Iditarod pioneer., 1916-11-25
NEW TRAIL TO TOLSTOI ENGENDERS SOME RIVALRY
 AMONG ROADHOUSE MEN

Considerable agitation is being induiged in just at present with reference to the Tol- stoi trail Recently James Fullerton of Dikeman, in anticipation of the travel be- tween Iditarod and ToIstoi during the pres ent winter, employed force of men to cut d trail eight feet wide from Dkeman to the new camp, claiming that a considerable dis tance would be cut off from the route ordI- narily travelled, which follows the mail trail from Idtarod to Fritz Woters' roadhouse on the Ditna. The action of Mir. Fullerton has aroused the other roadhouse keepers to activity, and Wolters IS said to be cutting new trail at his own expense which will cut off several miles from the route here tofore followed between his place and Tol- stCi Billy SchCrmeier, who runs the Half way roadhouse, some sixteen miles from Idit arod, Is also said to be contemplating improvements on the trail in his neigh borhood, to consist of remarking the trail which was cut last winter. It is said that for considerable distance the tripods have been blown down, and there is danger of travellers becoming lost during stormy weather. The agitation is at least going 10 be beneficial to mushers, in that there will be an attempt to make travelling easier and safer.
 There seems to be wide difference of 0ninon as to the merits of the two trails and each route has its advocates. Men who claim to know the country can be found to advocate the old trail as being shorter than the Dikeman trail, while others are equally positive that the Dikcman trail is he shorter. It is claimed as further ad vantage in favor of the latter that for many niles 1t runs over lakes and that there are no hills to climb.
 But the big factor in favor of the old trail is that the mail passes over it, and therefore 1t is bound to be kept open Storm or no storm, the mail leaves regu- !arly on its weekly journey, and being tray clcd twice week in Uncle Sans service, tends to make better travelling for the gen ral public Indeed it is the custom for mushers to await the departure of the mail before starting out, thus insuring the break ing of the trail in front of them.
 Gene Norton. with his big string of dogs md the connections sled Nortonia, left last week. for Tolsto over the Dikeman trail. He is enthusiastically in favor of the new route, aEi his return is awaited with in terest. to learn whether his experience ,hecks up with his expectations.
 There is some talk of putting stage line 2n the route between Iditarod and Tolstoi and much will depend on the reports of travellers as to which route it will take, as neither has been surveyed and the distances are the subject of mere guesswork.
 It is learned that the citizens of Cripple recently subscribed money for the cutting of a trail to Tolstoi for the accommodation of the Ruby Tokotna mail carrier, and that it is the expectation that the mail will be carried by way of the new camp.
 Pronounce Trail Good One
 Gene Norton arrived from Tclstci yes terday afternoon, accompanied by W. C. Mitchell Mir Norton pronounces the new trail good one, and says that he will Use it on his weekly trips to the new camp here after