davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
Goodman Hears Of
Big Cat Enterprise

What is considered one of the
best April fool jokes in Fairbanks
was the letter received by Ben Good
man of this city, who is in the fur
business, from his brother, D. N.
Goodman, of Cleveland, Ohio. The
letter arrived on schedule time, on
April /, and is a humorous invita-
ton to the local merchant to buy
stock in a proposed cat farm to be
established in Oakland, California.
In part the letter follows:
"To start with, we propose to col
lect about 100000 cats. The skins
will average from 10 cents for white
ones, to Is cents for pure blacks.
According to government statistics,
cats multiply at the rate of eleven
and eight-ninths per cent per year.
This will give US 100000 skins a
year to sell at an average of 80
cents each or, s3,60O.O0o per year.
gross profit, in skins"
After estimating that the expenses
of the farm will be $4,000. the let
ter continues:
LAS we will feed the cats on rats,
we will start rat ranch next door.
The rats will multiply four times as
fast as the cats. SO We propose to
start with 100000 rats. therefore
We will have four rats each day
for each cat, which is sufficient.
Now, then, we will feed the rats the
carcasses of the cats, from which
the skins are taken. giving each
rat one-quar:er of a cat each day.
1t will thus be seen that the business
will be automatic all the way
through. The rats will eat the cats
and the cats will eat the rats, and
We will keep on getting skins and
fiddle strings"
The letter ends with an urgent
request for the purchase Of stock in
the wonderful enterprise. 1t is sign
ed, "The Katzenjammers."
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
American Dollars
Back Schackleton

LONDON. - All London clubdom,
as we'll as scientific circles, is Won
dering who the financial power be-
hind Sir Ernest ShackletOn's forth
coming expedition to the South Pole
TO-
Despite all speculation, the iden.
tity of the hacker remains a dead
secret, but public opinion seems to
be divided between Sir James NJ.
Barrie and John MacFadden, the
American cotton king, but when
asked concerning the rumOrs, Sir
Ernest denied point blank that eth
er was responsible for the $25000O
subscribed.
Neither Barrie nor MacFadden
is the donor of the sum- he said.
ut is true that | received an an
onymous gift of $4,000 from an
Englishman, but no American has
given as much 1t is possible that
MT. MdCF eiuutil may ''iiti i"it'
something on his next trip to Eng
land, but cannot say anything
whether he has vet given
anything or not
Despite this diplomatic denial
there is no doubt that Sir Ernest
Shackelton has three guarantors-
namely, Lord Northcliffe, Barrie and
cFadden-each of whom is ready
to advance the entire amount.
In Barrie's case it is on account
of his wish to see the work of his
friend Scott completed. In regard
to Lord Northcliffe, Shackleton
doubtless is unwilling to tie up his
expedition with newspaper pro
prietor, who would make demands
for first news, while in the case Of
MacFadden, between whom and
Shackelton great friendship exists,
the explorer, beyond question, can
ask anything he likes.
Meanwhile, Shackleton is in &C
tive negotiations with various news
papers and pictorial agencies for
the sole rights to his news and pic
lures and a lively battle is now pro-
ceeding between the competitors,
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
Lincoln S Charity
Evident to the End

HOOSICK FALLS, n. Y.-That al
most the last act of Lincoln was
one of charity to a poor old cripple
becomes known as a result of a
story told by William Jones, mer-
chant here, at a Lincoln anniver-
sary celebration.
Henry Babcock. employed as a
rag sorter by the Thompson & Ste
vens company, paper manufacturers
Of North Hoosick, during the course
Of his work discovered two old half
dollars wrapped up in piece Of
paper and sewed up in an old pair
Of trousers.
On investigating he found a note.
barely legible, because of its age,
which stated that the two half dol
lars had been presented to the own
er, who was a cripple, by President
Lincoln at the entrance to Fords
heater, in Washington, D. c., on
the night he was shot
The coins were Of Liberty head
type and one bore the date of 1926.
Although probably many times m
dire want, the cripple had carefully
preserved the half dollars as souven-
irs OF Lincoln's kindness.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
. :, =, . . (, :, :. {, . :, 9 . q
IOiTAROD NOTES.
{, {, 9 . :, o :, (, {, . . Q . . I
From idltarod Pioneer.

Beauchamp Pinder, Patty Boyd, w.
J. Mclean ana Al Walsl arrived at
Flat from the lower kuskokwim last
Monday Mr. Pinder is a representa-
tive of a big New York mining
syndicate He came in by way of
Kuskokwim last fall to inspect some
mining ground near Bethel. He will
leave in a few days for the outside.
William Alexander and Bob Lowrie
have taken a contract with the Yu-
kon Gold company for the Flat end
Of the new power line.
Stonberg, winchman on the Flat
creek dredge, was struck in the
face by a piece Of steel while work
ing on one of the big buckets, and
received deep cash below the left
eye DR.. Moore attended him, and
ne is now back on the job.
A. Tangue and Charles Estmere
have staked four claims on Wet
gulch a tributary of Black creek,
and they are going to give the new
ground thorough test.
MI and Mrs. Jay Johnston have
built an addition to their home at
Discovery.
Frank Monkman received tele-
gram from John Roman the first
of the week. He was at Kansas
City, Mo, and said he was leaving
for the North in few days.
Harry Donnelly received a letter
from Arthur Shonbeck on the last
mail He is coming in soon over
the trail. He says Johnnie Beaton
had just bought a seven-passenger
touring care and is about to make
trip from San Francisco to Los An
geles.
Mrs. Haggith sold her cabin at
Flat City to Mr., and Mrs. T. J. NC
Grath. She will take over the man.
agement Of the Snyder house the
first of the mounth.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
Luck Of Swedish Men is Only Industry
Story Of Johnson's Mine Told by Erwin

Why the Swedish miners IN Alas.
ka are lucky" is explained by Mar
shall l.. T. Erwin, who says that it
is not luck with them but industry
and energy that make them SO Oft
en- successful where others fail in
mining enterprises.
To back up his theory about the
Swedish miners, Mr.. Erwin relates
the experiences of Captain J. H.
Johnson, who was recently in Fair
banks. when he told to Mr. Erwin
his story of how two Swedish min
ers located the pay streak on his
claim in Nolan creek, in the Koyu-
kuk country.
Much is said about the lucky
Swede,'" said Mr.. Erwin. but it is
not a matter of luck with them; il
is simply their industry that makes
them accomplish things while we
Americans are too lazy to work
Il had heard the story of Mr.
Johnson's experience on Nolan creek,
but never from first hand until he
was here in Fairbanks recently, and
he told me all the details.
johnson says that he had not
been doing much with his claim on
Nolan creek until one day a couple
Of Swedes came to him and asked
to sing prospect hole on the ground.
Johnson offered them 800 feet of
the lower end OF his claim if they
would sink hole there, but they
said that was not enough. Then
be suggested that they arrange with
the man owning the adjoining
claims for a similar amount of land,
and this they were successful in
doing.
The SWedes went to work on
Johnson's claim, a little above the
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06

boundary with the claim below. and
struck a rich streak of gold. 1t
developed afterward that the Swedes
had got the cream of the two claims,
for they have taken out several
hundred thousand dollars worth of
gold from that place, while the
man on the claim below lost al
most everything he had in trying to
find a pay streak, in which he was
never successful. for the rich pay
stopped in the land he had turned
over to the Swedes.
johnson was more fortunate,
however, for he found some very
good ground, though not as good as
that found by the Swedes When
Johnson found his pay streak, to
which he had been led by the pros
pect hole made by the Swedish min
ers. he thought he had more money
at hand than he would ever use, and
he told some of his friends thai
they might have his claims on Ham
mond river His friends took the
gift. and struck richer ground there
than Johnson had ever dreamed of,
and now he is wishing, l suppose,
that he had not been so generous.
Anyhow, Johnson has taken out a
lot of money and is we'll fixed, so
he is not unfortunate.
"Johnson's experience proves my
assertion that it Is not luck with
the Swedes. but their energy and
industry. If Johnson and the man
owning the land below him on Nolan
creek, had been as industrious as
the two Swedes who made the pros
pect hole, they both would have been
better off, but, like many other
Americans, they simply put off do
ing the hard work until someone
else did it, and made the money"
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
Peter Lorentzen
WEEDS Mrs. Miller

In the presence of limited num-
Der OF friends, Mrs. Grace Miller
was married to Peter G. LorentZen
Tuesday afternoon. The ceremony
took place in the Barnette residence
which will be the future home of
the newly married couple. The Rev
G. G. Bruce of the Presbyterian
church performed the ceremony.
During her residence in Fairbanks,
which has been since last summer,
the bride has gained a large number
of friends. The groom Is one Of
the pioneers of the North. having
come north to Dawson in 1897, from
whence he removed to Fairbanks in
1904 He is a past president of the
Fairbanks lgloo Of Pioneers.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
Pure Democratic
Candidate Wanted

At a recent meeting of the Jun
eua Democratic club a committee was
appointed to confer with other Dem
ocratic clubs throughout the Ter
ritory for the purpose of finding
out if they have preferential choices
for candidates for delegate to Con-
gress. Following upon the heels OF
this action the club passed resolu'
ton, declaring:
THAT the Juneau Democratic club
is unalterably opposed to any person
being the Democratic candidate for
delegate to congress who is not at
this time a tried and true emocrat
The charter has been received
which gives the Juneau Democratic
club standing in the membership Of
the National association OF Demo-
cratic clubs Of America, ~everal
individual certificates IS in
the national associate sued
to those present at --5 maeting,
but the supply was sool eXhausted
leaving many who were present
without any The secretary was in
structed to send for more. Holders
Of these certificates will have their
names engraved on the charter
which will be kept open until more
of the certificates arrive.
President H. C. DeVighne reported
that the committee appointed to
prepare resolutions recommending
that the insane Of Alaska be cared
for in institutions in the Territory
had attended to it and copies had
been forwarded to the secretary Of
the interior
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
Scenic Beauty Spot
Presented to Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. April Guy
w. Talbot of Portland has presented
deed conveying the perpetual
control and possession of Latourell
Falls, one of the most picturesque
Of the scenic cataracts along the
Columbia river gorge, to the state
OF Oregon.
With the deed goes a sufficient
tract Of land to enable the state to
convert the site into beautiful
public park. The Latourell Falls,
which are located twenty-four miles
east of Portland. have been a favorite
visiting place by thousands Of tour
lists from the East and have been ad-
vertised all over the world as one
Of the Columbia rivers attractions.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
NEW
ALASKA LAND
LAWS PREP AIRED
MEASURE PROVIDES FOR EDU-
CATlONAL INSTITUTIONS IN
FAIRBANKS

Proposed new land laws for AL
aska, as provided in house bill 134S7,
introduced by Delegate Wickersham
will, if adopted revoke the mining
laws passed by the recent Territor-
ial legislature, and will set aside
land in the vincinity of Fairbanks
land in the vicinity of Fairbanks
agricultural college and school of
mines
The bill, a copy OF which has just
been received at this office, pro
yides thai any citizen, male or fe-
male, or the head of a family, who
IS a citizen of the United States or
has filed an application to become
citizen of the United States, may
homestead 100 acres of government
land in Alaska. or less. 1t is also
provided thai person taking up a
homestead in Alaska is entitled to
continuous leave of absence each
year of months, provided it is between
the first day of October and the
last day of the following March
If any of the land thus entered
is unsurveyed, then it must be locat-
ed in rectangular tract not more
than one mile in length, the land to
be between lines running north and
south and east and west and mark
ed by suitable monuments. Mineral
Or coal lands, however, cannot be
entered in this manner. If the land
is unsurveyed at the time that final
proof is to be made, the surveyor
general must survey it without ex-
pense to the entryman.
Section of the bill provides that
sections numbered 16 and Sc of each
township must be reserved from sale
or settlement and granted to the
Territory of Alaska for use of the
public schools. but the school lands
may not be sold until Alaska be-
comes state.
The land to be withheld for site
for a university and agricultural col
lege includes the present site of the
government experiment station. This
reservation is described as follows:
THAT section numbered six, in
township numbered one, south of the
Fairbanks base line, and range num-
bered one, west of the Fairbanks
meridian; section numbered 81, in
township numbered one, north of the
Fairbanks base line, and range num-
bered one, west of the Fairbanks
meridian; section numbered one. in
township numbered one, south Of
the Fairbanks base line, and range
numbered two, west of the Fairbanks
meridian; and section numbered Sc.
in township numbered one, north Of
the Fairbanks base line, and range
numbered two, west of the Fairbanks
meridian, be. and the same are, here
by granted to the Territory of AL
aska." 1t is then explained that the
purpose Of the grant is for the
schools mentioned This does not,
however, interfere with land already
settled on in the boundaries mention
ed.
1t further provides that a commits
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
BANK is SUED,

c. Johnson, trustee in bankruptcy
for the estate of T. Mitchell &
company, filed suit Tuesday against
the American Bank of Alaska to re-
cover $3,750.27 When the company
went into bankruptcy last summer,
it had the amount of money now in
controversy deposited in tn edefend-
ant bank. but the latter applied
it on money due for loans, which
the plaintiff objects to.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
WANTS EARLY SELECTION.

Early election of teachers for newt
year is recommended by P. A. Knowl-
ton. principal of the Fairbanks
school. in his monthly report for
March,, filed Thursday. He says
that teachers who will not be re.
elected for next year are caused
needless inconvenience by not know
ing until a late date that they will
not be employed here for the fol-
lowing year.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
Miners Begin to
Leave for Creeks

Migration of miners to the creeks
began in earnest last Wednesday,
when about so left on the train. Pre-
parations are being made for the
starting of work at an early date
Men returning from the mines
state that water has already begun
to run in some of the creeks, and
it will not be many days, it is be.
lieved, before sluicing of dumps will
begin.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
HA|NES PEOPLE
ARE AFTEP 1
NEW RAilaUAD
CANADIAN PREMIER ASKED TO
COOPERATE IN BUILDING
THE LINE.

People of Haines have begun Il
campaign for securing the coast end
of the new Alaska railroad, and at
the same time of getting the Cana
dian government to extend the line
through is territory.
The matter has been taken up
with Premier Sir Richard Mcbride
of British Columbia, and maps and
information have been placed in his
the Hanes-Interior route, for the
purpose of getting him and the Can
adam government interested in it.
H. P. Birkinbine, the civil engin-
eer of Haines. prepared the data.
The Hanes Democratic club appoint
ed a committee to prepare an argu
ment in support of the proposition.
The committee, which was composed
Of Steve Ragan, S. j. Weitzman and
9. w. Hinchman, wrote a letter to
Sir Richard, from which the following
S taken:
From the tide-water at Haines to
the International boundary line is
distance of As miles. From the In
ternational line to the British-Yukon
territory line is 35 miles. From the
British Columbia Yukon Territory
line to the Yukon Territory Alaska
line is 240 miles. From the Alaska
line on would be measured accord
ing to where it terminated. At
glance you can see the portion of
the road which would be in British
to impress upon you that it is very
rich in resources. We think you
could find no other section of British
Columbia, anyway near the same
distance across, that is nearly SO
rich as this section.
Government Has Funds.
I'VE fear that recent congression-
al actions and newspaper articles
lead you to believe that our govern
ment could not build their portion
of this road, should one ~ built
from here, and also O. coal
fields. 1t is true II elds
We're used as argumel ring
the passage of the me- 'r I, the
measure provides for the buIlding Of
1000 miles of railroad. To say, for
arguments sake only, that our gov
eminent would buy the Copper river
road which extends in from Cor
dova, and would then extend the
line on to Fairbanks; then from
Seward to the Matanuska coal fields;
then build from Katalla to Boring
river; and then would build from
Haines to the British Columbia
boundary and from the Yukon ter
r:tory boundary to Fairbanks, they
would still have Is miles to spare
from the 1000 miles authorized.
Best Route.
by reference to a map showing
attitudes you will note this pro-
posed route traverses river valleys
lengthwise, also runs lengthwise Of
The mountain ranges thereby en-
countering a lesser number of bar
riers to be surmounted than any
other of the proposed Alaska routes,
and We submit that this, again. Will
cause interest from our government
as we'll as that of yours. Also we
desire to call attention to the fact
that these valleys are rich in graz
ing and agriculture possibilities, and
we submit that agriculture furnishes
greater tonnage for railroad than
even the best of the lode mining
camps"
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06
BONDixEN HELD.

Following his preliminary hearing
before Commissioner Dillon, NJ e.
Bondixen was held for an investl-
CATION of the grand jury on charge
of polygamy He was unable to pro-
vide the necessary bail of $4,000 and
was remanded by Commissioner Dill
Ion to iail
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06

Artist (angrily)-No. I tell you l
don't want model only paint
flowers and fruit Model (sweetly)-
That's all right: every one says I'm
q peach
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06

The Rescuer (to autoist)-That's an
awful smash-up. Is your wife under
there. too? Autoist-I amt married
this is the worst thing that ever
happePed to me!
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06

In Durham, England. there are no
fewer than $4,000 miners at work In
the coal mines.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-04-06

OF 700 members of the San Fran
cisco dishwashers union, 100 are col
,ege graduates.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-06-15
D0|NGS AT
 WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON. D. C.. June H. The canal tolls dispute will not be referred to the supreme court of the United States for settlement. | This decision was reached in the senate this afternoon, when the Walsh amendment was defeated by
 a vote of 53 to 34
 It is now regarded as certain that the bill repeating the preferential clause of the canal act will pass the upper house.
 WASHINGTON, D. C.. June 12.- The measure providing for the re peal of the exemption clause of the Panama canal act, as urged by Presi- dent Wilson. was finally approved by the lower house of congress late this afternoon. and is now in the hands of the executive, awaiting his signature.
 After slight attenuation by amend ment. the bill was passed by the
 senate last night by substantial
 margin. and when il was returned to
 the house today for final approval,
 the vote was taken without the
 formality of a conference. There
 were 2l6 votes cast in favor of the
 measure and only l against it. Fol
 lowing this action. the bill was sent
 immediately to the President, and it
 is expected that he will sign with out delay.
 The passage of the bill is regarded as another triumph for the admins tration
The Alaska citizen., 1914-06-15
Church Creeds
 Need Brushing

Dr. Charles w. Eliot, president emeritus of Harvard, wants all the religious creeds reinterpreted.
 Not only creeds, but symbols and rites of the Christian church need brushing up; they are rusty and some even moth eaten" he says in a statement published in the cur rent number of the Christian Regis ter, the Christian weekly of Massa- chusetts,
 The ancient creeds and dogmas are full of ideas about God which civilized man rejects as unworthy. In this respect the old creeds and dogmas can, of course, be reinter- preted from generation to genera tion; and in the evangelical de nominations a remarkable amount of reinterpretation is now being done
 "ln these processes of reinter- pretatlon, however, the original con- captions are apt to disappear and there is sometimes reasonable doubt concerning the effects of such inter- pretatons on the mental habits of the interpreters"
The Alaska citizen., 1914-06-15
SPORTS BY
 TELEGRAPH

NEW YORK, June 1.-The cup victory over the Vanitie this aft ernoon in close race. With a 14- knot breeze blowing, the yatchs made d splendid showing.
 OARSMEN ARRIVE.
 POEGHkEEPSl SHE, x. r., June II. The University of Washington oarsmen, who are to take part in the forthcoming regatta, arrived from the Pacific coast this morning, and report that they are feeling fit for the contest of their lives
 PITCHER IS CANDIDATE.
 kENNEBUN Nk. Me, June H. Pitcher Coombs of the Philadelphia Nationals have been placed in nom- Nationals has been placed in nom will make the race for office on the progressive ticket.
 UPTON PLEASED.
 SOUTHAMPTON, Eng, June To- Sir Thomas Lipton is highly elated over the performance of his new cup challenger, Shamrock ", which has developed great speed in the several trial spins made during the past week. l@ueStlOneu lOuay re earding the probable outcome of the race, Sir Thomas expressed the be, lief that his new yacht would have no difficulty in capturing the prize.
 KID WILLIAMS WINS.
 VERNON, Cal, June 11.-In the third round of what was to have been a 20round contest, Johnny Coulon, the featherweight champion. went down for the count before Kid Williams, the clever Dane, in a spir- ited though brief encounter this aft ernOOn.
 RACING CREWS PRACTICE
 POUGHkEEPSIE, N Y.. June F All the crews which are 10 take part in the forthcoming regatta were on the river today, despite the intense heat, The University of Washington boys do not take kindly to the hot weather, and refused to exert themselves in today's work out. They padded easily, while all the other crews went in for hard work Water conditions also are source of concern to the Western CTS, who find that the river is much rougrer than their home lake.
 ABSOLUTE WINS AGAIN.
 NEW YORK, June 12. - The cup defender Vanitle was defeated again today by the yacht Resolute, the lat ter winning the test heat by mar gin of three minutes.
The Alaska citizen., 1914-06-15
Scandinavia Gives
 Contracts to Russia

LONDON-Those diplomatists who are made anxious by the speed at which Russia is arming, and who are speculating whether this means an early attack on Scandinavia, will not be reassured by the fact that some very extensive contracts for military and naval purposes have been given by the CZar's government.
 The contracts have been signed with leading British and French firms, and it is known that exalted influence in Germany had been eX- erted in order to obtain for we'll known German houses at least proportion of the business. There is much feeling in Berlin because this influence has failed of it's purpose.
 The wife is the key of the house.