Tanana leader., 1909-11-25
VERSUS NATURAL CONDITIONS
 OF TRADE

It of goods sold Idarod stampeders by Fairbanks merchants the close navigation $50 Had the Northern Commercial Company been disposed it not unreasonable believe it could have sold least s1OO 900 worth of these goods than it actually did and at greater percentage of profit by eliminating the freight charges between Tanana and Fairbanks and having the prospectors pick up their outfits at the companys Tanana house their way to the dggings. The companys Fairbanks competitors could not have met the prices of its Panama house. with sales conducted equal percentage of pros because the company would have possessed the big the amount of charges for rage the Tanaca rver besides considerable saving in incidentals, such as transfers, storage, etc. ~
 The Northern Commercial Company is often anathe- matized for its monopoistc tendencies but here is in where it had the traders of Fairbanks and Tanana in the hollow of its hand and refrane from exerng the slight pressure that would have left them mpotent in very considerable and profitable volume of trade It had the opportunity of becoming monopostc and at the time being of advantage to large number of pros pectors.
 It forbore not because compunction of conscience but because like every institution of it's knd its interests lie in cenrazaon of trade irrespective of the welfare of outlying districts The Northern Commercial Company has twin brother the Northern Navigation Company, which profits by the hauling of freight up the Tanana river, and the two have many interests in which are served by the trade of Fairbanks camp. Had the Northern Commercial Company transferred the trade for the ditarod to it's Tanana house. it would have cut under the prevailing Tanana prices that to have jumped again the high level would have caused unpleasant men whereas the people bear what they look upon unavoidable hardship with but slight murmurings.
 These references made to the Northern Commercial Company, from unbiased position it is possible to simply because that company is the determining factor in the mercantile situation There another the Pacific Cold Storage Company whose relation Tanana is also important It supplies the Fort Gibbon military post and the town of Tanana with meat. Every pound of that meat intended for winter consumption transported to Fairbanks and back again. At this very instant is being edded down from Tolovana distance of about eighty miles, And the Jones who used to pay the freight is dead and buried long ago.
 Between Panama and Fairbanks there is 275 miles of costly hazardous and frequently ossfu Panama river nav gaton All goods for Fairbanks first to Tanana Yet this year, until the far advanced retail prices practically all lines of goods double at Panama what they at Fairbanks during the pe rod When late reduction took place at Tanana prices still remained about 335 per cent higher than at Fairbanks, and approximate that figure If anybody furnish data to conue these statements regarding prices the columns of this paper will be heerfu opened to them regardless of the fact that large quantities of goods for Fairbanks stranded the anana being hauled to their destination at great expense few Tanana prices here given and they do include any article advanced account of unusual conditions:
 Sugar, 12 12 pound; $12 hundred Rice, sugar Bacon 32 pound $50 hundred dog bacon pound, $9 hundred Ham, 30 pound s28 hun dred Flour hard wheat $8 hundred soft wheet $50 hun dred Bean 12 12 cents pound $1o hundred Baking der, $1 pound Butter $25 2pound Eggs, 75 dozen SIS Lard 25 pound Milk, Carnation for sl ss case Coffee Hills Bros pound can 75 cens fresh, pounds $ Dried fruits, apricots peaches 25 cents 20 cents pound Fresh potatoes l2 l-2 cents pound, BIO crate.
 These prices within themselves will show very good why the Northern Commercial Company did not choose to monopoze the Iditarod trade. They will also show that the Northern Commercial Companys mercy although it's quality is strained is essential factor ill