STEAffieU SAM
Leaves City Dec
I
Published Every Saturday Evening at Iditarod, Alaska.
2 Coo. M. Arbuckls. Publisher No. 34
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One 1 ear.$10.00
Six Months. 5.00
One Month . 1.00 j
Single Copy. 251
Advertising Rates on Application.
—-— - - —■■ ■ --- . .. . nzr j
THE COMMON COUNCIL
In every incorporated town in the territory of Alaska
there are seven men who work at their own particular busi
ness from rosy morn until shadowy eve, and spend every
night trying their best to do something for the benefit of
the town in which they live. While in their private work
they are fairly successful, in their public duties they fall j
short every evening. “Everything they do is wrong;” j
“they haven’t got the savvy ordinarily possessed by mules;”!
“they can never be re-elected;” “they are the poorest busi
ness men that could be found in the whole town,” although
before their election they were said to be “the best timber I
in the city:” “they don’t know how or where a street cross-j
ing ought to be put in; they haven't got the slightest idea
as to how a town should be protected from lire; they
know nothing about police duty or policemen; they don’t
know how old Ann is; they can’t tell you when the clerk of
the court will send the next batch of federal license money;
they have no idea as to when their neighbor’s baby will be
born; they are the biggest dunces that (tod ever made; no
set of fools could be found in the whole world that would
run a town like they are running it; they know and under
stand nothing; can't be told anything, and ought to be put in
jail for squandering the public’s money; are a disgrace to
the town in particular and to the American nation at large;
most of them, if not all, are crooked, and, to express the
whole thing in a few words, they are no good, false to their
trust, incompetent, and at the next election a mule will be
put up to succeed its owner in office.”
Such is the usual talk heard in Alaskan towns about
the councilmen which may then be ruling and guiding the
destinies of their home town. One satisfaction there re
mains, and it may bo a little solace 10 the councilmen of
Iditarod, and that is: the same thing has occurred in every
town in the territory, and no doubt will continue to happen
in every village, hamlet or settlement that may strive for
local self government; and one other satisfaction there re
mains: every year there is a careful canvass of all the avail
able aldermanic timber in all these communities, and the
best are selected. They are then lambasted by their politi
cal friends and boosters until their lives become a burden to
them. They are called the “People’s Friends,” the “Labor,
ing Men’s Ticket,” the “Citizen’s Protective Election Coin-'
pound,” and whatever high-sounding and catchy term that
may be used. They are the best men in the camp; have
had plenty experience in business; are old enough to get
KODAKS
Eastman Kodaks and Supplies
Lomen Bros.
Headquarters at Red Cross Drug Store
First Class in Fact
FSRST AVENUE
Furnished Rooms, Bath Rooms, Spring Cots
Good Stables Adjacent
Am dosing out entire stock of LADIES’ GOODS at prices
that will astonish the public. See our big ads.
Sale Commences Monday, August 21.
I. GC) I„DSTEIN F~ 30
C. J, Hurley, President J. P. Gleason, Vice President A. Sruning, Cashier
Corner First Ave, and Richmond St., Iditarod
CAPITAL $50,000.00, FULLY 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.
MARTIN SICKINGER
Willow Street, Iditarori Phone 46
Couches, former price
SPECIAL 1 This Week
BARGAINS BocKERs^lfss'u” 1 Only
Full Line of Groceries
OUTFITTING A SPECIALTY
out of the rain (if it gets too heavy), and they are all-round
good, handy, ordinary men with plenty of horse-sense, and
who know a thing or two when it is shown them. They are
elected—and then, oh, dear! A similar set of horsethieves
were never known, and as to their ignorance and incompe
tency there are no words in the dictionary to describe them.
Since the council of Iditarod was elected last April
they have been working steadily and faithfully—not for the
interests of the individual councilman, but for the best for
the town. It is a safe thing to say that every one of the
members has, not only indirectly, through loss of time and
so forth, but has directly sustained considerable loss by
being a councilman. Whenever a man occupies a public
position he is bound to take a stand on any matter that may
come up for consideration, and whenever such stand is
taken it must necessarily go against one individual or set
of individuals, and the councilman who opposes them
thereby makes at least one enemy, and the average man,
having already all the opposition needed to almost break
his back, has another straw added to his lot, which he must ;
henceforth carry on his shoulder. To occupy any public
office is, generally speaking, an ungrateful proposition.
One cannot please them all, and it seems almost impossible!
to please a few.
J he town council has expended considerable money on
the streets, and while the roads within the town are far
from being good, they are at least passable, and as for foot
travelers, the crossings put in afford sufficient good footing
to make moving around town almost a pleasure. The coun
cil had and only has a very limited amount of money at its
disposal, and between the streets, fire apparatus and in
stallation of a school, and the payment of the police and
other employes of the town, it seems to The Pioneer that
the council is conducting its business in a better manner
'than most business men conduct their own affairs.
One of the best strokes of business yet accomplished by
the council was consumated at their last meeting when they
[decided to purchase the Sherburne house and convert it into
|a municipal hall and house in it the fire department, school
| and municipal offices, including a little hotel for those who
; don’t observe the city ordinances.
1 he purchase price of the building is less than the
| original cost of the lumber, and it requires but very few
| changes before it will be fit for its new purpose. The cen
tral location of the building adds greatly to its value, and
[when one remembers that during the long winter months,
with winds blowing high and heavy drifting of snow, the
assistance of many men is required to get the fire apparatus
into action, no better location than that occupied by
the Sherburne house could be found in the city to make an
immediate call for assistance more effective than in that par
ticular locality. In its present location the fire hall is too
isolated. Half the town would be burnt before sufficient
assistance could be mustered to move the chemical and the
hose wagon to the fire. One long run has now to be made
before connection can be made with the pumps, but in its
new location the fire department is almost next door to the
pumping station, and but a moment is required to make
connection. For school purposes better locations could have
been found, but the council asks, and justly so: “Who is
going to pay for it ? We are expected to construct streets
over a large area of surface, provide police, keep law and
order in the town, furnish a fiist-class fire apparatus, main
tain a good school with a competent teacher, but have but
little funds at our disposal, and many people already refuse
to take the city’s paper as evidence of what they have com
ing.”
I he 1 loneer is satisfied and pleased with the move made
by the council. The location of the city hall is central; it
was bought at a bargain, and the councilmen worked hard
over many other propositions before they made their final
move. And they did well.
Professors from Cornell and from the University of Wisconsin
are in Alaska studying “glacial action.” Interviewed by a Fair
banks paper, the worthy professors state it to be their opinion that
Alaska has a future as a mining country. There’s insight for you.
The city fathers are making “Economy” their slogan—which
proves that Iditarod possesses a most un common council.
A Carthage, Mo., man has a new name for the harem skirt.
He calls it a two-cylinder runabout.-—Denver Post.
“It’s a wise child who knows its own father.” True, and it’s a
wise man who knows his own wife.
“God takes care of those that help themselves.” So does the
marshal on occasion.
Found—An appetizer: Lemon soda
with lime juice.
Connolly at Flat sells Bock cigars.
If you want your cloihing cleaned or pressed
ring up Wile the Tailor Phone 68
Casey at Flat City sells Bock cigars.
\Y. SUNDERBRUCH
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
PHONE 87
G We’re Open for Business
AT THE
Old Stand
Miner^s Home Saloon
CARRIES THE BEST BRANDS
MILLER &JERMAN, PROPS,
BOAT FOR ST. MICHAEL DIRECT
About September 1,1911
For Information Call at Launch Office