Published Every Saturday Evening at Iditarod, Alaska.
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FRANK E. BECKER. EDITOR
V&I 2 Geo. M. Arbucklc. Publisher No. 22 i
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Year. $10.00
Six Months. 5.00
One Month. 1.00
Single Copy.. 25
Advertising: Rotes on Application.
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THE GUGGENHEIM REALITY
In calmly accepting the fact that the Guggenheim
syndicate is negotiating for the purchase of this camp and
seems in every way likely to do so, we might say with the
farmer who looked at a dromedary for the first time and
remarked, “There ain't no such animal —but we won't.
We are going to look the matter square in the face and try
to figure out what it means for the camp and for us.
At the first suggestion of such a thing the average
citizen is apt to throw up his hands and call for help. He
immediately conjures weird nightmares of a many-armed
octopus reaching out a long tentacle to grasp and throttle
the country, and looks around for the cyclone cellar. He
says the poor man’s name is mud and that the best thing
he can do is to pack up and hike to a new place.
Since the news was fiist published here concerning the
attempt to buy Flat creek, a good many business men have
shown a tendency to break out in a rash. They see an im
mediate crushing out of competition and the annihilation
of the small concern, when as a matter of fact there seems
little likelihood of a change in business conditions for over
a year from today.
We have had suspicions of this thing for months and
have had our ear to the ground for every vibration. Now
that it is getting so close that you can hear the thunder,
there is no need of running in a panic, because when the
procession arrives there will be things doing and business
will be brisker than ever.
In the first place, conditions will not alter this summer, j
Except in the very few instances where the syndicate is |
trying to buy for cash at what it deems a reasonable figure, '
it is tying up ground by options that do not fall due until J
fall and which do not interfere with the operations of present
lease holders.
For that reason it now apjiears logical that laymen will
exert every effort to get as much out of the ground as
possible this summer and that as many, if not more men j
will be employed throughout the season. This is the opinion
of mining men generally.
Then with the approach of fall will come the closing
of negotiations or the refusal of offers. Should the sale be
consummated, a great deal of money will be turned loose
here and everyone will have a chance to get his share of it.
Before that time the intentions of the syndicate will hi
known and plans can be laid for the following year.
Should the Guggenheims secure control of the district
and work it on a large scale, the season of 1912 will un
questionably be a busy one of preparation. There will be
many miles of ditches to be dug, the installation of powei
houses and the handling of enormous quantities of ma
chinery, all requiring a great labor force and the expendi
ture of vast sums of money.
It is unquestionably true that the control of a mining
camp by a single large corporation, eventually sends tin
prospector and the small business man on his way, but il
takes time. In view of this fact our simple advice is this :
Never let yourself get hurried, but just stick around a wliily
and wait for the big show. j
IT MEETS WITH APPROVAL
Wickersham admirers wagged their heads with approval
over that suggestion about the welcoming feed and the hi
yu talkfest. They consider it entirely appropriate that we
tender him recognition for his services and try to cheer him
up for the battles of the coming year.
As we watch the walls of the new A. B. Hall rearing
themselves skyward we realize what a fine place that will be
to gather round the festive board to demolish a few crates
of grapefruit and Fletcherize a few litres of language. It
will be roomy and airy with plenty of space for hammer
throwing and the hurling of bolts of thought.
Although the date has not yet been set, owing to un
certainty as to the time of the delegate’s arrival here, and
Union Launch Office j
In Connection with Dick’s Cigar Store
R. L. Carlisle Willow Street >
WHEN IN FLAT WHEN IN IQITAROD
EAT AT THE
Merchants Cafe
The Only Restaurant that
hid Not Raise Prices Dur
ing the Winter Months.
TO DO YOUR tVSmSMG
Three thousand and five thousand candle power, throwing a shaft of light
1500 feet.
Call at the Iditarod headquarters for information concerning the J. B.
COLT’S ACETYLENE LIGHT MACHINE.
__ Pioneer Sheet Metal Works
City Drug Store
Z. J. LOUSSAC. Prop.
SPECIAL THIS WEEK ONL Y
Genuine Waterman's Self-Filling Fountain Pens, $3,50 Each
Ail STATIONERY and CUTLERY at Special Reduced Prices
Telephone 36 First Ave., Iditarod
G. J. Hurley, President J. P. Gleason, Nice President A. Bruning, Cashier
Corner First Ave, and Richmond St., Iditarod
CAPITAL $50,000.( LLY PAID IN GASH
General Banking Business Transacted Upon Liberal, But Conservative Lines
GOLD DUST PURCHASED UPON ASSAY VALUE
And we guarantee our assays against, any of the government assay offices.
Clippings from your gold furnished you for the purpose
of obtaining check assays if desired.
We solicit your business, and assure you of our courteous, prompt and
careful attention combined with fair treatment, whether
your account may be large or small.
ar ~ SICKINGER if you
have Butter, Ham,
Bacon, Beans, C^eam or Canned
Goods to spare*
WE WILL BUY OR TRADE FOR SAME
— ■ — Ring Up --
cn
Willow Street, Iditarod Phone 46
You Don't Have to Frog
WE SELL
Cigars, Pipes, Tobaccos,
Candies, Etc.
CAP’S PLACE
5 6 5 Cigar
Store....
although the committee on arrangements lias not been ap
pointed, it is not anticipating matters to say that the regi
mental band from every regiment in this inland empire will
be there to add eclat to the occasion.
Among the interesting events that might be arranged
we would like to see a one-act skit between Delegate
Wickershanfi and Major Richardson, entitled “Interring the
Ax,” and another effective curtain-raiser would be a one
round go between Our Jim and a man looking like Repre
sentative Frank Mondell, of Wyoming, and entitled “Who’s
a Liar ?”
If we could only have Our Little Mann of Illinois to sing
that touching ballad, “I’ve been Working on the Railroad,”
and Louis Shackleford to “Put on His Old Grey Bonnet,”
how glorious the evening would be.
Besides these interesting events there will be exhibitions
in sword-swallowing, electrical fountain effects with acro
bats trying to sit on the corks, and unquestionably some
daring magician will try to turn himself into a sponge.
As remarked last week we will be able to give the date
only when Jim’s whereabouts are learned, and thereupon it
will be up to Iditarod to produce the goods.
A nature-faking photographer thought lie had dis
covered a peculiar form of tornado on Richmond street this
week, but he was mistaken. It was only Councilman
Barnes cleaning out the approach to the river.
“Heat waves do not usually come from the North, but
Alaska seems to be furnishing Washington with more than
is comfortable.”—Wall Street Journal.
“There can be no doubt that the submarine as an
engine of destruction has long passed the experimental
stage.”—New York Evening Post.
“So far as known, no Guggenheim emissaries have
registered at any of the local hotel during the past week.”
No,—but they will next week.
“It is annoying when the price mark on one’s togo will
not come off.”—Chicago News.
Nels Glantz, one of the proprietors of
the GraDd hotel at Flat City, started
down river the other day on a hunting
trip. He will try for a bag on the
lower river, and will possibly return by
steamboat.__
Captain John R. Bingham, master of
the Str. Lois, which was abandoned
near Dikeman before the breakup, ar
rived in the city Tuesday night on the
Little Delta. He brought on a barge
the machinery of the Lois, and has a
35-b.p. Farquhar boiler which he is
trying to dispose of. He will doubtless
steamboat this summer, but has not
yet decided upon his boat.
Single Cable Becoming
Inadequate for Alaska
The laying of another cable to Alaska is under consideration
by Secretary of War J. M. Dickinson, and a request for an appro
priation for that purpose will be presented to congress soon.
Business has grown so rapidly in the past two or three years that
the capacity of the cable is sorely taxed, especially in the summer
season.
A reduction in cable rates, such as petitioned for by local com
mercial bodies, would practically necessitate such action, as the
present cable could not handle the enlarged business that would
follow.
The granting of a night letter rate would also hinge upon the
installation of a duplicate cable.
Plans are for the laying of the new cable direct to Cordova,
instead of relaying over from Sitka, as is done at present.
The changing of telegraph routes in Alaska is taken to indi
cate that the war department is planning to make Cordova the
central station.
Laying of a new cable will do away with the serious incon
venience caused by the frequent breaking of the present line.
The duplexing of the old cable was talked of at one time by
the war department, but it was found that the expense would be
nearly as gr<at as the laying of another cable.
Such a cable as is being considered by Secretary Dickinson
would cost about $2,000,000.
The distance between Seattle and Cordova over the route that
would probably be taken by the cable-ship is approximately 1,884
miles.
The cost of such a cable and its laying is estimated by cable
! engineers to be over $1,000 a mile.
Wires nearly twice as heavy are required in a cable more than
one thousand miles in length. For this reason the cable under
consideration would be much more expensive proportionately than
the present cable, the average cost of which was about $600 per
mile.
Government officials figure that the settlement of the coal
claim question in Alaska will double the population within a few
years.
The total receipts from commercial business by the Alaska
cable last year were $188,109.36. This did not include official
business, which is transmitted free and which amounted to
$174,005. The amount of money transferred over the cable last
year was $57,764.40.
Finishing Touches
on the Little Delta
There was qnite.a welcome extended
when the Little Delta drove up last
Tuesday evening and tied up near the
Jock of the Pioneer warm storage
warehouse at the lower end of town,
•she had steamed up from Dikemar,
where she had been in winter quarters, j
□ringing a barge and the machinery of
'he Str. Lois. Besides that she brought
no freight for the simple and effective 1
reason that there is no freight at Dike- j
man to bring.
Cy Atwell, owner of the boat, states
hat she will be kept here for a week 1
or so, pending Lbe completion of alter
ations started at the lower town. She
is to have a Texas and staterooms on
the upper deck, and will undergo gen
•ral repairs that will make her a new
>oat. The Litt la Delta has been heard
>f on many streams in Alaska, and will
be a lively factor in the trade of Idit
irod this season.
Big Tusks Found on Moose
While engaged in sinking a whole in
the channel of Moose creek a few miles
below town, M. Hickey recently un
covered a fine pair of mastodon tusks
which were brought to town early this
week and turned over to Sale, the
jeweler. They are among the biggest
in captivity, one tusk being twelve feet
in length and seven inches through at
the butt. The other was broken and
considerably marred in taking it from
its frozen bed, for Mr. Hickey thought
he had encountered a log and chopped
it in many places before he disco vei e.l
his mistake.
Although many centuries have
elapsed since these huge curves of
ivory were borne proudly aloft by some
gigantic monarch of the northern
wilderness, they still bear evidence of
containing much sound material, good
for carving ivory ornaments, and it is
possible that they will be sold for that
purpose, unless some curiosity seeker
should choose the big one for his own.
More Crosswalks May k Built
The question of crosswalks and
streets is occupying the entire atten
tion of the council these days and has
some of the city dads sitting up nights.
They are just beginning to appreciate
the beauties of their job and would
like very much to establish an alibi.
Chief cause of annoyance has been
the putting in of twelve crosswalks
which were installed this week on the
principal streets but which unfot
tunatelv ran out before they could at
tend to all the places that needed cross
walks. Immediately the council was
set upon by indignant citizens who de
manded crosswalks in front of their
doors and the war is not yet over.
Realizing what they are up against,
it is probable that the council will go
some more on crosswalks. The matter
was discussed at the last meeting, and
it is very likely that bids will be called
for in a few days for the laying of 12
uore crosswalks to connect up all the
daces where the residenters are put
:ing in respectable sidewalks.
Bari Slippern, one of the Slippern
hoys, millmen, was in town during the
week, making preparations for start
ing tlie mill on logs that are due in a
few days.
DR. B. F. BROOKS,
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Discovery Otter.
Dr. Heinrich Wortmann,
Physician and Surgeon
Office at City Drug Store, Tel. 3G
First Ave., Bet. Willow and Richmond
DR. E. T. BRADBURY,
Dentist
Over Merchants Cafe, First Avenue
Telephone 30-B
CHAS. D. CARTER,
Dentist
Offices, Pioneer Drug Stores,
Fiat Creek
McGowan, Clark & Albrecht
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Iditarod, Alaska Phone No. 7
The Pioneer Attorneys of This Camp
ALFRED E. MALTBY,
[V. S. Commissioner)
Attorney at Law
Notary Public
Practice only in District Court. IDiTAROD
J. S. HARDING,
Attorney at Law
Room 1, Iditarod Hotel
Iditarod. Alaska
CHAS. E. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law,
Notary Public, Conveyancing,1
Abstracts of Titles
flat City
A. J. DALY,
Attorney at Law
WILL ARRIVE ON THE FIRST BOAT
919-923 Leary Building, Seattle, Wash.
All Commissions Given Personal Attention.
Wickersham & Roden.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Iditarod, Alaska
E. COKE HILL,
Attorney at Law
Simpson Building, Iditarod, Alaska