No. 19
Vol. 8. Weekly: Rampart, Alaska, Saturday, May 13, 1905.
t
NOME MINERS
FORM UNION
Only Working Miners Eligible—Not A
Political Organization-President
Defines Aims And Objects Union
The miners in the Nome district last
month, met and formed an organization
along the same lines as that of the or
ganization formed by the miners of the
Rampart district last spring. The fol
^ lowing open letter published in a recent
issue of the Nome Nugget, tells of the
aims and objects of the Union.
A Card to the Press and Public
^ As a great many people in this com
munity thought that the Miners’ Union
was organized solely for political pur
poses. I wish to state emphatically, as
president of the organization, that the
United Mine WorKers of Alaska areor
> ganized for no such purpose. That the
objects of this union are:
First. To better the condition of the
miner and put him on a level with the i
mechanic.
Second. To enforce and receive bet
ter compensation for our labor, or to
uphold the present wage.
Third. To furnish our employers
only first-class and skilled labor and to
stop importation of cheap contract
labor.
Fourth. To secure better sanitary
conditions.
>
/ Fifth. To secure better protection
to life and limb;
Sixth. Better laws and mining con
ditions.
Seventh. To work for employers’
interests, as well as our own.
Eighth. We believe that in unity is
strength, and in organizing we can ob
> tain such conditions.
Ninth. As to membership I wish to
state that no person who does not make
filming his principal occupation" in or
around or about a mine, and means of
•' livelihood by his own hand, or holds a
I
WILL TEACH INDIANS
HOW TO GARDEN
Layman Chilson is putting in quite a
large garden in on Missionary Ridge.
He has also purchased the Folboef gar
den on Rampart creek. Both gardens
will ploughed and put in shape for a
crop of potatoes. Mr. Chilson has tel
egraphed to Tanana for a quantity of
seed potatoes which will be up on the
first boat. An extra effort will be
made to interest and instruct the Ind
ians in gardening. Messrs. Collinette
and Henry are assisting the layman.
GOVERNMENT REFUSES
TO CONFIRM BAKER SALE
Reports were received from Tanana
a short time ago, that Ben Baker had
purchased the transport Van Vliet for
$800, and would use the steamer to ply
between that place and Chena this
summer. It now transpires that the
government has refused to confirm the
sale, and other bids will called for short*
ly.
The boat is sumptiously fitted up; the
furnishings alone inventory over $2,200.
Baker’s was the only bid—$810. The
Van Vliet is a trim little craft and is
good value at $2,000.
card from the Western Federation of
Miners are not eligible to membership
in this organization.
Tenth. In conclusion, I wish to say
that we expect to so conduct this Union
that we will merit the respect of every
good citizen in this community.
Eleventh. That no individual mine
owner or company will suffer loss by
this Union, or no radical means will be
used, if we are used right and met half
way. We believe in the motto, “Live
and Let Live.”
Respectfully submitted.
' E. L. Holt,
President United Mine Workers of
Alaska.
CHAPMAN FIND
REPORT GOOD
Large Body Low Grade Paydirt Said
To Be Located on The Benches—
Two Pans Wash Out 12 Cents
Three feet of pay dirt forty feet in
width, running 3c to the pan, is the re
port hrought in by C. B. Allen of the
recent strike made on Chapman creek,
by Swanson & Howard on a .bench off
I
discovery claim.
Two pans off the dump washed 12c.
The bench lies so that water can be
used to work it off to bedrock—12 feet.
It should prove a profitable undertaking.
G. H. Wand made a trip to Little
Minook creek Thursday.
Horace Boucher is assisting Charley
Staddleman at the Pioneer.
Roy Stevens, connected with the N.
C. Co. arrived from Fairbanks the past
week.
E. T. Hall of Eureka creek is taking
in the sights of Rampart. He is the
guest of Dr. Gibbons.
The California Kitchen will be open
ed shortly. It will be the finest res
taurant ever opened in Rampart.
Dr. Gibbons will spend most of his
time across the divide this summer. He
may be reached by telephone to Glen.
Last Wednesday evening a resident
was accosted on Front street, within
fifty feet of the courthouse, by one of"
the recently hydridized squaws. Open
solicitation on the public street has be
come quite common now.
Layman Chilson will take as his sub
ject tomorrow evening: “The position
of the Mission toward Law-breakers.”
In view of the work of the Mission
here among the Indians, and the num
erous violations of the law, the posi
tion taken by the speaker should inter
est every resident of Rampart.