ALASKA FORUM
(OFFICIAL PAPER)
~TorunTpub^
James B. Wingate, Editor and Manager
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SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1906.
RAMPART’S MERCHANTS
MUST BESTIR THEMSELVES
The merchants and business men of
Rampart are now confronted with a
new condition that menaces their very
commercial existence. We refer to the
purchase of the Baker creek hot springs
and the establishment thereon of a big
trading post by moneyed Fairbanks
men, headed by Frank Manley, the min
iijg magnate of Fairbanks creek. The
construction of a good road from Baker
.to Glen and Eureka is to be the first
step to wrest a large portion of trade
from Rampart. This is bound to result
in great loss to the merchants of this
camp.
Should the present prices prevail at
both places, the freighting charges, at
present 12 1-2 cents per pound, will be
a substantial factor in favor of Baker.
This, however, wiil not affect the pack
ers—they can supply their cnstomers
at a§^5heaP rates from Baker
as frorfr^amPart: *n proportion to dis
tance. mileage from Rampart to
Glen is aVnos*; douMe that from Baker.
It can be t^dily seen that the brunt of
xne new compeEffttP will fail*«on oir lo^
cal merchants. ”*
___ A condition now confronts us that de
mands insumc ac tlon and must be met
with business methods. It will not suf
fice to decry the quality of Manley’s
goods, to tirade against his politics or
his wealth, or even to complain that he
spent last winter at Washington oppos
ing Judge Wickersham. Such argu
ments will not convince the miners over
the divide that it is not to their inter
est to secure necessary supplies as ex
peditiously and cheaply as possible.
Future meetings of cur “Board of
Trade” should find matters of graver
importance to the future well-being of
Rampart, other than wasting time abus
ing the editor of The Forum, and its
members can find greater scope for ta
lents, other than a house-to-house can
vas in the interests .of a “boycott" di
rected against this paper, and by the
intimidation of its advertising patrons
and subscribers. All such methods, we
say, must be relegated to the limbo of
the dark ages, where they properly be
long, and the situation faced and com
hatted along fair and legitimate lines.
It is of prime importance that united
and immediate exertion be made to se
cure the rapid construction of the gov
ernment trail up Big Minook, on this
should be concentrated all effort—as
the absence of better trail conditions
between Rampart and Glen will prove
an insurmountable obstacle. When
trail facilities and transportation char
ges are the same to Glen from either
Baker creek or Rampart, the matter
then resolves itself into the proposition
as to which of the two camps contains
the best men with the proper commer
cial instincts.
BUSINESS AND POLITICS
Since the violent injection of federal
politics into business circles some weeks
ago, a decided condition for the worse
has been noted. While the political as
pect has been “purified, ” the same can
not be said for the business end. Sev
eral of our local merchants, noted be
fore the above catastrophe, as careful
and diligent exploiters of commerce,
have grown careless, and the nimble
dollar is evading their grasp owing to
an indisposition on their part to open
their doors for customers, and the nat
ural diffidence of patrons whom hereto
fore havfe prized them more for the
quality of foeir goods, and not for the
soundness o! their political opinions.
A wise manonce said that it is im
possible to miv business with either re
ligion or politick and results have de
monstrated, time and again, that such
admixture must deteriorate the whole.
The same may also be said of personal
likes or dislikes—in business. The local
Wanamaker who offered to pay $60 to
secure the “licking" of a certain miner
over Glen- way. may-Mve been acting
cautiously, and saving some bruises—
but it neither raised bim in the estim
DROP us a line and have a copy of the
Weekly Alaska Fokum mailed to your
outside friends or relatives. They wil
appreciate your thoughtfulness. Saves
letter writing. We pay the postage.
ggg AIK At* AIK AIK AIK AIK ACKAKK AIK AKCACK XtK
$ HOME “
RESTAURANT
m
Just Opened in the Parke Building on
FRONT STREET
M Short Orders, Regular Meals,
gg HOME COOKING a Specialty
MRS. BURNS. MISS BECKWITH
*« _
ation of his customers, gained him new
ones, nor scared the other “feller”.
The members of congress, almost to
a unit, condemn President Roosevelt
for condemning the amendments to the
meat inspection bill before they were
presented to congress. They maintain
that the president is straining both his
position and his executive power.
Thomas Cale, the miners’ candidate
for congressional delegate, has secured
substantial endorsement and assurance
of support from the miners of Nome.
It is conceded that Cale will carry the
Third division.
The drought of the present summer
is wide spread. Nome, the land of
ditches, is now complaining.