About Flat City's People and Enterprises I- - -
It makes no difference where you live, if you want a
Qr anything elso in
IVSen’s C
You can save money by giving us a call. The largest slock,
Most tip to date store.
N: N. Jaffe, Flat Creek
The Connolly
Quaker Maid Whiskey our Specialty
Rooms Spring Bunks
Mouth of Flat Creek
Strictly First Class
THE
Snyder House
Finely Furnished Rooms and Baths
Second Avenue, Flat City. Snyder & Smith, Props.
A Place Where You Can Always Meet Your Mends
Choicest Cigars, Tobaccos, Fruits, Gandies, Nuts, Sott Drinks, Stationery, Etc.
M. R. HUSSEY FLAT CITY P. J. MANNION
THE PLACE TO STOP
Cafe in Connection. Liquors and Cigars
Four Miles to Discovery Otter. Two Miles to Flat City.
Firemen’s Bail
At Stanley House, Flat City, Saturday, Nov. 5th
FOR BENEFIT OF TOWN’S FIRE DEP’T FUND
Best Music Fine Floor Room for All
Make Arrangements in Advance So that You Won’t Miss
the Big Event. Excursion Kates on All Trails
Newly Opened
i And Lodging Houss
* -
MEALS $1.00 I P
Discovery Otter Stoner & DuRand, Props.
Joe Smith, of gun store fame, who
lias been out of town for some weeks
returned Thursday from a trip of in
spection to Moore creek where he went
to look into some opportunities to buy.
He liked the looks of things over there
and is said to have taken a chance.
All cigars dealers 3ell Bock cigars.
OTTER CITY i
ROADHOUSE |
mouth of otter creek |
Good Meals. Warm Bur.khouse j
Stables and Dog Houses in \
Connection. 5
: MRS. C. C. CHITTICK, Prop. )
Former Fire Chief “Black” Sullivan,
and member of our board of city dads,
has turned reindeer according to re
ports from the Kuskokwim. He is
said to be on his way down where the
herds are, but he may only bring them
as far as Georgetown.
Casey sells Bock cigars
Dissolution of Partnership
The partnership heretofore existing
between Eric Palmen and John Barrett
in the ownership and operation of the
Pony Express Co. has this day been
dissolved by mutual consent, John Bar
rett retiring. All outstanding accounts
due said partnership are payable to
Eric Palmen, who also assumes the lia
bilities of the partnership.
Emc Palmen.
John Barrett.
Iditarod, Aka., Oct. 18, 1910.
“The Optimisf ’ Writes of the Flour
ishing Creek Town
Flat City, Nov. 4, 1910.
As a striking instance of what can be
quietly and quickly accomplished by
earnest endeavor, the town of Flat at
the mouth of the creek of that name fur
nishes an oiample worthy of emulation.
Xjike lildorado creek, in the Klondike
camp, Flat was passed up by the wise
ones amongst last year’s stampeders, to
be later banned and damned by the co
terie of pessimistic old sourdoughs who
came here on the first boats this sea
son. While these authorities (on solo
games) were bawling out the camp,
men who are still equipped with red
blood and ambition, were putting their
belief in the creeks to the infallible
test of the pan, with results which fully
justified their faith. Fortunately, the
prospectors of the Yukon and Alaska
have amongst them men of capital and
sound judgment who are practical min
ers and always ready to develop a pros
pect in the quickest and most efficient
manner possible.
Fiat creek which a few months ago
was grudgingly credited with having a
few rich spots, through persistent ef
fort now shows a continuous paystreak
extending over the divide, on the very
top of which “Caribou Bill" Deetering
has mined successfully for part of the
season. From there down Happy and
Willow creeks the golden stream has
been traced for miles, and who shall
say in view of what has developed in
all the other camps in the North, that
all the pay has been located ? Say,
rather, that at this early stage defining
the deposits of auriferous gravels has
just begun.
INDUSTRIOUS FLAT CITY
The town of Flat stands today a mon
ument to this belief, for rich or poor,
the inhabitants are showing their opti
mistic spirit by industriously building
to meet present needs and future re
quirements.
The few tents of the summer season
have been replaced by substantial
buildings, and uone too soon, for hotels
and lodging houses have been taxed to I
their utmost capacity during the past
couple of weeks, stampeders on their
way to and from theKuskokwim strikes
making a stopping place before going
into the hills, or when returning after
a month or so of siwashing it, the com
forts of civilization are eagerly appre
ciated.
It iss all very fine for simple-life fad
dists to enthuse over the deiigbts of
camping, where with wealth at com
mand they may hire horses and guides
and "cut out the rough stuff" them
selves, but you don’t notice any of them
worrying about a cold tub or the de
lights of early rising if they have been
mushing all day with their little outfit
on their back or dragging a sled by the
back of the neck. Oh, no; they can
curl up at daybreak and let the other
fellow get busy with theJava and^flap
jacks. Nothin’ doin’ in the bath busi
ness then. “Wait till we get to Sny
der's.”
FEW OF THE PIONEERS
A history of the town of Flat would
of necessity have to start with Frank
Stanley, proprietor of the Stanley
house; also it would be incumbent to
mention him occasionally as the work
progressed, and then at the finish a
whole chapter might be devoted to him.
Frank started the town of Flat on June
7 all by his lonely, with a roadhouse
and store, and, when he got a chance,
built a footbridge across Otter creek.
Most of the mushers preferred to swim,
however, hoping to dispose cf some of
the semi-liquid macadam they had ab
sorbed on the voyage from IditaroJ. By
the time Manley & Aitken had begun
to show up Flat creek to the doubting
ones, Stanley's roadhouse was alto
gether inadequate for the rush of busi
ness, so Frank started to enlarge the
premises and has been building ever
since until the little roadhouse has de
veloped inty a first-class hotel, a splen
did two-story log bui ding, 22x50 feet,
accommodating 50 guests. His commo
dious dining-room and office is freely
given for dances and social entertain
ments. In connection with the hotel is
stabling for 20 head of stock in one of
the finest barns ever built in the North,
and you don’t hear the malamutes put
ting up any howl about their sleeping
quarters.
Within the town limits the thorough
fare leading up Flat, creek is appropri
ately named Gold street, and between
Second and Third avenues, on the left
limit of that paystreak, Mrs. Swanson’s
Grand hotel is located. The popularity
of the landlady and excellence of the
cuisine is daily attested by the crowd
of boarders who regularly respond to
the sound of the dinner bell.
In the same building, and run by one
of the proprietors of the Grand hotel,
is the cigarstore and pool room of Nels
Glantz, a resort for many who delight
in putting in a few hours of recreation
to the best possible advantage.
Across the street is Mrs. Crawford’s
notion store and lodging house, then
Drs. Carter and Spaulding’s drug store
and office. The fact that there is no
graveyard started hero yet, although
there has been the usual quota of acci
dents and ailments incidental to fron
tier life, furnishes an excellent testi
monial to the efficiency of these med
icos.
On tlie up-creek side and adjoining
tile drug store is the Bozeman & Rich
ards cigar store and pool room, where
the merry song of t 10 ivory ball (that
is, if ivory balls sing) will be heard
through the long evenings of the win
ter.
At the foot of tlia street Joe Tvvan.
the sourdough violinist, still plies his
awl in a tent, which will soon be re
placed by a log cabin, however.
Turning down First avenue, the Peck
Trading Co. holds down the corner lot.
Next door a large log building is in
course of construction, and then we
have one of the most popular resorts in
the town, Hussey A Mannion’s pool and
billiard hall. These enterprising young
tnen opened up in June with a pool
table and a stock of fruits and cigars,
but being the only recreation resort in
town, were soon compelled to enlarge
the place. They now have a comfort
able iog building 20x60 feet. Before
the advent of the saloons soft drinks
were tiie only legitimate thirst quench
ers to be had, and so well did Dick
Hussey’s mixin's suit the Flat-ites-ists
ers’ palates that his Flat-creek Man
hattan are still the favorite beverage
of a large percentage of the population.
About the only building which hasn't
been remodeled, Miss Galbraith’s tent
is still doing business as a hospital, but
as the one patient is able to get around
again, there will likely ha a perma
nent building erected.
N. N. Jaflfe’s clothing store is now
housed in an elegant building, through
the show windows of which may be
seen everything in the way of comfort
and utility for winter wear.
Then comes E. W. Griffin’s mercan
tile establishment where a crowd of
sourdough prototypes of the Punkin
Centre politicians thresh out the issues
of the day (a hot argument is on at
present as to whether it was Tom Lloyd
or E. W. himself who planted the flag
on Mt. McKinley).
The Cold Storage people must have
all tlie money they need, as their build
ing is closed.
Next to the beef trust’s silent head
quarters—and unlike it as possible—is
where ’‘the bead is on the Gibson and
Casey's at the bat.”
When we are ready to resume our
observations, we butt up against Stan
ley's, and crossing Flat street come to
McMahon’s grocery store. Mac is op
timistic in all things concerning Flat
except the hope of getting McManus to
send us a postoffice; also, Mac has no
bacon.
The Home restaurant, conducted by
Miss Hagelin, Mrs. Muir and R. E.
Lowrie, is undergoing the finishing
touches, and is centrally located and
well patronized.
Shaw & Baggerly’s grocery and gen
eral merchandise store is the head
quarters of our municipal government.
Mrs. Eaton’s lodging house is being
rebuilt for the winter, and next in line
is Connolly’s, where Jack dispenses
martial music or soothing liquids as
the occasion demands. Last, but not
least, on the street is Carroll’s Bakery
and Coffee house, where late risers may
regale themselves with a cup of Mocha
or Java and a few crisp native sous.
Second and Third avenues are mostly
built up of good-sized, comfortable log
cabins. Among the most pretentious
of these are the residences of Fred Car
ter, Frank Ingles, Billy Atchison and
Frank Dawson. McDermott’s black
CM AS. D. CARTER,
Dentist
Offices, Pioneer Drug Stores,
Flat Creek
smith shop is located near Sny
der’s bath and rooming house, between
Gold and Flat streets. Several fine
homes have also been built across Otter i
creek.
SLUICING STOPS, WOOD STARTS
There will be but little actual min
ing on Flat creek this winter. Charley
Lynn, about a mile from town, being
the only one engaged in hoisting dirt at
present. It will be a busy creek never
theless, for there is much dead work to
be done preparatory to next season's
work, and now that we have bad a gen
erous snowfall, it will be possible to de
liver wood and machinery on the
claims, and freighters and wood-chop
pers will have a chance to do their
share toward the further development
of the banner creek of the district.
WHAT FLATERS ARE DOING
Tommy McSmart and Ollie Bourette
will furnish tlie music for the Fire
man’s ball which will bo held at Stan
ley’s Saturday night.
Fred Carter is still confined to his
bed as the result of the accident which
befell him three weeks ago. He is feel,
ing quite cheerful however, and ex
pects to be able to get up in a few
days. .
Angus McDonald, who has been un
der the care of Mrs. Galbraith for
some time, is now recovering from a
severe attack of typhoid fever and is
able to get around again.
Mr. Howard, the popular host of the
Willow creek roadhouse, paid us a brief
visit on his way to Iditarod. Ho says
travel toward the Kuskokwim has as
sumed stampede proportions since the
late snowfall.
Jim Ryan is wearing a kind of
troubled expression these days. Jim
has been pounding over the mud and
uiggerlieads all summer and got kind
of used to it, but the snow has filled up
all the old familiar chuck holes andthe
sled slips along so speedily now that
his schedule is all upset.
Bennett James is one of the latest
arrivals in Flat. He is building a home
for himself from which he will direct
operations on his mining property.
Hearing glowing reports of the good
hunting over on the Kuskokwim side,
Charley Worden passed through here
the other day enroute for that favored
section. His equipment consisted of a
22 and several gunny sacks, the heavy
artillery following on a freight team
which will be used to transport the
moose, bear, caribou, etc., back to the
zone of meatless meat markets.
The committee on fire protection ap
pointed by Chairman Ed Rusk at the
citizens’ meeting a week ago soon got
down to business and have ordered a
plentiful supply of extinguishers from
Iditarod, and engaged Fred Raap as
fire chief. Mr. Raap will devote his
entire time and attention to his duties
and will have the hearty co-operation
of all his town’s people in their united
efforts to guard against fires.
Keys and Meahan stage line adds
some class to the route it traverses,
and Phil is there with the ribbons to
the delight of his passengers who en
joy the exhilarating effects of being
whirled at top speed around the curves
near this end of the line.
Jack Connolly’s grand opening was
the leading feature of the week’s social
events and was enjoyed by a large,
noisy, good natured crowd.
“Line Busy,” is the all too frequent
nesponse of central, and it looks as if
Henry Weir will have to string another
wire to Flat in the near future.
Having got most of the loose change
in Iditarod safely stowed away, T. A.
Cleveland the hustling manager of the
Clark Lumber Co., paid a visit to Flat
during the week on business for his
firm.
Anderson Bros, and the tin shop
people have been busy here during the
week in their respective lines.
When you visit Flat creek call at
Carroll’s Globe Bakery and Coffee
House for a lunch.
ALL FLAT CITY PRIES
OPEN THE CONNOLLY
Accompanied by many a burst of song
which gurgled like that stirring ballad
sung down where the Wurtsburger
flows, the Connolly unlocked the doors
of its thirst station at Flat City last
Wednesday night and pulled the spout
down. Every through freight, extra,
limited and special put a little sand on
the tracks right in front of the chutes
while the crews got off to coal up and
•ill the tank. The semaphore was hung
up all the time, and as the lights wero
changing constantly no one cared to
take a chance about going on, so de
cided to remain for further orders.
Finding his job a futile endeavor, the
chief dispatcher quit the desk and came
in to buy .the drinks for the house.
It has been a privilege to write about
the opening of a good many booze ba
zars this last summer and fall, but they
do say that this one had them all bea
ten to a cold frappe when it came to
genuine fun and unmarred enjoyment.
It was more like a smoker, where a
bunch of jolly Bohemians had gathered
to let off steam. They tipped a few
over and then burst into song like
spontaneous combustion, while Jack
Connolly Himself tickled the horse
teeth and simply beat the eternal tar
out of the upright grand.
Everybody tried to sing and since
it was a give and take in the vocal
line, nobody got sore if you stubbed
your toe on a note and fell off the key.
Those who couldn’t sing tried to dance
while the rafters rattled and the bar
tenders ran around in circles.
Just as the excitement was at its
height, one Svenska feller he came in
and jumped on the big drum stove with
his rubber shoes, not knowing or car
ing a cuss where he was. He wasn’t
very cold when he first came in, but
when his feet began to burn and he
discovered what he was up against, he
cut loose one large Scandinavian war
whoop and jumped clean over the head
of a man five feet away. Yes, it was a
gladsome time, and there will long be
pleasing memories of the Connolly’s
lirst night.
^Hsners5 Home
RICHMOND ST.
Furnished Rooms and Spring Beds.
Reasonable Rates by the Day, Week
or Month.
Stanly House
Nlouth of Flat
Clean Beds and
Good Heals
AT AT L HOURS
Commodious Stables Just Completed.
Li3 'io date
Grand Hotel
MOUTH OF FLAT
CAFE and POOL BOOM
IN CONNECTION
N.6LANTZ& MRS, SWANSON, PROPS,
MCMAHON
For Outfits
FLAT CITY
CASEYS
PLACE
Open for jr^j w f+¥’'T'V
Business * I Ui i J