I DITAROD PIONEER
Published Every Saturday Morning
at [ditarod, Alaska,
BY C.T50ROF, M. ARBTJCKBE
Subscription Rates:
i >ne Year $10.00
Six Months 5 00
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Single Copy ... ... .25
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Ynl. 10 No. U
HE KNOWS WHEREOF HE
WRITES
Idiiapod Pioneer:
i read with a groat deal of interest
your article in a previous issue of the
Pioneer regarding the Se ward-Iditarod
mail route, and it seems to me that al
though we have lost the. rout* it is
proper that we let those responsible
for the change know that we are not so
gullible as to accept their explanation
without a protest.
They tell us that the route is nor
feasible, that, the mail can be carried
more expeditiously via Fairbanks, that
the roadhouses are closed, and that t he
■Seward route means lost mail Taking
these excuses in their order. I would
say that T have made from Anchorage
to Id i la rod with a shaft belonging to
the Otter dredge and weighting 1,100
pounds in 10 days, and snowshoed every
foot of the wav. Last winter I brought
in a wheel for the Ait ken dredge
weighing Hot) pounds from VVasilla to
McGrath in LI days. I have traveled
the Seward trail under every conceiv
able condition, anti I maintain that 20
days from Wasilla to Flat is ample
time for the mail carriers to make this
distance.
As for the mail being carried more
expeditiously via Fairbanks, surely we.
are all agreed that this needs no an
P rof e ««i o na I
ALBRECHT and TAYLOR,
AttorneysCounselors at Law
ki it a rod, Seattle,
Alaska Washington
DR. MOORE
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
DRUG STORE
DR.H.BEHLA
Flat
i Pete's Bakery
And Coffee House
Front St., Flat
Regular Meals, Short Orders
Fresh Bread, Pies and Cakes
Always on Hand
P. MICHELS, PROP.
Big Stocks of Fresh Goods
Everything for the Miner and
Prospector
MAX SI MEL TRADER
6tcr« at Mouth of Tolatoi
swer save to tell them that, we realize
that, our rights and interests are being
sacrificed for the greater glory and in
creased satisfaction of our Fairbanks
Wo all know that if the running time
of the mail last winter is what their
estimates of time are based on. that no
allowance could have baen made for
the time lost through the quarantine.
Ii is I rue that the roadhouses on the
Seward trail are clesed. So is the
country between here and coast. We
have always believed that, it was the
intention of the government to open
the country. The building of the rail
road led us to accept, this belief, but
now it appears that the railroad itself
is only another feeder for the greatness
of our neighbor.
Now, as to the mail lost on the Sew
ard trail, 1 would suggest that an In
vestigation would probably show that
less mail has been lost here titan on
any route in Alaska.
This letter of mine is probably value
less, but it is at least some satisfaction
not to accept without a word an ex
planation that insults our intelligence.
Yours truly,
J. E. BEATTIE.
Id i t a rod, Oct. 2,3, 1919.
CDT IT TO S6.000.000
Washington. Oct. 28.—The House
last, evening passed the war-time pro
hibition-enforcement bill over the veto
of the President by twenty-odd votes
more than the necessary two-thirds
majority.
Indications are that the Senate will
promptly repass the appropriation bill
for the Alaska railroad, which was cut
from $17,000,000 to $6,000,000 by the
Senate and House conference commit
tee.
Tiie conference committee also elim
inated the item of $15,000,000 for the
air-service branch of the army.
WHITE HOUSE VISITORS
Washington, Oct. 28. -The King anti
Queen of Belgium arrived at the White
House today to pay their respects to
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. The royal
couple were accompanied by Secretary
of State Lansing. Except, for their
personal attendants— including the
King’s military aide and the Queen’s
lady in waiting, the visitors were
alone. Mrs. Wilson, after receiving
her guests, chatted with them a few
minutes, after which they departed.
They did not see tlte President.
SMASHED TO PIECES
Muskegon, Mich., Oct. 28.—Ten peo
ple last their lives this morning when
the Crosby liner City of Muskegon,
while trying to make harbor here,
struck the pier so forcibly that sfie
was smashed to pieces, and sunk within
four minutes
MEETING OF PIONEERS
Next Wednesday evening, Nov. 5, at
Elat, tiie regular semi-monthly meeting
of Igloo No. 10. Pioneers of Alaska,
will take place. All members should
make it a point to attend the meetings
and interest themselves in the doings
of the igloo, because it is possible only
by so doing can the envied reputation
of the organization as a “live-wire
proposition” be maintained.
Tlte clocks and watches of the camp
were set back one hour last Sunday.
A1 Walsh is a recent arrival from
Bethel.
HARDWARE AT COST
Entire Stock cf High-Class Goods to Close Out
Heavy 24-Gauge Stovepipe, 50c Joint
Pioneer Sheet Metal Works
Miners & Merchants Bank
IDITAROD, ALASKA
Capital and Surplus, $75,000.00
CORRESPONDENTS: Scandinavian American Bank, Seat
tie; National Park Bank, New York City; Anglo London
Paris National Bank, San Francisco.
We Sell American Bankers’ Checks.
Fourth Liberty Loan Bonds for Sale.
OFFICERS:
CHARLES ROSS, President
CLAUDE BAKER, Vice-President
R. C. BUTTON, Cashier
Cry for Salmon
From a fisherman’s standpoint, 1915)
whs the worst, season since the light,
salmon runs of 1911 and 1915. fhe sea
son of 1915 was extremely dry, which
cut oft' many of t he smaller spawning
grounds It. has always been claimed
that the humpy came in two-year cy
cles, bur if the 1911 and 1919 theory
holds true the humpy would come in a
lour-year cycle. Therefore, just what
can he done by larger canneries next,
season is :l problem, although they do
hazard an estimate for 1920 operations.
Tney look forward to good packs that
will bring satisfactory prices The big
cannery plants have been working in
full swing during the summer to catch
all the salmon from every run. These
canneries, presumably, are exempt
from all labor1 troubles—employing men
of many nationalities, chiefly Chinese.
Japanese are conspicuous among them.
There are also numerous Hawaiians.
The Scandinavian is also much iri evi
dence. But the Chinese made a mate
rial saving for both canners and their
employes, judging from the wage scale,
share in the gains made by labor-sav
ing machinery.
v\ b iinenor residents or Alasaa
should know, not In a general way, but.
with particularity, what is the advanl
tage and benefit we do get of all this,
"fish pirates” and “fish towns?”
It is plain that canneries are aided
by somebody in improving tlie fish in
dustry in Lower Yukon. In a word,
there is more every year well equipped
canneries established. Its beneficial re
sults to somoone have been well de
scribed by excursionists of tne scenery.
It is evident that escaped salmon
fiom the canneries last, summer for our
own market lowering more thad 75 per
cent., and it will be disastrous to na
tives and dog owners this coming sea
son. In consequence, there is scarcely
any fish on the market to be got. Loca
merchants and fish dealers refused or
couldn’t supply fish for buyers, and
merely keep us free from want.
This Territory still offers opportun
ity for a pioneer life, with its un
known natural resources, but unless
I someone Will make possible the devel
| opment. The simplest reason would
I tell some individuals that they ought
abolish private concessions, there i
only one thing -prevent establishment
canneries on lower parts of Yukon
river, let them fish along the coast atul
Bering straits, and leave alone out
liver streams.
This people of interior made to feel
that they are independent, they is to
continue in a sense in the service of
the government, as they to develop
| national resources. It is io truth the
j While Land of promise, in which it is
our good fortona tn these peculiar days
to dwell.
We should not he turned as the terri
tory were unbroken, unfenced, without
accommodations for men and animals.
There should he prepared a system of
simple devising by which although
simple necessities of living can he ap
plied to their needs.
Beaver and marten lawfully protected
at all times. Yet. the most useful and
most indispensable animal—like a dbg
—must struggle for feed and his exist
ence.
This cannery business in our north
ern waters and good and welfare of the
country is all right, in certain extend,
but our needs must be first, taken
into consideration. After our home,
market have been well supplied with
salmon without of any sacrifice, sup
plied even by these canneries—we will
ing to let them establish here the crab
industry. The meat of the finest crab
to be found anywhere in the world.
JOHN DUKO.
lditarod, Alaska, Oct. 29, 1919.
’Twas Only Between Friends
Jock M’Oat was a Scotsman. Also,
he was a coal merchant. Also, he was
in love. His lassie knew him to be the
richest man in town. But site wanted
to be quite sure that lie had come by
all his money honestly before she de
cided to marry him.
“Hoo is it that ye quote tiie lowest
prices in the toon, and make reductions
on them to yer fieens, and yet ye make
such enormous profits?” she asked.
“Weel, it’s this way,” explained Jock
M’Oat, in an undertone. ‘-And ve'll be
no tellin’ anyone about it, will ye? Ye
see, I knock off two shillings a ton be
cause a customer is a freeu o’ mine,
and then I knock off two hundredweight
a ton because I’m a freen o’ his.”--Ex.
Job Printing at The Pioneer office.