HOT SPRINGS POST
rw. i
Published Every Saturday at Hot Springs; Alaska,
BY no. M. MR BUCKLE
Mo. J
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Year... .$10.00
“ (if paid in advance). 8.00
Six Month*... 5.00
Advertising Rates on Application.
Six Months (if paid in advance)... $4.50
One Month..1.00
Single Copy ........,.....25
Application has: been made for entry as .Second-Class Mail Matter at the Hot
Springs Postoffice.
TRANSPORTATION
With the advent of Schubach <fc Hamilton into the
transportation field of Interior Alaska the people who for
years have suffered under an excessive freight rate see some
hope of relief.
Ever since the discovery of gold in the North the
transportation companies have succeeded in getting the
lion’s share of the production, and unless the new conceri:
evinces a spirit different from that which actuates the two
older ones the people must still continue to pay immense
tribute to the owners of steamboats.
It has been demonstrated time and again that the
actual cost of landing freight at Fairbanks is in the neigh
borhood of only $30 per ton, and yet the flat rate to that
city is maintained at $73 per ton with “class” exceptions
which includes nearly everything but pig iron and ballast,
which may, possibly take the flat rate; other articles tak
ing various rates which go as high as $150 per ton,
In the discussion of conditions in the Fairbanks dis.
trict brought about by the strike last year it was proven
conclusively that the miners and operators were all merely
working for the transportation companies and the banks—
the former of which got by far the greater part of the out
put.
The merchants have been kept poor through keen com
petition, and yet the prices which they have been forced to
charge the consumers have been high enough to keep the
workingman toiling the year round without getting any
thing ahead, but all the time the steamboats have been car
rying in the supplies, and taking away all the profits of th<
people for their years’ work.
That the people of Fairbanks has so long tamely sub
mitted to this annual holdup is much to their discredit, anc
that the relief they now anticipate is not of their own mak
ing, but is merely the investment of a rival company, i;
nothing of which they can be proud, and is at the best on1.;
temporary.
If a proper showing of the conditions which now exi t
in this country were shown to the government, it is not at
all unlikely that some measure looking to the relief of th *
people from their serfdom will be taken.
QUARTZ IN ALASKA
Every person returning from Fairbanks tells the sam
story of the people of that city devoting all their spare tim
and capital to the development of the quartz prospects
which they have in that vicinity. Everybody in the towr
is vitally interested in finding a true lead of gold-bearing
rock, and most persons are inclined to believe that it has*
already been found in several different places.
, The truth or fallacy of these beliefs can only be discov
ered 'by constant and persistent work, and that the pro
moters are imbued with this idea is shown by the way in
which they are going to work on their different claims. It
is not beyond the scope of the imagination to see Fairbanks
the center of an immense quartz raining district, and if the
stories one hears from visitors at that camp and reads in the
local papers are true, it is only a matter of months until this
dream will be realized, and the steady roar of the stamp
mills will lull the citizens of that town to sleep.
But if this great future awaits Fairbanks there is no
reason why it should not also be in store for Hot Springs.
Here the conditions necessary for quartz are just as promis
ing as they ever were.in the upper city, and it only awaits
the prospector’s pick to discover the lode which will bring
him fame and fortune, and this city the greatest possible
prosperity. ■ ' 5 .
We have here domes from which pay streaks emanate,
and we have what is termed * the cross-country Channel,
which is nothing more or less than a ledge of quartz which
has been cut across by the streams in which the placer gold
is found. It only remains for the true lode from whence
this gold came to be discovered for the lucky man to take
his place along with the Fairs, Garters, Dalys, and other
famous mining millionaires.
The quartz industry in Interior Alaska is only in its
infancy, and it is a wise man who will secure these proper
ties while there is yet a chance-to do so at little or no cost.
From the reports of all who have traveled over the win
ter trail between Hot Springs and Fairbanks it would seem
that what would otherwise be a very good toad is rendered
almost useless on account of the large number of nigger
heads which are in the road for long distances in several
places. These obstructions are frozen solid' and are much
the same as if shingle bolts were strewn along the highway.
It is estimated by those who Have traveled the trail that if
$800 Were spent judiciously in the worst places it would be
in such condition as to compare favorably with the best
roads in Alaska. The Post hopes that some such action
will be taken between now and ,pgxtr winter jo that the
teamstersr bet ween the two cities will not *havfc their brains
shaken info omelettes before reaching ’their 'destinations.
• THE LADIES’ AID SOCIETY - v
We’Ve put some fine improvements on the gpnd eld church at hoin'e;.'. ,.
It’s just the proper kilter with a gallery and dome; "
It seat* a thousand people—finest church in all the town,
And When it was completed we planked ten thousand down;
That is, we paid five thousand—every deacon did his best—
And the Ladies’ Aid Society, it promised all the rest.
We’ve got an organ in the church—very finest in the land,
It’s got a thousand pipes*or more, it’s melody Is grand.
As we sit on cushioned pews and hear the master play,
It carries us to realms ol bliss unnumbered miles away.
It cost a cool three thousand, and it’s stood the hardest test;
We’ll pay a thousand on it—the Ladies’ Aid the rest.
They’ll give a hundred sociables, cantatas, too, and teas;
They’ll bake a lot of angel food and tons of cream they’ll freeze.
They’ll beg and scrape and toil and sweat for seven years or more
And then they’ll start all over for a carpet for the floor.
No, it isn’t just like digging out the money from your vest,
When the Ladies’ Aid gets busy and says “We’ll pay the rest.”
Of course we’re proud of our big church, from pulpit to spire;
It is the darling of our eyes, the crown of our desire;
But when I see the sisters work to raise the cash that lacks,
I somehow feel the church is built on tired women’s backs.
And sometimes I can’t help thinking when we reach the regions blest,
That ipen will get the toil and sweat and the Ladies’ Aid the rest.
—Anonymous.
RAMPART
BUDGET
Rampart, Jan. 9.—Nothing doing here or on the creeks in th<
way of business, as everyone has been occupied in going to dance:
and eating since the 24th of December.
All the miners came to town and remained over untilth'
Pioneers’ dance and smoker.
The Pioneer dance was one of the best and most enjoyabi
»ver given in Rampart. The grand march, led by M. W. Sinclai
nd Mrs. M. P. Flieschman, commenced at 9 o’clock, and ther
vere 130 people in line. The music was furnished by M. P
Flieschman’s orchestra, consisting of himself, Mrs. F. M. Smith
Ralph Donaldson and Harry Calum. The hall consisted of the tw<
floors of the N. A. T. & T. Co*, store building, was arranged anc
lecorated by Mr.Flieschman, and a mere description of the deco
rations would in no way do justice to them, for one would have tc
>e present andsee to understand how appropriate they were foi
the occasion, taking into consideration the small amount of mate
rial to be obtained in this country for decorative purposes.
The supper was also prepared by Flieschman, and everything
rood to eat that could be had in Rampart or at Hot Springs was ot
the table. Dancing was kept up until 6 a.m. Saturday, than an ad
journment was had until Q p.m., and continued till midnight
postponed until Monday Gening at 8 o’clock, and finally endec
Tuesday morning at 5.
On Tuesday evening the Pioneers gave their annual smokei
with Capt. A. H. Mayo in the chair. The ftin began at 9, and was
kept up until 7 o’clock Wednesday morning, and there was no
shortage of good things to eat,: drink and smoke for the 95 guests,
nd the Pioneers paid the bill.
Dr. J. H. Hudgin, Rampart agent for the A.-Y.-P. exposition,
wants to secure a respectable exhibit of the gold from this pre
oinct, and requests the assistants of claim owners, promising to re
turn ail gold sent him, or its value, without expense to the parties
sending same. Returns to be" made at the conclusion of the-fair.
Since the ladies’ leap year dance on December 24th no business
that could be postponed until after the 5th of January has been
transacted in the camp—the time between the two dates had been
given up to pleasure, and all the population of Rampart and vicin
ity will now resume their -wonted occupations, and endeavor to
“ketch even” on sleep._ • _
NEW TRANSPORTATION
COMPANY FOR INTERIOR
Schubach & Hamilton Now Control Yukon River
Steamboats and Barges of Sufficient Ton
nage to Transport Their Obean Busi
ness— People Expect Relief
That the transportation business of
Alaska is apt to develop some interest
ing anc^beneficial features next summer
becomes evident in the light of recent
acquisitions by the firm of Schubach &
Hamilton who have announced their in
tention of entering actively into the
shipping business of this country with
redoubled energy, and they have Shown
their good faith in the matter by the
purchase of a new ocean steamer, the
St. Croix, which will be put on the
Nome route, and with which they bope
to give the other transportation lines a
swift run for their money the next sea
son.
There was-coesi-lerable talk here last.
suthmer of a rate war that would cul
minate on the inland waters in the sum
mer of 1909, a<nd that sort Of conversa
tion can still be heard; the consumers
maintaining that the rates are exorbit
ant and unjust, and the present ship
pers declaring that the rates cannot be
reduced, and that* even at the rates
that prevailed last summer bot the N.
C. Co. and the N. A. T. ■& T. Co. quit
at the end of the season with no tfppre
j ciable profit for the summer's work.
I The assertion has been made fey those
who claim to know something about in
land transportation that a profit can be
hiade a.t a rate of $40 a ton, while that
statement is directly contradicted by
others who say that it takes the utmost
of good management and good luck to
get the freight here at that cost.
When'Schubach <£'Hamilton entered
the field of - inland transportation the
prediction was made that they would
slash inland rates' next siimmer in a
determined manner, and consumers of
the interior.wer^.jubilant in the belief
, that the coat of goods in Alaska-would
be almost cut in half. ‘ Latest advices
have put a copper on-that bit of ro
mance, and is is claimed by some that
there will be no appreciable reduction
in the rites that will- prevail next
summer, % "F’j ’f\ i4
However, it would look as thoiugh
some reduction must- inevitably result
as the natural consequence of the entry
of another interest in the competition,
for the transportation circles have been
well established and closely drawn in
the past, and must necessarily undergo
! a readjustment. ...>■•
J The newcpmers in the field are pre
paring' themselves for -the season "with
JOHN HUNTER JACK O'HARA
The Northern
SULLIVAN CITY
__Has Reopened In Jim Drummond's Discovery Roadhouse
Entire New Stock of Wines, Liquors and Cigars
great thoroughness* On the river they
are getting a fleet in shape, and will
have three boats that are among the
best on the river. The Nunivak and
the Monarch were used by them during !
ihe latter part of last season, and it is |
rumored that they will purchase the!
Julia B., a staunch boat of large capa
city. They have two' large barges, the
Vachon and the Sterling, each of 400
ions capacity. On the ocean the firm
now owns or controls the Hyades,
Mackinaw, Stanley Dollar, Jennie and
be St. Croix, and it is perfectly appar
ent that they are goiug after Alaska
irade with a vengeance, and mean to
nave a large share of it. The fact that
i tie St. Croix is built of wood makes
ier a fine vessel for the Norton-sound
route. She is thus better adapted for
oucking the ice than steel vessels. The
vessel has splendid speed, being capable
of from 17 to 18 knots when driven.
She can easily and economically steam
15 knots, and with this speed she can
make the run from Seattle to Nome in
six days.
In addition to accommodations for 190
first-class, the St. Croix can also carry
j00 second-class, and 100 steerage pas
sengers. When running between New
ifork and Fall River, Mass., she had a
.icense for 500 night passengers and 800
• n the daytime. She has been laid up
.tl Fall River for several months. With
..lie advent of Scbubuch & Hamilton
,nto the Nome prssenger trade there
.nay be interesting»developments next
.summer, as rivalry is keen on that
■oute. Last summer the firm had no
.fassenger vessel of its own but char
ered a foreign steamer to carry pas
.engers North. Rival lines will likely
iot permit the new firm to cut into the
<assenger traffic without some retalia
ory measure, so that there is every
.ikeiihood of interesting competition.
Dommissioner
Again Here
Commissioner V. L. Bevington
returned Saturday from 'Pair*
>anks, where he has been for the
oast three weeks attending to af
fairs connected with the Gibson
case. He reports that city as
being much the same as ever,
and that the holiday trade done
by the merchants far exceeded
any previous year in the .history
of the camp.
The Fairbanks people, he say s,
are “qvartz crazy,” everybody in
the city being interested in one
or more mines, and all evincing
the greatest faith in the ultimate
future of that city as a hard-rock
camp. On one claim they have
a shaft down 80 feet and are still
in what is considered good rock,
and all the stockholders are mak
ing plans for spending their fu
ture winters in Europe.
Mr. Bevington is very glad to
get back to this city, and
says he hopes it will not be nec
essary for him to leave again for
a long time, as this place looks
much better to him than the me
tropolis.
MAIL SCHEDULE
Arrives from Fairbanks Saturday p. m.
Arrives from Tanana Sunday p. m.
Departs for Fairbanks Monday a. m.
Departs for Tanana Monday a. m.
HENRY RODEN,
Attorney at Law
Fairbanks, Aka.
Office: First Ave. and Cushmah St.
JAS. BLODGET,
AND
General Teaming
Prices Reasonable,
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Leave Orders at Morrison’s
| CHAS. A.
TRAEGER
LADIES’ AND GENTS’
Goods
Underwear, Sox, Mitts, Hats, Caps,
Boots, Shoes, Bold.Seal and
Eureka Hip Boots and Shoes,
Blankets, Quilts, Moccasins, Axes,
Picks, Shovels, Drugs, Station
ery, Cigars and Tobaccos
NEW MEN’S SUITS
JU8T RECEIVED
Latest Styles In Everythin*.
Fits Guarantees
HOT SPRINGS. ALASKA
That gladdens
the eye of the
trail-weary pil
grim on his ar
rival in Fair
banks is that of
the
FRACTION
Sideboard—where only the best and
most recuperative Liquors are di
spensed by skilled tm-to^gists.
LOUIS SPITZ, PROP. ~ FAIFBmAS, AU.