because the wolf drew closer.
This made him smile, and for a
while the man of teas and sages
thought cheerful thinks, forgot the
kinks and paid the clerk his wages.
And Billiam Burk, the old head
clerk, put up some thankful phrases;
his wife was ill the druggist’s bill
had worried him like blazes. The
druggist cried, “Doggone your hide,
I thank you for these roubles; I’m
in the hole and need a roll to ease
my weight of troubles." The drug
gist paid that winsome maid, his
first assistant, Annie, and just for
luck she blew a buck for roller
skates for granny. And thus my
skads brought help to lads and girls
beyond the counting; much trouble
ceased and joy increased, and kept
on mounting, mounting. You see,
my friend, if you should spend your
coin with local dealers, you’re
spreading glee and ecstasy to beat
the sunshine spielers.—Ex.
FOURTH ALASKA
Volume 4 of the Alaska Reports, James
Wickersham, editor; West Publishing Com
pany, publishers, is now out. Says an Idit
arod attorney with reference to the work:
“Under what rule, theory or principle they
are excluded it is impossible to see, but no
Iditarod cases are reported. If it is because
no new principles were involved, then the
vast majority of all reported cases should
be left out; if it is because of lack of impor
tance, then the answer must be that this is
a mistake, for it will scarcely be found that
an equal number of cases, as they come, are
of greater importance.
“It is certainly true that the legal pro
fession would welcome the cutting down of
reported cases, but if there is to be an at
tempt to report all cases, then it should be
done; and if cases are to be selected there
should be some discretion shown. It wuuld
look as though some of the clerks were too
tired to respond to the editor’s request for
‘copy.’ ”
ALL NEUTRALS CONCERNED
(Seattle Post Intelligencer)
In the position it has taken, both with
the government of Germany and that of
Great Brtain, the United States i® not speak
ing alone for itself, but for all the other
neutral countries of the world. Any aban
donment of the position which this country
has assumed would be an abandonment not
alone of American rights, but of the rights
of all other countries now neutral or which
may be neutral in future wars. It is an at
titude which demands the supremacy of
law above force.
These are points which are brought out
in a lengthy editorial in the Niewe Courant,
one of the leading journals of the Nether
lands, which expresses its warm approval of
the American attitude and of the latest—
possibly the last -American note to Ger
many on the subject.
If the neutral nations of the world should
abandon their present contention that war
ring nations must at all times and under all
circumstances refrain from interference with
the sovereign rights of neutrals, they sur
render tfie whole case of neutral right® and
also the supremacy of the law above force.
The Dutch paper does not hesitate to de
clare that if the United States and other
neutrals abandon the position which they
have thus far taken they surrender practi
cally all the rights which neutral® now have.
The Netherlands, it believes, would have
to recognize as valid even the invasion of
its territory, should Germany assert that it
is necessary to commit such an act in order
to maintain its existence. Nor is this as
far-fetched as some may conceive The
waters of the open ocean are as neutral, un
der the settled laws of nations, as is the ter
ritory of any neutral nation. An invasion of
the rights of neutrals on the open waters of
the ocean, in which all have a common in
terest. is identical in effect with the inva
sion of neutral land territory. If one is per
mitted to pass without protest, the other
must be.
EFFECT OF CONSERVATION
(Cordova Times)
It will be recalled that Gifford Pinchot
once dilated upon the value of the standing
timber of Alaska. He repeated it time and
again and brought it out quite prominently
in the Saturday Evening Post of Philadel
phia, in December, 1911, an entire article
which was proved to be a tissue of false
hoods. Alaska was pictured by Pinchot as
possessing the greatest area of valuable mar
ketable standing timber known to the world.
Now comes the United States government,
prepared to build railways in Alaska, initial
work having started sixty days ago. Among
the first orders were those covering approxi- i
mately two million feet of rough lumber, J
which were placed in Seattle and the lum- j
ber shipped North. Now let every Eastern j
conservationist who ever has any faith in
Gifford Pinchot answer this one question.
If Pinchot was even partly correct, why
should the government not put in a small
sawmill and produce timber rather than
sending to the city of Seattle, 1,650 miles
away, and purchasing same and shipping it
to the North at considerable expense? If
there is one sincere individual connected
with the National Conservation Society, let
him answer this question. If the Saturday
Evening Post possesses a remnant of edi
torial decency, let it now correct the in
famous article of Pinchot it published in
1911.
A NEW FORD STORY
(Fairbanks Citizen)
A man was going along one of the streets
when a big dog came running along and
bowled him over. Just as he got to his feet,
along came a Ford and again knocked him
down. A friend came running out and
picked him up.
“Did it hurt you much?” asked the friend.
“The dog didn’t,” was the reply, “but
that confounded tin can that was tied to his
tail sprained my ankle.”
WHY
56 per cent (more than hair) or the
watches used on American railroads are
hamiltons. 16S. movements are made
only in 17 ewel adj., $15, to 23 jewel, $60;
12 size in a thin model, 14k. case, at $55.
WM. TAYLOR, Flat'
FROM ROBY DISTRICT
Old Toby Murder Case
(From Record-Citizen, Aug. 14)
The Old Toby murder case was set by
Judge Bunnell last Monday for retrial at
Fairbanks, Friday, September 17. The wit
nesses all have been summoned to be on
hand at that time.
The case, which resulted in a mistrial at
the Ruby term, was given to the jury Satur
day of last week at about 5 o’clock p. m.
The jury was not discharged until about
the same hour Monday evening, when the
impossibility of an agreement had become
manifest.
In several respects the case is one of the
most important that has come up in the
Fourth division, and it involves points of
special interest to the legal fraternity. It is
not now believed that Attorneys Phil Galla
her and E. Coke Hill will appear In the trial
at Fairbanks.
Two Weddings
Two very pretty but common sense wed
dings took place at the Williams hotel at
8 o’clock last Tuesday morning, when two
of Long City’s most popular young men,
Charles E. Hoxie, Jr., and Joseph Hoxie,
brothers, were each united to young women
who had arrived from the Outside at 1 :J0
o’clock the same morning.
hirst, C. E. Hoxie was united to Miss
Abby L. Campling of Tacoma, Wash . with
Commissioner Thomas J. DeVane oiiiciat
ing and Joseph Hoxie acting as best man
and Miss Mariette S. Dunn of Portland,
Ore., as bridesmain.
Immediately afterward Joseph Hoxie and
Miss Dunn were married, supported by Mr
and Mrs. Charles E., Jr.
The brides wore their traveling frocks and
the bridegrooms had on their mushing tugs
The parlor of the hotel, however, had been
decorated for the occasion, which was
thereby given a festive coloring, although
there were no spectators.
Within a few minutes the wedding party
left for Long City, the ladies occupying
Keys’ stage and the gentlemen mounted on
horses.
Telephonic advices from Long are that
the young people were greeted by steam
whistles and all manner of contrivances that
could be made to yield a noise when they
reached that place.
Representative Snow Is Home
Representative C. K. Snow is home again
He arrived on the Schwatka last Monday
night, and is still a member of the con
firmed bachelor colony. Snow says he is
now immune to the wiles of the fair sex.
having been put to the test on his trip to
Alaska. Surrounded by fifty four school
ma'ams, all fair and bewitching, he trav
eled several hundred miles, and landed home
in Ruby the same happy old “bach" as of
yore.
From Poorman Creek
Jr o Davis f f Poorman creek arrived in
from there Thursday, bringing with him a
“small' poke. When asked about the out
look in that section he said everyone ap
peared to be satisfied. The several outfits
working have adopter! the eight hour day
and are paying $5.
INQUIRIES FOR MISSING ONES
Arthur A. Willis
Mrs. E. Willis of Janesville, Minn., makes
inquiry of Postmaster Wile for information
concerning Arthur A. Willis, her son. He i
about 30 v-ears of age, short and thick-set,
has dark hair, and is an assayer. He was
last heard from by his mother at Takotna.
Frank A. Lear
Fred Boerke of Patoka, Ind., is offering
a reward of S20 for information as to the
present whereabouts of Frank A. Lear, hi-;
half-brother. He was last heard of at Po
cateilo. Idaho, when he said he was going
to Alaska.
Robert G. Wyekoff
Information is wanted concerning Robert
G. Wyekoff. aged 45 to 50 years; from
Plainfield, N. J. Came to Alaska in 1897.
Brought his wife and family of boys and
girls in 1902 or 1903. Write to Miss Lulu
M. Linger, Treadwell. Alaska.
A SMILE’S CONTAGION
(Kansas City Star)
He enters a place of business where care
and the ordinary business worries have
borne heavily on employer and employes —
he enters the place with his inevitable smile
—and the atmosphere changes. They are
contagious, these smiles. They catch you
whether you feel in a smiling mood or other
wise, and, for one reason or another, you
smile, too. Possibly you hear a good
natured laugh from the other side of the
counting room. It comes rolling across, and
you find yourself, tired as you are, smiling
a bit, too.
The wearer of the good-natured smile,
usually unconsciously, is helping the world
along. He may not know that the rest of
us are getting just as much out of his laugh
as he is. But we are. and he. unknown to
himself, is easing the toil of a long day
for some and lightening the burden for oth
ers. Happily, good humor is contagious.
Professional
Michigan, 1881 Alaska, 1910
Kentucky, 1891
George Woodruff Albrecht
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney of Iditarod
E. M. STANTON,
Attorney at Law
Office: Corner Willow and Second Sts.
Iditarod Pioneer Building
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
DR. MOORE,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DR. H. E. AURiNGER,
Physician and Siinreiin
Office: Flat City Hospital, Flat City
Consultation Hours in Forenoons and l.y
Appointment
DR. H. BEHLA
DENTIST
Appointments by Teleohone
FLAT CITY
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
DISCOVERY
CAFE
FLAT CITY HOHBACK <1 DURAND
Eet. the Grand and Bagoy's Bars
THE BEST ALL THE TIME
WE ARE HERE TO STAY
Regina Hatei
First-Class Accommodations i
COMMODIOUS LOBBY
LARGE, AIRY ROOMS
YOUR PATRONAGE SOLICITED
_MRS. N. P. GILMORE
Best of Everything
ALL THE TIME AT THE
Arcade Cafe
FLAT CITY
Open Dav and Night
NOTICE OF FORFEITURE
To H. Schofield, and to your heirs, execu
tors, administrator- and as-1gn-:
You are hereby notilled that tin- under
signed, a co owner, has expended in labor
and improvements tie- sunt of one hundred
dollars ($1101.101 per year for the years
19 13 and T.i l i upon that certain placer
mining claim known as The Happy New
Year Association, situated at the head of
Flat creek, a tributary of Otter creek, in
otter recording district. Territory of
Alaska, in wit eh you are the owner of an
undivided one-eighth (■%.) Interest.
You and each of you are hereby notified
that if at the expiration of ninety (90)
davs after the last publication of this notice
you have failed or refused to contribute
your share or the aforesaid expenditures,
your interest in said claim will heroine for.
relied and will become the property of the
undersigned, according to the provisions of
Section 9394 of Revised Statutes of the
t inted States.
DAVID STRANDBERG. Co-Owner.
Date or llrst publication. Sept. 4. 19 15.
Date or last publication. Dec. 4, 1915.
Fresh Olympia Oysters, for cocktails, $2
car.. Iditarod Meat Co.
More than 13.000 persons are training for
teachers in India.
Aseessment Work Blanks it Pioneer.
m Gold St., Flat City
i Mrs. Geo. Mutchler, Prop.
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
| Seward Gold Seal Pacs I
| ARE THE BEST ON THE MARKET
| H, DONNELLEY, discovery, otter j
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
Caribou Cafe
FIRST AVE.
GOOD MEALS
SHORT ORDERS
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
I ROBT. SOUTAR
~~ Prop.
Job Printing at Pioneer Print Shop