Volume 4
Unaiaklect, Alaska. May I tji 7
Number 36
IT CAN BE BONE
Somebody said that it couldn't lie done.
Hut he with a chuckle replied.
That‘maybe it couldn't,’but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried, he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: “Oh you’il never do that.
At least no one ever has done it.
Hut he took off his coat and took off his hat,
And the first tiling he knew he’d begun it.
With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin.
If any doubt rose he forbid it;
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done.and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you if cannot be
Done
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to \ou.
One by one.
The dangers that wait to assail you.
Hut just buckle right in with a bit of a grin.
Then take off vour coat and go to it.
Just start in to sing as you tackle tlie thing
That cannot be done and you’ll do it!
N Y Tribune
SHAKTOOLIK
THE COMING CITY OF THE
WESTERN DISTRICT
Sliaktoolik is situated forty miles
north of Unalakleet.four miles inland,
on the Sliaktoolik river. It is sur
rounded by dense spruce timber to a
depth of about half a mile on either
side. This furnishes ample protection
from the diverse winds,making every
day a fine day at Sliaktoolik. Trav
elers find this only too true at times,
leaving the village in pleasant
weather and arriving at the tundra
to c ice raging blizzard and many
times l>eing forced to return. Need
less to say stove wood abounds. The
river is of excellent quality both for
drinking and for washing purposes.
In summer fish are plentiful. Ducks,
geese, swans, and cranes are consid
ered common nttis mces on account
of thier uttmerousuess and boldness.
1 i winter trapping is very profit
adle.some of the natives netting $300
last winter The situation makes both
the tundra, and the mountains a short
distance to the east, accessible.
Trees of sufficient si/e for building
purposes are plentiful.
A sawmill is practically certain to
he erected this year, a number of
reliable natives guaranteeing the
s m required . A large clutch is under
construction The natives are with
out exceptio i industrious, peaceful
self-professed Christians.
The new school building is com
pleted and can accommodate sixty
pupils, in its two rooms. Evening
school is offered to all adults who de
sire to expand their knowledge of
English. The village is entirely free
fro n the contamination prevalent in
some localities due to the frequency
of the lower class of whites. Shak
toolik is primarily a REINDEER
village. Anyone owning deer belongs
at shaktoolik. Anyone who does r.ot
own deer should by all means get
“wise” and help make shaktoolik
what it undoubtedly will soon be,the
Metropolis of the Western District.
Very Truly,
H.V.Johnson (Tercher)