Miners & Merchants Bank
IDITAROD, ALASKA
Capital, $50,000.00
General Banking Business Transacted Gold Dust Bought and Assayed
Drafts Issued on Any Part of the World
SEATTLE CORRESPONDENT. SCANDINAVIAN AMERICAN BANK
TERRITORIAL DEPOSITARY
OFFICERS:
CHARLES ROSS, President
JOHN HOLMES, Vice President
R. C. BUTTON, Cashier
<tooooo o o ooeoooooo*
O o
O ALASKA NEWS *
o o
♦ooooooooooooooooo
Illness of Judge Bunnell
Judge Charles E. Burnell of the fourth
division was taken suddenly ill on the night
uf February 18 at Juneau, and the Empire
tinted that his illness might prevent his
sailing for the westward on his way to the
Interior on the Alaska, as he had intended.
There was improvement ::i his condition the
following day, but physicians had not yet
indicated that it would be safe for him to
leave.
-—O—
Krause Sentenced to Die
Powerless under the I .v to impose any
penalty except that of o ath. Judge K. W .
Jennings of tlip First division, at Juneau on
February 17, pronounce I sentence on Ed
ward Krause, convicted murderer of Captain
James 0. Plunkett. Tin sentence is to be
executed May 11. Karo Krauezunas, the
attorney of fhe'condemn d man, stated that
he had every intention of perfecting an ap
peal of the case to the circuit court, on ac
count of alleged errors in the trial, both on
the part of the court and the district at
torney. A few days previously, February 15,
Judge Jennings had sentenced Krause to a
term of forty-live years' imprisonment on
conviction of the crimes of forgery and
fraudulent use of the malls.
—O—
Another Bloody Tragedy at Douglas
Maggie Mitchell, a native woman about
20 years of age, was shot and instantly
killed in a two-room cabin occupied by Ma
rina Albertina, an Austrian, at Douglas on
February 16. The woman was found by
the officials lying in a pool of blood by
the side of the bed. Near the door was
found a revolver, from which the three
shots which had caused neighbors to sound
an alarm had been discharged. The bullet
that caused death had entered the top of
the head. Another bullet had entered the
abdomen. Testimony adduced at the in
<|uest showed that Albertina had met the
native girl on the street and had told her
that he had some beer for her at his cabin.
It was shortly after this that the shots were
heard and the Austrian was seen to leave
the cabin and sta, /frard town. Other
testimony was to 'effect that the Aus
trian had threat i to kill the girl and
that friends had i. .-d to dissuade him from
the ra-h act. Albertina was arrested a few
ndnutes after the crime was committed.
New President of Pioneers
Cecil H Clegg, the well-known attorney
of Fairbanks, is now president of the Grand
Igloo of Pioneers of Alaska. Mr, Clegg, I
who was chosen vice president of the Grand
\lgloo at the last election of officers, suc
ceeds the late John G. Heid of Juneau, who
was elected president at the same time.
Alaska Aviation Fraud
A Chicago dispatch of February 15 says
that sailing airships in Alaska at S5.000 a
year was the alluring prospect by which
Charles O’Connor and H. V. Broenstrup, op
erating as the Bankers' Underwriting Asso- '
elation, with offices in Chicago, swindled I
scares of persons throughout the United
States, indictments returned by the federal
grand jury allege. The indictments, charg- j
ing using the mails to defraud, were based
on evidence that the men obtained thou
sands of dollars from their victims, accord
ing to attaches of the office of United States
Attorney Charles F. Clyne. The partners,
it is charged, represented that they were
"manufacturers of motors, pleasure and
commercial vehicles, hydroplanes and aero
planes.” They advertised in circulars and let
tors that they could obtain positions for
( their clients in Alaska as aviators, working
: four hours a clay at salaries of $5,000 a
1 year. Applicants were required to pur
chase stock in the “company” and pay $35
tuition fees for a course of "instructon m
Hying.
Star Changes Hands
An announcement published in the forty
ninth Star, published at Anchorage, states
that the newspaper, together with the plant
in which it is printed, has been sold to f red
A. Martin and J. C. Murphy, and the new
owners have already taken charge. John
W. frame, the veteran editor, announces
that his connection with the publication has
ceased.
—O—
Ayers' Team Wins Marathon
Ayers’ team won the full distance Mara
than dog race for the Borden cup at Nome
on Washington’s birthday, in the fastest end
most exciting dog race ever seen in Nome,
according to a special to the Seward Gate
way. Ayers' time is given officially as 1
hour and 54 minutes. Riley. Webb and
Downing were less than three minutes be
hind the winner. The course was over a
measured trail, and weather conditions were
perfect. All records for the distances be
tween Fort Davis, Hastings and the Cape
were broken. Seppalas’ Siberian wolves did
not start, as the race was too short for these
long-range speeders to appear at their best.
A ROOKIE’S LAMENT
(Alleged to have been uttered by a New
York militiaman in the Brownsville coun
try. I
“They took me away from cool New York
state and brought me down here, where
it's summer all winter and heil all summer.
“They took away my good clothes and
gave me a suit of red-hot khaki.
“They took away my good name and
gave me a number—494.
“They took me away from my good job
and put me to digging ditches and walking
marathons till my hands and feet were worn
out.
“They made me go to bed when I wasn't
sleepy and get up when I was.
“They made me go to church on Sunday
whether I wanted to or not.
"In church the parson said, ‘AH turn to
No. 494- “Are You Footsore. Are Y ou
Weary?” ' and I got len days in the guard
house for answering, ‘Hell, ves.’ ”
-«
Fresh Olympia and Eastern Oysters,
$1.50 per can. Iditarod Meat Co.
--♦
Job Printing at Thp Pioneer office.
1DSTAROD
RESTAURANT ml BAKERY |
CHARLEY HASEGAWfl, Prop.
iliOYY GPESM
Under New Management
Pastries, Pies and Cakes Always on
Hand
Bread—Six Loaves $1—Bread
SHORT ORDERS GOOD COFFEE,
French Joe's Roadhouse
SOUTH FORK KUSKOKWIM
DOC BACON AND FISH
FOR SALE
GRAI^D BAR 8-YEAR'0LD GIBS0N RYE
JUAN DE FUCA and
FLAT CITY MARC ANTONY CIGARS
Gold SL, Flat City
Mrs. Geo. Mutchler, Prop.
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
Fresh Meats
SocondSt. IDITAROD RfSEAT CO. Panels
l a _
Get“More Money” for your Foxes
Black. Silver, Cross, Red, White and Blue, Lynx,
Bear, Marten and other For bearers collected in your section
SHIP YOUR FURS DIRECT to “SHUBERT” the largest
house in the World dealing exclusively In NORTH AMERICAN RAW FURS
a reliable—responsible—safe Fur House with an unblemished rep
utation existing for "more than a third of a century.” a long suc
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WRITER IS MOST OPTIMISTIC
ON COUNTRY’S READINESS
TO ENTER ARMED CONFLICI
Notwithstanding the deplorable conditioi:
the United States has been in as regard
preparedness for war, army officers point
out that the army bill of the last session
of congress and the extraordinary circum
stances which resulted in the construction
Kf enormous munitions plants here during
the last two years, have put us in good
condition for the present emergency.
It is added that the country can now
provide ordnance and equipment for an
army as rapidly as it can possibly be used
in the event of war with Germany.
No censorship has been established offi
dally, hut yet army men are reluctant to
discuss the crisis for publication, except
with the understanding that their names
arc not to be used. With such an under
standing a prominent army officer recently
allowed himself to be quoted as follows
says W. W. Jermane, Washington corre
cpoiident of the Seattle Times:
"If it were not that Germany is now
hemmed in by enemies whose lines she
cannot break, I should have -sent my family
into the interior as soon as I heard that
the President had broken off diplomatic
relations with Germany.
"As it is, no matter how rapidly the next
developments come, there is not likely to
be any condition arising that we shall be
unable to foresee to meet with sufficient
force to prevent disaster to any consider
able portion of the United States. Last
summer's army bill authorizes the President
to take over for national use any plants,
or even complete industries, that might be
needed for army use.
inis applies not only to tne time ot ac
tual warfare, but when there is danger of
war. and so it applies right now. It is
hardly possible, though, that any such step
i will he necessary immediately; it is generally
j believed that owners of such plants will
willingly turn them over to the govern
ment if they are needed, without making
it necessary to commandeer them.
“Our little army is inadequately equipped
at the present time; there cun be no dis
puting that. But through no effort for which
we can claim credit we are fortunately able
to turn out the equipment needed by armies
far larger than ours Recruiting since the
passage of the army bill has, I understand,
gone on more rapidly than is generally
known.
“We probably have an army in the vicin
ity of 135,000 men now. and on paper, at
least, a National Guard of some 100,000.
We are more deficient in our machine gun,
artillery and airplane equipment than in
any other feature.
“The situation is such, however, that in
all probability there will he more than time
enough to make up these and other defi
ciencies before they can do any harm in
the event of war.
“American soldiers in all probability will
not be needed abroad immediately, even if
war is declared. The severance of rela
tions with Germany will in itself have a
tremendous moral effect on the men now
fighting against Germany. Declaration of
war would have greater effect toward de
feating Germany than would the winning
of several important battles.
“Our navy, pretty well equipped now,
would, of course, be the first arm of the
service that would be called into action.
The British navy, big as it is, is not big
enough to cover all points where warships
are now needed, and the American navy
could render valuable service. As for the
army, however, it is not impossible that the
war might be brought to a close without
our army being called into any severe ac
tion at all.
“It is impossible to tell just where and
how it would be needed. I don't believe
the officials in Washington would try to
predict what would be needed, or even
whether a single soldier would be sent
across the sea.
"In any event, it is highly probable that
our regular army would not be called upon
to embark for the front until long after
there had been time to improve the equip
ment. and that the National Guard would
not be called on to sail for months after
that. It would take at least six months
to equip and prepare the National Guard
for sailing, and the allies would hardly be
able to make much use of our National
Guard within less time than that.
“With intensive training and our present
facilities for equipping men in emergency,
citizens could he turned into effective sol
diers in a year, as is being done in England,
and no circumstances can be foreseen which
would make them needed before that length
of time.
“The situation i« such, however, that
there is need of increasing our facilities for I
manufacturing ordnance and equipment.
The allies need all we can turn out now.
While we probably would not ally our
selves with the countries now fighting Ger
many, and would act independently, offi
cially, in the conduct of the war. we should
attempt to avoid handicapping the allies by
diverting their supplies to our own uses.
That means turning every industry that
can manufacture munitions and is not now
doing so into a munitions-producing agency
under government control.”
—-a.
THE MOVIE MAUSOLEUM
For millions of years men have toiled,
loved and fought on this planet, yet it is
only for about 4,000 years that we have
anything like a consecutive record of what
has been going on, and the tale fades out
into thin conjecture beyond that.
It is now proposed to erect in Central
park, New York, a $1,000,000 mausoleum,
constructed with a view to enduring the
erosion of the centuries, in which will be
stored cinema films designed to inform
future generations of how we live. This
age will leave not only comprehensive lit
erary remains, with the vivid illustrations
of the ordinary camera, but will register
itself in shadows of reality so accurate that
eyes which will open 1,000 years hence
should, with any kind of luck, see us as we
are.
Imagine Caesar smiling into the lens; Cle
opatra leaving her barge, with self-conscious
slaves trying to act naturally; Alexander re
viewing his armies on the screen; Columbus
in the court of Isabella, with a close-up of
explorer kissing the royal finger tips!
No digging up of buried cities for future
generations of historians. We shall ail be
very, very dead then, yet it must afford the
president, traffic policemen, soldiers and sail
ors and other fixtures of the film news a
thrill of satisfaction to think that they mav
walk, bigger than life, before the vision of
races not yet evolved and that the youths
of unborn time will behold and sigh, “Ah,
those were the days'!”—Detroit News’.
FRENCH WRITER REVIEWS
GERMANY’S RECENT EFFORT
TO CONCILIATE RUSSIA
The American Review of Reviews for
January reproduces a portion of an article
by Paul Leroy Beaulieu, editor of the Econ
omiste Francois, relative to the recent effort
of Germany to conclude a separate peace
with Russia, which is of special interest at
this time. Said the French writer:
“It is well known that Germany, which
combines a limitless wickedness with a sin
gular naivete, has always flattered itself
with being able to induce one of the chief
powers of the entente, despite the formal
engagements at London in September, 1914,
to conclude a separate peace. Her efforts
in that direction were aimed particularly
at Russia. She imagined that in conceding
to that power some territory in Armenia
and illusory rights of transit at all times
and for all vessels through the Bosporus
and the Dardanelles she could detach the
empire of the czars from the sheaf of the
entente powers.
“That was a most singular presumption.
It is evident that if - assuming the impos
sible-one of the entente powers proved
alse to its engagements and concluded a
separate peace with the central powers, no
matter with what conditions, the future of
that treacherous power would be ruined for
ever. It could not hope to form any al
liance whatever for generations to come.
It would be consigned to isolation and in
cur the general contempt of the world.
“At the same time it would run the risk
of assuring the definitive triumph of Ger
many, which would withdraw its troops and
those of its vassals from the treacherous
power’s front in order to concentrate them
upon tne tronts oi tne powers uius auau
doned by one of its allies.
“What would the situation be then? Let
us suppose Germany actually restoring Rus
sian Poland and Lithuania, but compelling
the Western powers to sign a peace upon
the basis of the status quo ante bellum;
Germany’s power would be formidably aug
mented by the establishment of suzerainty
and implacable control over its allies, who
would beyond doubt become its vassals. A
single state would possess, with obedient
delegates for certain portions, the entire
center of Europe (Mittel Europa), with the
whole of the Levant; German Europe would,
in fact, comprise ail of present Germany,
with its 70,000,000 inhabitants, augmenteil
by a steadily rapid birth rate; then Austria
Hungary. with 50,000,000 inhabitants; Bul
garia, with its addition of 12,000,000; Tur
key. with 21,000,000 or 22,000,000,
“That would mean a compact mass of
over 150.000,000 souls, subject in the mili
tary, political and economic domains to a
methodical and implacable system; control
ling, furthermore, by intimidation, the ter
ritory of the neighboring neutral states:
Belgium, Holland, the Scandinavian coun
tries and Switzerland, with about 30,000,
000 souls.
“This formidable power, such as the world
has never known, even in the time of the
Roman empire, would stretch from the
North sfta and the shores of the English
channel to the Adriatic, the Egesn sea, and,
through its vassal, Turkey, to the Persian
gulf. It would mean the complete sub
jection of Europe and the beginning of the
subjection of the entire world. Deutschland
uber idles—Germany above all would be
come a reality, imposing itself on the whole
globe. South America would soon be un
der the control of this Germany, raised
above all the other nations. The United
States itself, a liberal nation, inclined to
federalism and to individual impulses, would
- - a thing which it does not seem to take
into consideration—be absolutely incapable
of ever standing up against that titanic
power of Central Europe.
“Furthermore, Germany has clearly dis
closed her designs to annex, under one form
or another, Russian Poland, Lithuania,
Courland, etc., a thing which would add
twenty millions more to the enormous popu
lations subject to the monster.
“It required that singular combination of
villainy and simplicity for Germany to ex
pect Russia to fall into the crude trap of a
separate peace. Outside of her traditional
loyalty, her interests and those of the Ger
man empire are most obviously antagonistic.
It was, nevertheless, requisite that the Rus
sian government should publicly and clearly
express its repulsion for the insulting ad
vances of Germany. This was solemnly
done by the Russian premier, M. Sturmer,
in a telegram addressed to the Russian am
bassador to Paris in November, 1916. The
dispatch closes with these words:
“ ‘Russia will maintain intact the intimate
union which binds her to her valiant allies,
and far from thinking of concluding a sep
arate peace, she will fight by their side the
common enemy without the slightest falter
ing until the hour of final victory. No hos
tile intrigue will succeed in shaking the ir
revocable decision of Russia.”
“Thus, in Russia, the czar, the ministry,
the dunta, the entire press, one may say, all
the corporate bodies, all the organs of pub
lic opinion, advocate prosecution of the war
to a final victory.”
-♦-•
GERMANY AVOIDED WAR
WITH UNITED STATES
AS MATTER OF POLICY
(London news dispatch, date May 14, 19161
What purports to be a summary of the
speech of Dr, Von Bethmann-Hollweg, the
German imperial chancellor, at the secret
sitting of the general committee of the
reichstag, on May 5, concerning Germany’s
reply to America, is published by the Wire
less Press today. Under a Berne date the
Wireless Press states that the following re
marks by the chancellor may be accepted
as unquestionably authentic:
“I have said before that we must drop
ail sentimentality. I repeat that, with re
gard to our dispute with America, our self
respect was wounded by the aggressive
wording of the American note to Germany.
Our feelings urge us to repel this interfer
ence with our legitimate methods of war
fare, and tell America to mind her own
business, but considerations of policy com
pel us to subordinate patriotic zeal to patri
otic reason. We must be guided, .however,
not by our feelings, but by the coolest
judgment.
“We have but one aim and one duty,
namely, to win the war; therefore, any pol
icy which endangers our victory must be
avoided. The overwhelming majority of
expert opinion regards a rupture of relations
with America as a grave peril.
“A great mistake'has been committed in
overestimating the value of the submarine
campaign against England. Our naval ex
perts no longer believe in the probability
of reducing England to starvation and ruin
by submarines, even if the war lasts an
other two years. It is true that these in
struments can inflict a frightful amount of
damage, but this damage would be insuffi
cient to outweigh the danger to ourselves
of America’s hostility.
“It is folly to underestimate the conse
quences of a conflict with America, nor
should we risk only America’s enmity. Our
information leads us to believe that other
neutrals must follow America’s lead.
“The German government lias weighed
every factor and is convinced of the ne
cessity of avoiding a breach with America.
“These are the hard facts of the present
situation. We have- worded a reply such
t s may reserve future liberty of action. If
the situation changes we may cancel our
concessions to America and resume unre
stricted submarine operations, but for the
present we must overcome our feelings
and pursue the policy most conducive to
final victory over all our enemies.”
PRICES OF METALS
The Mining and Engineering World gives
the following metal quotations for the
month of January, 1917. Platinum, $99
per ounce; quicksilver, 180 per flask (75
pounds) ; silver, 75c to 70c per ounce; cop
per, 30c to 32c per pound; antimony, 13c to
14c per pound (market dull'; tin, 40c to
41c per pound; lead, 714c per pound; zinc,
21c to 24c per poun.
During the month of January peace talk
caused the market to decline, but since
the severance of diplomatic relations be
tween the United States and Germany it is
thought the market will be brisk again.
NOTICE OF ELECTION
Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday,
April 3, 10 17, there will he held In the city
hall, In the town of Iditarod, Alaska, an
“lection for the purpose of electing seven
> ounrilinen and one member oT the school
board.
The polls for said election will he open
at 9 o'clock a. in. on that day and will close
at 8 o'clock p. in. or the same day, and all
qualified electors or the town of Iditarod
who have registered as provided by ordi
nance will be entitled to vote at said elec
tion. G. G. OF.Ft VTfITY.
Municipal Clerk.
j Dated March 3, 19 17.
A. D. CURRIE
Marquette ISA Rye
Rational Glut) Bourbon
Best Brands ot Cigars
BUDWEISER BEER
Family Orders Promptly FHied
NOTICE OF REGISTRATION
Notice is hereby given that at the hour
of 10 o’clock on the aid day or March,
1917, the registration hooks will be open
a! the olllce of the municipal clerk. In the
United States commissioner’s building, on
Second avenue, in the town of Iditarod,
Alaska, for Hie purpose of registering all
male and female persons, of twenty-one
years of age, who are citizens of the United
States, or who have declared their inten
tions to become such, and who have re
sided continuously one year next preceding
the date of election in the territory of
Alaska, and six months next preceding the
date or election within the town of Iditarod.
All persons desiring to vote at said elec
tion must, before voting, register their
names and qualifications with the town
register or the Uwn of Iditarod.
Registration books will be kept open
every (lay, except Sundays, beginning March
•.’2. 1917, during tlie hours of 10 o’clock
a, m. and 1 p. ni. The said registration will
lose on March ill, 19 17.
The said election will he held on the first
Tuesday In April, 1917, for the purpose or
electing seven (7. counellmen and one < 1
member of the school board.
0. fl. GERAGIITA', Municipal Clerk.
CAFE
FLAT CITY HOHBAGK & DURAND
Bat. the Grand and Bagoy's Bars
THE BEST ALL THE TIME
WE ABE HERE TO STAY
Big Stocks ot Fresh Goods
Everything for the Miner and
Prospector
r?ax siwiel r;E"
Stores at Cripple City and Mouth of Tolstoi
Best of Everything
ALL THE TIME AT THE
Arca.de Cafe
FLAT CITY
Ooen Dav and Night
FINE WATCH REPAIRING
NUGGET JEWELRY TO ORDER
J. L. SALE, Flat City
J. H. ROGERS
Fy@w Restaurant
Open Early and Late
GOOD EATS, 00I0K SERVICE
Only Correspondence School Chef
in Alaska
Front St., iditarod, nest to Manuel’s
PI ATARI!*? blg an(1 srnal]' printed on
I IUIJ paper, cardboard or cloth,
on short notice, at Iditarod Pioneer omce.
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME
| MERCHANTS’ CAFE
I GOOD MEALS i
r BmaBEg^aaE SHORT ORDERS
I FIRST AVE OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
8
HURST CIGAR STORE
PIPES AND TOBACCOS
I Full Line of Wellington Pipes, Wholesale
Westover—Wholesale Nice, Fresh Chocolates, Nuts, Candles and Fruits
POOL BARBER SHOP
J. A. NELSON, Prop.
HARRY DONNELLEY
jEHZE GENERAL MERCHANDISE
DISCOVERY, OTTER
Furs Furs
■ B The Clothier ■ H ***
IS IN THE MARKET TO BUY ONE THOUSAND FURS
I Black, Silver, Cross and Red Fox, Mink, Ermine, Lynx and last
year’s catch of Marten
iditarod FLAT
NICELY FURNISHED ROOMS BY DAY OR WEEK
Warm, Clean Well Ventilated
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT
tuc pnnQDV Mas8a*e and
l„ UnUuD I Bath Pariors
MEDICATED, MINERAL VAPOR, STEAM, «
TUB, SALT AND FRESH WATER E§flL¥,H§
Caribou St,, Bet. Black and Willow Sts., on Waterfront
Electric and Faradlc Massage Treatments by Expert Attendants
Lighted by Gas Heated by Steam