Historial Sketches and Experi
ences of Trail-Blazers Who Made
Alaska the Empire of the North
PIONEERS OF
EDITED BY
JOHN W. FRAME
President Anchorage Igloo No. 15
i
FICTION AND TECHNICAL
WORKS ARE MADE AVAILABLE
TO MEN AT CANTONMENTS.
BOOKS DONATED AND BOUGHT.
Six Hundred Thousand Dollars More
Than Was Originally Allotted for
Reading Material Was Raised
Throughout Country.
LOS ANGELES, Cal., Feb. 20.—A
feature of war camp community serv
ice that has gained headway in the
camps and cantonments of southern
California is the library work, as con
ducted by a local committee under the
■reneral direction of the national li
l>rary, authorized by Secretary of War
' Newton D. Baker, of the war depart
ment.
At Camp Kearny, near San Diego,
a library building, with seats for 200
readers, has been erected, equipped
with about 7.000 volumes, and placed
' -harge of a trained librarian as
signed by the state library at Sacra
mento.
At San Pedro, the waterfront sec
tion of Los Angeles, which lies near
a training station used for sailors and
also near a reservation occupied by
a body of troops, the city of Los An
jgolt has greatly enlarged its branch
library, added to the working force,
and purchased hundreds of special
books for the use of men in the serv
Active in California Work.
Everett R. Perry, librarian of the
city of Los Angeles, is one of the
members of the national library war
council and has been active in the
work of the various camps of Califor
nia.
“We had to raise the money in each
section for that section” said Mr. Per
ry recently. “We were called upon
for $20,000 and we exceeded that sum.
In the nation more than $600,000
above the allotted amount was se
cured, and our due proportion of the
'jxyess has come to us, I am sure, al
■’ch ugh the linances are all directed
from Washington.
'The books were all obtained as
feifts and by purchase; new light,
readable, and well written fiction was
desired, and it was offered in large
quantities; some selection had to be
exercised in placing the gifts, as
there were some books offered which
were not what the men wanted, nor
what we wanted for them; the gifts
f were nearly all fiction, but we pur
' chased, borrowed, and secured from
various sources, a good assortment of
I technical works on such problems as
sanitation, aircraft, motive powers,
and matters that the men were inter
ested in from the standpoint of the
soldier or sailor.”
m he Carnegie foundation made a
substantial contribution to the library
funds, and suitable buildings were
erected at all cantonments.
At Camp Kearney, Mr. Perry said,
the committee believed it was making
ample provisions for handling the
readers when it installed 200 seats,
but these have proved inadequate and
a^arge circulation has also been es
tablished. No definite figures on cir
culation have been compiled, but it
was said “that there was always a
“waiting list” for many technical
books, and that the proportion of
> loans was higher than in a civil com
’ munity of similar size, even with larg
;; er libraries.
FRANCE HONORS
SIX AMERICANS
PARIS, Feb. 16.—Six Americans in
the automobile convoy service were
ne&rated today by the French gov
ernment with the war cross for cour
age and devotion to duty at Verdun.
A LETTER FROM ANIAK.
Editor of Pioneer Pape,
Anchorage Weekly Times,
Anchorage, Alaska.
Dear Sir:—1 am enclosing $2.50 in
currency and stamps for one year’s
i subscription for D. E. Stubbs, Aniak,
Alaska.
You request a few items descriptive
of this section: Well, the Kuskokwim
| valley is the best-mineralized, most
| fertile, best climate, most accessible
I and least known region in Alaska to
day. Game, fur-bearing animals and
| fish are abundant, and for many
years this country has been the trap
per’s paradise. Only during the past
year has development work started
that will improve the valley more
than has been previously done in the
last fifty years.
Last year the first dredge was re
ceived: the first wireless station was
constructed and put in working order;
the first hospital was opened last
season; the first big strike was made
last year and the fishing business on
a big scale begun only last year. This
is the first year that the reindeer in
dustry has assumed business propor
tions and homesteaders are coming in
quite last now. loriorn nope na»
at last sprung up that the government
will soon recognize the fact that the
second largest river valley must have
a railroad, if the, tremendous resour
ces of the country are to be developed.
The largest placer strike ever made
in this part of the territory was made
last year and it is very shallow and
quite rich. A strike carrying pay was
made during the winter on Crooked
creek, three miles below Stevens
camp. A strike in the fall was made
on George river and much coarse gold
is found, the largest nugget weighing
sixteen ounces. This is the largest
nugget ever found in this or any ad
joining camp. Before the finding of
this nugget New York creek had pro
duced the largest chunks of gold.
During the winter a strike was
made on the Holitna river, which
promises to make a good machine
i proposition. Two outside companies
own good pay on Bear creek, but ow
ing to claim jumpers interfering, the
same may lie idle for some time.
Mr. A1 Walsh has taken an option
on the Parks-Fuller cinnabar prop
erty lying on the north bank of the
Ivuskokwim fifteen miles above
Georgetown. There is probably no
, larger body of rich mercury-bearing
are in the world than is found in
these two properties. A feature of
the ore is that nothing of the kind has
ever before been found. Much of the
ore carries native quick and does not
resemble any ore hertofore found. The
men who made the geological survey
of it declare it to be the biggest thing
they ever saw. It is believed that a
mill will be erected on the properties
l this season.
A railroad is what we need to make
this district the wonder of the world.
Hurry it along.
GUSTAF SCHUBERT.
Gust was born in Germany but left
I the land of the Kaiser and made his
home in free America when he was a
young man. He was born in the year
1870, on the 29th day of January. He
- came to Alaska in the year 1898, land
ing at Skagway in the month of April.
He is a baker by trade. He came to
Anchorage last year. His relatives
reside in Sheridan, Wyoming.
PUBLISHER TO GIVE
NEWS TO ENEMY
LORD XORTHCLIFFE WILL DI
RECT DISTRIBUTION OF
ENTENTE LITERATURE.
LONDON, Feb. 20. — Lord North
el iffe, owner and publisher of the Lon
don Times and of other newspapers
and magazines in England, has been
appointed to the position of director
! of propaganda in enemy countries.
I His intimate knowledge of Germany
and the countries allied with her will
enable him, it is believed, to distribute
among their residents important en
tente war speeches and statements.
DOINGS OF IGLOO NO. 15
There were about 75 members pres
ent at the meeting of the igloo last
Friday evening. President Lynch was
in the chair. After the reading of the
minutes of the last meeting and the
approval of the same, applications
for membership were read, as follows:
Robert Solga, James Hanahan, and
Gustaf Schubert. The applications
being approved by the membership
committee the rules were suspended
and the three applicants elected as
members and duly initiated.
At this time there was recess while
the new members were being made
welcome, and a box of cigars, furnish
ed by Judge Vinal, president of Ophir
igloo, who was present on the stand
with President Lynch, were passed
around. After fraternizing for some
fifteen minutes the igloo was called to
order and a very interesting talk was
made by Judge Vinal. He told of the
different gold strikes in his district
and the exaggerated reports that had
been sent out concerning some of
them. He reported the Ophir district
OPHIR IGLOO NO. 11.
Ophir Igloo was organized March
17, 11)15 by C. Carlson, deputized by
the Grand President, Frank A. Al
drich.
The foloxving were the first offi
cers :
President—Dr. Sanford Martin.
First vice-president—Samuel Hou
nan.
Secretary—L. Edwards.
Treasurer—P. Carlson.
Sergeant—T. Robins.
Historian—John Baker.
There were 38 charter members.
At the regular meeting, held De
cember 26, 1917, the following officers
| were elected for the ensuing year:
President—W. A. Vinal, Spruce
I creek.
Vice-president — Dave Edwards,
j Ophir creek.
Secretary—Robert Evans, Little
creek.
Treasurer—P. Carlson, Ophir.
Sergeant—D. Benson, Ophir.
Historian—B. B. Smith, Ophir
\ creek.
Trustees—Eric Hard, S. Hounan,
and J. Collins.
The igloo at the present time has a
membership of sixty. We have a good
hall and are active in social matters,
road work and other things for the
| betterment of Alaska. Our road com
! mittee is composed of Judge W. A. Vi
nal, R. Evans, I). Edwards, Sam Hou
nan and B. B. Smith. Substantial road
work was done during 1917 on the
Ophir-Taeotna section of the Ruby
I Anchorage road, Mr. Giddings of the
1 Alaska road commission being in
! charge. It is expected that this sec
tion will be completed this season.
| This will lower the freight rate from
;;u to to cents per pounci.
j This igloo has had but one death
i among its members, that of John
Monogue. He was well and favorably
known in all the interior camps of the
territory.
The members of the igloo appreci
ate very much your Pioneer Page in
the Times and complain strenuously
| if the paper is not saved for them
when they come in from the creeks.
This is a small community, al
i though a fairly prosperous one with a
j large proportion of its citizenry old
j pioneers.
J The next meeting of the igloo will
j be February 3rd, at which time the
annual smoker will take place. The
wind-up of the winter’s social affairs
will take place on March 17. This is
usually a grand ball and is looked to
as the event of the season, when the
whole community from all the creeks
turn out for a good time—and they
always have it.
If I can be of any service to the
Pioneers of Alaska at any time they'
have only to command me and I will
do my bit. Sincerely yours,
B. B. SMITH,
Historian Igloo No. 11.
NAMES IS NAMES
C. Scales lives at Arlington, Tenn.
I as a prosperous community, althdtigh
I there was nothing extraordinary in
! the mining line.
After the routine business was com
; pleted several talks were made under
the “good of the order,” that were in
1 tersting and showed there was con
! siderable enthusiasm in the order, and
i a determination to build up in mem
bership.
The entertainment committee re
ported excellent success being made
i in the prepartion for the big dance to
; be given by the Pioneers at the Labor
temple on the 28th of this month. The
ladies of the auxiliary are selling a
large number of tickets and taking
much interest in the affair, all of
which assures that it will be a big
i success.
The dramatic entertainment to be
given by the woman’s auxiliary was
' reported to be shaping for one of the
1 events of the seasqn, as ite promoters
are working hard for a splendid enter
tainment and a bumper house.
The igloo closed the session in due
| form.
Wallace p. McDonald.
i Was born in Seattle, August 19, 1891.
But W. P. was a pioneer by birth and
came to Alaska when only seven years
old. He has been in many of the
camps of Alaska and takes to the
woods like a duck to water. He came
to Anchorage in 1916 and has been
I engaged with the light and power
I company for some time. His relatives
live at Augurn, Washington.
ROBERT SOLGA.
Was born in Russia but came to the
“Land of the Free and the Home of
i
i the Brave” when quite a young lad,
| He made his way up to Alaska in 189S
j and has worked in many of the camps
| of the north. He came to Anchorage
j in 1915 and much of his time has fol
| lowed his trade, blacksmithing. He
; resides on Fourth street, avenue E.
Support the Stores that Close at 6 P. M
SEND US YOUR MAIL ORDERS
ITHTTERS - GENERAL
^^^‘Quality First”
MERCKANDiSE
ANCHORAGE SEWARD
The Store that has Reduced the Cost of Living
M
Dress and Semi Dress Shirts
Dress Collars
Dress Ties
Dress Button Sets
Dress Gloves
Dancing Pumps, Patent and Plain Leather
oo
CD
oo
CD
CO
03
CO
CD
03
a
BSE
Remember Your 10% Discount
We give you 10 per cent Off on all Clothing, Hats and Fur
nishing Goods Immediately upon making your purchase.
THIS STORE CLOSES AT 6 .M.
WISEMAN IGLOO ELECTS OFFI
CERS.
Wiseman, Alaska, Jan. 20, 1918.
Anchorage Weekly Times,
Anchorage, Alaska.
Dear Sirs:—Igloo No. 8, Pioneers of
Alaska, met in regular session Satur
day, December 29 and elected the fol
lowing as officers for the ensuing
year:
President—Peter Dow.
First vice-president—Frank Whal
ley.
Second vice-president — H. Messer
eau.
Chaplain—Henry Pingel.
Secretary and Treasurer—C. E.
Danforth.
Historian—Harry Owen.
Sergeant-at-Arms—John Koldsau.
Trustee for three years—T. W.
Pearson.
After the regular business session
was over the igloo adjourned to hold
a social session at which they had all
the good things to eat that could be
produced, and on the side, a barrel of
beer as it is the last session at which
they could have that beverage owing
to the Alaska prohibition law becom
ing effective January 1, 1918.
We enjoy reading your paper very
much. I will try and write you a few
lines each month, so that you may
know we are alive.
Fraternally yours,
C. E. DANFORTH,
Secretary Igloo No. 8.
i
---
JAMES HANAHAN
As one might well surmise is from the
[ Emerald isle, having been born there
jin the year 1878, an the fifteenth day
! of August. He came to America when
! quite a youngster and landed in Skag
way March 9, 1900. From there he
J went to the interior and has followed
j the many stampedes all over Alaska,
j He came to Anchorage May 27, 1915,
and at the present time is a foreman
on construction work for the Alaskan
Engiueering commission. His rela
tives live in Cincinnati, Ohio.
FIFTEEN-DOLLAR A WEEK TELE
PHONE OPERATOR POSES
AS SPANISH MARQUIS.
FRIEND OF KING OF SPAIN.
Imposter Was Engaged in Negotiat
ing Big Deal Ostensibly for Madrid
Government With Morgan & Co.
When Accident Exposed Him.
—
j NEW YORK, Feb. 16.—A fifteen
j dollar a week telephone operator, pos
ing as his excellency Marquis Edmond
Roussellot Di Castillet, confidential
represntative of the king of Spain, op
ened negotiations with the banking
house of J. P. Morgan & Company, for
a loan of $50,000,000 to Spain. The
bogus marquis promised Spain would
enter the war on the side of the en
tente allies. The matter had just been
brought to the attention of the Amer
ican state department when the im
poster’s chance arrest on a trivial
charge exposed his fraudulent char
acter.
FEDERAL AGENTS
PROBE HOG ISLAND
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 20.—
i Federal secret service men have start
1 ed to investigate the enormous expen
ditures' in connection with the build
ing of the government shipyards at
j Hog Island, near Philadelphia, Pa.
The estimated cost of the yards was
j $20,000,000. The expenditures, so far,
aggregate between $40,000,000 and
$50,000,000.