Iditarod Pioneer
One Doeear Per Month. IDITAROD, ALASKA, SATURDAY EVENING. MAY 6, 1911. Two Bits Per Copy
IS FUTURE OF IDITAROO MENACED?
Two Juries Disagree
in the Ayres Case
After a trial Wednesday, followed by
a protracted session during which ilie
jury failed to agree, K. Q. Ayres was
again tried yesterday afternoon on a
charge of assault and battery preferred
by John Gray, and after an all-night
session, the second jury reported to
Judge Mallby at 11:30 this morning
that they were unable to agree, and
were accordingly discharged. Attor
ney Roden, for the defense, made a
strenuous fight for the dismissal of the
charge, but Assistant Prosecuting At
torney Clegg refused to agree and a
third trial will be held Monday morn
ing.
The dispute arose over the owner
ship of the little steamer Zodiac, lying
on the waterfront. Gray claims a two
thirds interest in the boat, and last
Tuesday tried to put his goods and
chattels aboard. He claims that
Ayres, who was employed in the repair
of the boat, at the instigation of other
claimants, was throwing his stuff out
again, and in the trouble, that followed
Ayres struck him. Gray claims he had
some sort of a weapon in his hand.
Ayres admits striking him with his
fist, but claims it was in self-defense,
as Gray started all the trouble.
It is reported that both juries stood
four to tw'o for acquittal.
Volney Richmond Is
Coming Here Soon
To look the situation squarely in the
eye, Volney Richmond, generally be
lieved to be superintendent of the N.
C. Co. since the death of Mr. Wash
burn, who was doubtless succeeded by
Mr. Fairbanks, will arrive here on the
first boat from Fairbanks.
He is coming to look over the situa
t’AQ for the summer and will doubtless
be urre some time in connection with
the plans of the wireless telegraph and
telephone companies, in both of which
he is interested.
City Fire Limits Established
The council fixed the fire limits of
the city at the last regular meeting and
took under consideration an ordinance
providing building regulations and pro
viding for precautions against fire which
must be observed in the future. This
ordinance will be completed and doubt
less passed next week.
As prescribed in this ordinance, the
fire limits begin at the foot of Otter
street and run to Third street. Thence
along Third to Black street and along
Black to Caribou. From Black the line
follows Caribou to the waterfront at the
Miners’ Home saloon.
HEAVY SYRUPS
Any flavor, bottle, dozen or barrel.
THE BUDWEISER
Jim Hagen was in town this week,
presumably taking part; in the much
negotiation that has been agitating
Flat for several days.
Caustic Soda for wet-cell bat
teries for sale at Crowley 4 Porter.
The lucky prize winner at the Board
of Trade pool tournament last week
holds ticket No. 148, but has not yet
turned up to claim it.
DON’T FORGET
Danes it Ansley's hall tonight. Bourrei
& Biernan's orchestra. Admission $2.
Joe McDowell To Cater To Them
Joe McDowell is preparing to go into
the restaurant business at Flat city,
and has secured a location on Front
street opposite Casey’s place.
Mr. and Mrs. MeDowell are prepar
ing to fit up an attractive place where
the matutinal refeetioo or the doc
turnal sup vgill be a pleasure and a de
light.
Wyandotte washing soda, Crow
ley k Porter's.
FOR SALE — 16-h.p. tubular boiler,
$100. Cascade Steam Laundry.
Mrs. J. J. Price, who was quite ill at
her home near the bead of Flat the
fore part of this week, is now reported
to be mueh improved.
Indigo Bluing, Crowley k Porter.
FOR SALE — North Star restaurant,
Dis. Otter, completely equipped. In
quire ShoDbeck, Discovery.
Chocolate Nut Sundaes at the
Red Cross Drug Store tomorrow.
Snow Glasses—Red Cross Drug Store.
Rumored Sale of Fiat Creek Thought to Be the Fine Italian Hand
of Outside Capital Which Will Eventually Tie Up Entire
District—If Deal Goes Through, Little Likeli
hood of IVIuch Output This Season *" 7 Jfg'e ,
With rutnors flying thick and fast that have intensified within the
last few days to a seeming certainty, it now appears that the prophecy
of three months ago is about to come to pass, aud that the whole of
Flat creek will go under the domination of one man or group of men,
and the day of the small operator on that now famous stream will have
come to an end.
That negotiations are now pending and that others have been com
pleted for the taking over of a large portion of the creek by Thomas
Aitkeu aud associates is known to be a fact. That already, the whole
lower portion of Flat is under the control of this group of men, and
when pending deals are finally closed, it is believed that they will hold
all the creek ground at least as far as the Marietta which was the real
nucleus of their operations last spring.
For some weeks it has beeu rumored that upon the return of Tom
Aitkeu and the advent of Henry Riley and Frank Lawson, things would
be immediately doing in the buying of Flat claims. It was said that
the}1 would be accompanied into the country by representatives of Out
side capital, and it is further believed that Mr. Bell and Mr. Darby are
these representatives, coming in the interests of people in Colorado.
Whether or not the buy is originally instigated by the Gugetiheims
is only a matter of the merest conjecture, but it is entirely possible
that they are profiting by the lesson learned at Dawson, and that they
will take control of this camp before the cream of the wealth has been
ripped out at extravagant cost and loss.
When the news first leaked out last winter, it was discovered that
L S. Robe was making a survey of the entire creek, taking in every
hole sunk since the pay was first discovered. This he was doing at the
instigation of people then on the Outside. At the same time, it is
alleged that an abstract of title to all claims was being prepared in con
junction with Robe’s report, and these are supposed to have gone to
the parties ordering them. It was recognized that if a sale was made
it would require several milliou dollars to swing it, and that, of course
necessitated the intervention of Outside capital and it is generally
thought that Tom Aitken has secured this backing.
Upon inquiry today, Aitken and his associates disclaimed all
knowledge of a plan to buy up all of Flat, although admitting that Mr.
Aitken was taking several little flyers in choice bits of ground on differ
ent parts of the creek. Men who have been approached with offe.s
for their ground have been bound to secrecy with the result that it is
almost impossible to get definite disclosures of fact in regard to the par
ticular deals.
■
1 he following are some of the reports that are being circulated and
which seem to have a good basis in fact.
That Aitken has purchased the one-sixth interest of Paul Reuman
of South Dakota in the Bonanza association for $20,000 cash. That he
is negotiating for the Ferguson, Carter and McArdle interests in the
same ground, and that Fred Carter has just returned from Moore creek
where he went to get McArdle’s consent and power of attorney.
It is further reported that the deal with Friend and James, laymen
on the upper Bonanza, has been practically completed for a figure close
to a quarter of a million dollars, and that McKay and Hotts were offered
$25,000 for their lay on lower Glen by Mr. Aitken. Whether or not a.
deal was made here is not known.
Mr. Cominsky, owner of fhe upper end of Glen is thought to have
bound himself, and negotiations are pending for the sale of the Sour
dough Fraction adjoining the lower end of the Wildcat.
A deal is practically completed between Aitkeu and Lawson and
the Lucky Nine Mining Co. for the purchase ot 1 b Glen, one-half of a
fraction off 5 b and 7 18 of the Mohawk or Homestake association at
the mouth of the creek. Fred Vogler, PJdward A. Mitchell, Greg
Stewart, Harold Seddon and Tom McKinnon are the owners of these
properties, and the papers had been drawn up and were to be signed
Thursday. A hitch has occured however and the matter is still pend
ing. The consideration is not for publication.
Offers have also been made for the interests of Maher, Britt, Hagen,
Stewart, Duncan and Albrecht in 2, 3 and 4 b Glen but just how far
the deal has progressed cannot be said.
Little is known about what is going on at the head of the creek
although it was rumored last night that Wading and Micliie and Ingles
had closed a deal for their lays on the Wildcat. Shropshire and Burns,
the “Guggs” and the owners of the Wildcat are all believed to have
been made offers for their holdings.
There are many people w'10 opine that the deal cannot be consum
mated, and it is just as well for the future of the camp if it is not. Many
are holding out tor stiff prices, and the interests are so cut up, it will
take a long time to get them all of one mind. Stdl it is said that the
purchasers have all the money needful to swing the deal if they so de
sire, so future developments will be awaited with interest.
The effect on the future of this camp, if the deal goes through can
easily be imagined, especially if Otter creek goes under the domination
of Riley and Marston as now seems likely.
In. the case of Hat, it is not inconceivable that all further operations
will be closed down until the purchasers can bring in their own ma
chinery, dredges and supplies, at their own time and cost.
$2O0500© in Oust by June First
With the sluicing season to begin within the next few days,
under present weather conditions, it is estimated by the local
banks that there will be approximately $200,000 in gold dust to
add to the circulation medium of the camp by the first of June.
This dust will be derived from the winter dumps that have
been taken out and which will be the first gravel to hit the boxes
this spring.
E. G. Lindberg, manager of the Miners & Merchants bank of
this city, returned this week from a survey of the creeks, and
gives it as his opinion that the dumps in evidence should be good
for all of $200,000, and that they should all be in by the first of
the month, unless the weather proves decidedly unfavorable,
which does not now seem probable.
Of this production, the major portion will doubtless comf from
Otter creek, where the greatest amount of underground work has
been accomplished this winter. Dumps are scattered pretty gen
erally over the landscape, but what they lack in number on Flat
they make up in size.
Council Balks, Alley Left Closed
In spite of the fact that Mrs. Garcken of the Miners’ Home
lodging house appeared at the council meeting last Wednesday
night through her attorney, Major Albrecht, and declared an en
tire willingness to move her building from the alley on the east
side of Richmond street, between First and Second, if the city
would assure her that the alley wrnuld not be immediately jumped
by someone else, the council got frigid pedals and refused to turn
a wheel, wherefore Block Four of this city has a perfectly air
tight alley, corked at both ends.
Major Albrecht asked that the council take formal action in
the matter by declaring the alley to be an alley as it was known
before the plugging era, and generally recognized as such. He
further wished that formal notice be served upon Mrs. Garcken to
vacate, so that the city police could be relied upon to keep it clear
thereafter. Once this was done, the building would be removed
immediately and relief afforded to the long-suffering residents of
Block Four.
Major Albrecht stated that the alley was marked as such on
the plat adopted by the council, representing the streets and
alleys of the city, and under which they took the summary action
against Mrs. Stoner, an almost identical case. He admitted that
the alley was closed at the time the town was incorporated so that
a technical quibble might be raised as to when an alley is not an
alley. Right there the council sat up and took notice. It was pain
fully apparent that they wished to dodge the issue, for, said they,
if we ask one to get off, why not all? And in truth, why not? No
answer.
The situation briefly is this There is absolutely no entrance
to the interior of Block Four. Mrs. Garcken is willing to vacate
and throw open one end of the alley at least, if the council will
assure her it will not be jumped by the ever-ready lot grabber.
She only took the space temporarily, but she does not propose to
give up the lot there to someone else if an alley does not exist
there, and she simply requests the council to formally declare it
to be such.
For some strange reason, the council seems to have lost its
fiery fervor exhibited in the Stoner case, and refuses to order Mrs.
Garcken off because to be consistent, they will have to order the i
Mutchler blacksmith shop off at the other end.
To the man up a large tree it looks as though the council is in
bad on this proposition. They certainly have been passed the
buck in a most effective and disconcerting manner. To dodge be
hind the subterfuge that they don’t know there is an alley in Block
Four is so weak as to be laughable, and to so soon throw up their
tails after their valiant exhibition in the Stoner incident is enough
to give the average citizen the pip.
The Mutchler blacksmith shop, in the eyes of law or justice,
has not the slightest right to be where it is and everybody in town
knows it. The council is jerry to it all right, but it seems to be a
plain case of buffalo.
The alley should be open as it was first established, and if the
council dont open it, or at least make a valiant effort to do so, they
had better put Mrs. Stoner’s building back on Willow street,
diagonally or obliquely, and let her rest in peace.
RILEY & MARSTON ABSORBING OTTER CREEK
That Riley & Marston aspire to the almost complete control of
Otter creek seems apparent from the new deal just completed,
whereby they acquire a large section of ground above Discovery,
to add to their already extensive holdings, and which gives them
an almost continuous run of ground from the mouth of Granite to
the mouth of Plat.
According to the terms of the new deal they have purchased
from Robert Martin, for a consideration of $25,000, one half of the
Gumboot association at the mouth of Granite, one-third of the
Emergency association, a quarter of the Four Friends, and the
Peterson & Co. lay on the middle portion of No. 2-a, second tier j
bench, left limit, '
The latter lease was just acquired by Martin from C. S. Peter
son, John Kron and Eloff Nelson, and marks the spot where ex
cellent pay was struck this winter, being in close proximity to the
phenomenally rich ground now belonging to Price & Ives on Glen
gulch.
This closes out practically all of Martin’s holdings on Otter
creek, although he still holds ground on Granite and some on
Slate.
The Peterson lay on No. 2-a bench is already equipped with
machinery, and will be fully opened up by Riley & Marston this
summer, in addition to their exten .ive operation on No. 1-a and
Discovery.
Spring Building Is
Now Booming Merrily
With a Merry clatter of hammers
the work on the Pioneer building has
been going forward rapidly, with the
result that it is expected to be ready
for occupation in another week or so.
Tnd the Pioneer saloon will be back in
the old quarters so suddenly vacated in
the big fire of recent memory.
The building is of frame this time, but
bigger and better than ever. In addi
tion to the saloon downstairs, Jenks &
Umphrey will have a big barber shop
with baths, and the upstairs will be
used for offices and rooms.
Adjoining the Miners’ Home saloon,
a building is about to be erected by
Frank Miller facing on Willow street.
This building will be forty feet square
and will be one story for the present,
but there is a chance that it will be
made two stories after the arrival of
more lumber.
The place is to be occupied by Martin
Pupicli, who will open a restaurant
there, and the remaining 14 feet of
front will be taken up by Stoner’s bar
ber shop. Building operations are to
begin here at once.
The foundations of the A. B. hall are
practically all put in, and active car
penter work will begin the first of the
week.
Caustic Soda tor wet-cell bat
teries for sale at Crowley & Porter.
Has Been A Long
Time Gone Away
A letter has just been received here
by the M. & M. bank from the Seandi
navian-American bank in Seattle, for
warding a letter from Arthur ,T. Doug
las, ,102 Ottawa street, Medicine Hat,
Alberta, inquiring for information
concerning his father P. J. Douglas,
who left Medicine Hat, ten years ago
for the north.
He was supposed to have been en
gaged extensively in raining in the
North, but his present whereabouts
are entirely unknown.
Cabins for sale—apply postoffice.
They Move Sweets to Discovery Town
To get in on the activity at Discovery
Otter, this summer Misses Murray and
Grant are moving today from their
quarters on Richmond street where
they have been in business during the
past winter, to a new location on the
Main street, Discovery', where they
will immediately open a candy and con
fectionery store.
In the quarters vacated, a hospital
will soon be ready for the reception of
patients, as Mrs. Garcken who has been
conducting the lodging house on the
second floor of the building will use the
entire place for a fully equipped refuge
for the sick.
New Mercantile House tor Flat
A new metcantiie establishment is
about to start up at Flat city with Tom
Dean, formerly of the Northern Com
mercial company operating at the con
trolling lever.
A building on Front street opposite
Connolly’s will be the location and a
general mercantile business will be the
reason.
Mr. Dean has been with the N. C.
Co. for a number of years, but has now
severed his connection with that in
stitution in order to start business for
himself. _
List your property for sale or
rent, at the postoffice.
Notice to Prospectors
For sale, complete prospecting drill
with 10-h.p. boiler aDd 40 feet 4-inch
casing. Just, the rig for prospecting
wet ground. Can be seen at Pioneer
Machine Shop.
“ ’ .. M
DON’T FORGET
Dance at Ansley’s hall tonight, Bourret
& Bierman’s orchestra. Admission $2.
Mrs. Herbert Lynch, who was dan
gerously sick Wednesday, is improving
rapidly. _
Milk Shakes at the Red Cross
Drug Store tomorrow.
Cabins for rent—apply postoffloe.
Chris Jensen, the blacksmith, has
been building a house at Flat and is
about to ntove his family there where
he will spend the summer.
Ice Cream Sodas at Red Cross
Drug Store tomorrow.
Henry Roden, late of Nome, and not
to be confounded with our Heiney, has
taken a position with Joe Smith at the
Gunstore. _
Snow Glasses- Red Cross Drug Store.