TANANA LEADER
Published Every Thursday at Tan ax a, Alaska,
Vol I BY GIBBON PUBLISHING CO. No. 23
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Advertising notes on Aop'ication.
EVERYTHING IN SHAPE
The committee of citizens having the road and trail work
in charge, have been busy during the past week getting
facts, figures and arguments in persentable shape for the coin -
ing visit of Major Richardson, chairman of the Alaska
Road commission, who will be here next Sunday or Monday.
Particular pains have been made to make it plain to
the road commission the necessity of making a start toward
the construction of a good trail or road from Tanana to the
Koyukuk country. It is considered by almost every ’per
son who has traveled to and from the Koyukuk that a road
from Tanana is the best and shortest r mte. The winter
travel to the far northern camp is becoming heavier with
each succeeding year, and the need of a well defined trail
is consequently more urgent. As conditions have been along
this trail, only the most hardy pointers tackle it willingly.
With the continual finding of better prospects and pay
in the Grant creek country, about 25 miles below town, it
is only a very short time until not only a trail t > that dis
trict will be asked for, but a good road for heavy freight
ing will be demanded by the fast increasing number of
miners in that district.
A GREAT STATE’S
DISGRACE
The state of Washington seems to be permeated, root
and fibre, with graft in official places. Recently we have
had such spectacles as a judge of the supreme court resign
ing his position rather than face charges of selling deci
sions to corporations.
A former chief justice indicted for embezzling the
moneys of his clients.
The state insurance commissioner, under indictment
for obtaining money fraudulently by means of a get-rich
quick concern, and under investigation by a legislative
committee on charges of grafting insurance companies
while deputy insurance commissioner, and before the people
of the state advanced him to his presant position.
The secretary of state resigning, while serving his
third consecutive term, because of being a beneficiary of the
graft of the insurance companies.
The former adjutant-general of the state arrested on
charges of forgery and embezzling state funds to the tune
of $50,000.
The big cities of the state, and notably Seattle, are
reeking with graft, it is alleged, and in Seattle the exposi
tion alone stays a gigantic exposure of civic corruption: the
authorities fear to extradite from Honduras, John Ripiin
ger, a defaulting comptroller, because of the scandals that
might follow.
The mayor of Tacoma indicted for malfeasance in office,
gnd more who ought to be.
It’s a formidable record, is it not t Too much politics,
administered by corrupt men, the outgrowth of the system.
Washington has a direct primary lavr, and a press bit
terly partisan, or enslaved: and thus grafters'are still ena
bled to prey upon the state.
The dominant political party has been all-powerful for
years; the minority weak, discouraged, inept. The inevit
able has happened. Without virile opposition to hold it in
check, and with a tamed and subservient press, the domi
nant party has bred political Robin Hoods and pothouse
grafters, whose own audacity, apd not the vigilance of the
people, will prove their undoing.
Washington needs purging politically and morally;
and her people need to learn the lesson that it does not al
ways pay to be of the majority, and that the party shibbo
leth is not always a guaranty of purity.— Katalla Herald.
There is a tide which is drifting northward. Go down
south a hundred or five hundred miles, drop a box or a
plank into the sea and after a while, if uninterupted, it
will find its way to Alaska. All along the Alaskan coast
the beach is dotted with fir logs polished and water-worn
with the long travel northward. We do not know the
JACK O'HARA
JACK HUNNEVVELL.
The Northern
SULLIVAN CiTY
Again at the Old Stand in Our Brand-New Building.
We Garry Only the Best Wines, Liqnors and Cigars
Discovery Roadhouse
JIM DRUMMOND. PROP.
Good, Clean, Comfortable Beds.
Warm Horse and Dog Stables
NO BAR SULLIVAK CITY
! scientific reason for this, hut it must be true as there are no
fir trees in Alaska. The fact is not only interesting in
itself, but it typifies the drift of immigration to this mys
terious land of opportunity. There is a tide in the affairs
of men that is di*ifting them to Alaska “which, taken at
the flood leads on to fortune.” Already thousands have
been impelled unconsciously to succumb to the northward
drift, and mauv are yet upon the tide. Alaska is the mag
net that attracts and holds. Many come, but few go away.
—Ketchikan Miner.
The last session of congress failed to provide for the]
construction of a hydrogen gas generator at FortMyer, Va..!
and as a result the balloon station at Fort Omaha, Neb., i
1 has suddenly jumped into prominence as the site of all fu-'
I tare army balloon and aeroplane maneuvers for the remain-]
; der of the year.
For Fort Omaha is supplied with a hydrogen gas plant]
and enjoys the distinction of having a monopoly of this]
most necessary adjunct of a balloon station. The Fort]
Omaha generator, completed a few weeks ago, is the only j
hydrogen gas plant in the world that uses this system, the!
jsecrets of which belong to the United States government j
land are as closely guarded as are the most important state]
! documents. j
For more than three years the government has been re-1
habilitating old Fort Omaha, which was abandoned upon
the completion of Fort Crook, the new post ten miles below]
Omaha. Because of the splendid grounds and ideal loca-;
tion for such work, Fort Omaha was made into a signal sta-j
tion, and today it is the chief station of that department in
the United States army. Some years ago, when balloons |
were added to the equipment of the army, and were placed ]
under the direction of the signal corps,"it was decided to
! make Fort Omaha the headquarters of the balloon service, ]
; and preparations with that object in view were begun.
Col. Glassford, commander at Fort Omaha, is the most
[expert balloon man in the United States army. Col. Glass-]
ford spent several years in Europe investigating army aero-!
nauties as used in the different armies there and is perfectlyi
1 familiar with all the airships of the European nations. The
experiments at Fort Omaha this summer will be carried on]
directly under the charge of this experienced officer.
In addition to the work of “tryingout”and perfecting]
j war balloons, Fort Omaha will this summer, be the seat of
a balloon and aeronautic school for army officers. In addi
tion to the many officers now stationed at the post, 16 offi-;
cers now stationed at Fort Leavenworth have been ordered ]
to report to Fort Omaha for instructions in the art of man
aging balloons and aeroplanes. After this detail has be
come suitably proficient and thoroughly familiar with the
work, another detail will be ordered to the fort for similar]
instruction. Among some of the balloon experts who liavej
been ordered to Fort Omaha are Capt. Chandler and Lieu- ]
tenants Ware, Lahm, Foulois, Winter, Bamberger and Dick-]
inson. All of these officers are well known in aeronautics
and each is capable of conducting a “balloon” school.
Cordova installing
Fine Water System
The Cordova Townsite Company is j
preparing1 to install a $50,000 water]
system. A survey gang was started
out today, says the North Star, to run
the necessary lines for the grading and
! pipe line. The source of supply is a
I natural reservior of ice cold water
i known as Summit lake, a little over
! two miles from town. This lake is be
tween 1500 and IKK) feet above the
city, as one can readily understand
that sufficient pressure wiil be given.
Summit lake is topped by Evak peak,
j It is 4500 feet long, 1000 feet wide and
lias an average depth of CO feet. The
! outlet is towards Orca, and water is
new piped from the late to Orca, but it
will be tapped from this side for Cor
dova. Nature has been very lavish in
! providing for Cordova in this respect, j
I as no amount of money could provide ■
I such a line reservior, or water so cold
and pure. Moreover, it has a sufficient
| elevation to give all the pressure
needed for fire fighting and manufac
turing purposes.
The Venerable Excuse
You say your grandma’s dead, my
i lad, and you, bowed down with woe, to
see her laid beneath the mold believe
you ought to go; and so you ask a half
day off, and you may have that same;'
alas, that grannies always die when,
there's a baseball game! Last spring, ]
if I remember right, three grandmas
died for you, and you bewailed the;
passing, then, of souls so warm and
true; and then another grandma died— j
a tall and stately dame; the day they I
buried her there was a 14-inning game.
And wlien the balmy breeze of June
among the willows sighed, another
grandma closed her eyes and crossed
the Great Divide; they laid her gently i
to her rest beside the churchyard wall,
the day we lammed the stuffing from
tha Rubes from Minnepaul. Go fqrth,
my run, and mourn your dead, and shed
the scalding tear, and lay a simple
] wreath upon your eighteenth grand
| ma's bier; while you perforin this sol- i
j emn task I’ll to the grandstand go, and 1
watch oar pennant-winning team make
soupbones of the foe.—Walt Mason.
He Keeps
Them Mil
Guessing
The Anicich building at the corner
of Front street and Campbell avenua
that was originally intended for a one
story structure, later changed to two
stories, and finally made three stories
high is still going skyward. Last Sat
urday the frame work for a tall tower
was erected, and from its dizzy height
a long flagpole will bo erected.
‘‘What in the name of samhill does
Joes want that tower
tion asked a dozen times a day. No
body knows, Anicich says nothing, and
the builders keep on sawing wood.
Several persons labored under the
impression that the tower would be of
the revolving kind, and in it would be
placed one of those famous Mont Wart
gomery 49.93 fieluguns to “train” on
the surrounding pastures to discourage
miscreants from milking Joe’s new
cow. One man said that the cupalo
was & wireless telegraph tower equipped
with an outfit of same kilowat power
as that to be installed on the launch
“Marie Karstiua.” The need of wire
less communication was needed badly
last Sunday on the trip to Grant creek
when the supply of gasoline became ex
hausted. A few believed that the fine
new building was headquarters for the
city fire department, and the cupalo
would furnish an excellent place to dry
the hose after a fire.
Meanwhile all is mysterious, and the
enterprising Joseph is attending to his
multifarious duties as of yore with the
same sad sweet smile.
YOU CAN GET
A Vanguard, P. S. Bartlett, Riverside,
or any Waltham Watch from Lynn
Smith at the price established by tho
factory. Nugget Jewelry and Watch
work done, and satisfaction guaranteed.
Complete stock of Spectacles: eyes ex
amined free. Give him a call at post-:
office.
Treated
Them All
the Same
During the part month there lias
been considerable marrying and very
little “shiver-ee*ing" in this place.
This is not as it should be—at least so
thought Mr. Green, “Major (Pete)
Cluin,” Bub Conklin and numerous
other citizens, and on Thursday night I
last they proceeded to make calls on all
the Newlyweds in town. They were
well equipped with those implements
which make loud and discordant noises.
The first visit was to the home of a
haQpy couple who had been married
hut a brief hour. The serenaders were
unable to finish the opening overture—
the bridegroom made his appearance
and gave each of them a nice “little
present,” something that costs 2nc at
retail.
The next place visited was a fine
home on Second avenue. The spokes
man of the party knocked at the front
door; he was answered by the bride,
who demurely asked the nature of his
errand. When she was informed in
“a few well-chosen words,” the door
was suddenly slammed in the caller's
face, accompanied by an energetic re
mark uttered with the rising inflection
of the voice, and tlie band played on.
It required about an hour for Mr. New
lywed. who was busy playing solo, to
get home and “fix it” with tlie bo\s.
At the home of the third Newlyweds
tiie serenaders were greeted by noth
bride and groom.
At No. 4's tlie bridegroom was slow
in materializing (his new wife had cut
Ins hair that afternoon, and lie didn’t
seem to have much confidence in her
as a barber). But he finally showed up
and gave nr. order on a ‘‘sunshine fac
tory” to give the boys what the
“needed."
At No. .Vs home, well, well, lie was
so “deucedly surprised, don’t-ye-know,”
that nothing had been prepared for their
reception, although lie was glad, so
very glad, to see them: but lie was
equal to the occasion—he granted each
serenader the splendid privilege of
shaking his har d. This'they did, then
went away happy in the thought that
they had gotten something, even if it
was only the shake.
Then the “bunch” started down the
street to visit Newlyweds No.G. When
they got half way there somebody re
minded them of the civilian “dead line”
on the barracks grounds, whereupon
Bugler Mr. Green sounded “retreat”
at double-quick time. It was then that
Bill Davis went behind the government
stable and gave the gang the “horse
iaugh” good and plenty.
Special Sunday Dinner at the Ken
tucky restaurant from 0 to 8 p.tn.—
Mrs. M. B. Cooper, proprietor.
New Stamp Mills Working
Work at the Vvr. P. Mills mines,
near Sitka, is reported as pro
gressing rapidly. The company
has 22 men working now and this
force will be increased within the
next month. The construction of
the buildings for ttie stamp mills
was completed some time ago and
the mills have just been set up
and are ready for work.—Juneau
Record.
THE TARIFF BILL
Little Bill and big Bill and short Bill
and tall,
Billy with the billygoats and sideburns
and all;
Fat Bill and lean Bill and dumb Bill
and smart,
True Bill and due Bill and Bill a la
carte,
TarilT Bill’s the first Bill,
The middle and the last,
For it's always on the go
But it never gets a-past!
Soft Bill and Hard Bill and old Bill and
new,
Billy atribilius and Billy fresh-as-dew;
Square Bill and Round Bill and sour
Bill and sweet:
And little Billy Breeches in is bare
brown feet;
Tariff Bill’s the boss Bill,
Who’s like a Sunday beau
That lingers on the stairway
And never wants ’o go!
High Biil and dry Bill and Billy wild
and calm,
And Billy in a fury, sir, and Billy I’ll
. he-damn;
White Bill and tight Bill and Bills of
yesterday
You thought were out of reason and
declared you wouldn’t pay:
Tariff Bill’s the straight Bill,
The old Bill friend,
Who came when the world came
And stays until the end !
D1RECTOIRE
Oh, don’t you remember Sweet Alice,
Ben Bolt?
Sweet Alice, whose hair was so
brown?
The width that aforetime but served
for a sleeve
Now maketh the skirt of her gown.
— Los Angeles Times.
When a pretty girl fails to have
things her own way it’s because she
isn’t dealing with silly men.
taniey House
HOT SPRINGS’ NEWEST HOTEL
First-Class Restaura&f Frank 8. Stanley. Prop.
CHA8. 3. ALLEN,
I Attorney at Law
Rampart, Aka.
Lentil Papers Carefully Drawn.
Stoddard Kay
THE
NORTHERN.
BEST WINES
LIQUORS AND
CIGARS.
Pool Tables In Connection.
Stoddard Kay
NEW HAND
LAUNDRY
Ur:. A. A. Swanson, Late ot Rampart
Starched Work a Specially
Second Ave., Rear of Yukon Saloon
Remember
The Grand Hotel
WHILE STOPPING IN TANANA
UP-TO-DATE RCOS-S AM) BUNKS, AI.SO GOOD DOG HOUSES.
IfINE WINES, LIQUORS AND CIGARS,
Pool And Billiard Tables In Connection.
Charley Chanquist Prop.
When you fail at every otlier Store
You Will Find What You
Want at
Tanana Commercial Company’s.
We are there with the Goods
GOTO THE
Golden North Restaurant.
"While In Tunaria For Good Meals
And Best Service.
BEST GOODS OX THE MARKET
Meals at all Hours.
ED LEE Proprietor.