davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Ethelyille. Dec. 2. 1920.

Ethelville, Dec. 2, 1920.
My Dear Santa Claus:
How are you standing these bad
days? | am going to school, and in
the fourth grade. | like the nice gift
you brought me last year and will not
ask for so much this winter, as God
has sent me dear little brother, and
want you to please remember him,
| will not say just what to bring but
! will be proud of anything you bring
US. We may have a Christmas tree at
school house, but remember | live at
the same place and win hang up my
stockings for brother and |.
Your little friend,
Mildred Ruth Hudson.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Steens, Miss, Dec. 20. 1920.
Dear Santa Claus:
I will be pleased if you can bring
me a flash light, some fire crackers,
caps for my pistol and if possible do
bring me billy goat for my wagon,
Your friend,
Russell Jemison.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Dear Santa: l am a little boy
three years old and dear good Santa
please bring me a tricycle. and some
fruit, candy and anything to make me
happy and wish you merry Christ
mas and Happy New Year.
Your little friend,
Donald Harrison,
1922 Bell Ave.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Dear Santa Claus: ! will write
you and tell what want you to bring
me. | am a little boy seven years old
and 60 to school every day. Santa
can you bring me some nice clothes
as need them worse than do toys,
and would like cap and some fruit.
/ am your little friend,
Jesse Harrison,
1922 Bell Ave.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Dear Santa Claus:
| am a little boy six years old.
am in the first grade. My teachers
name is Miss Lucille Dodson. Santa
| want you to bring me little gun
and box of shells and all kinds OF
fruits, candies and nuts.
From your little boy,
Ralph Odom.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

SO it will be good little doll Wen
will 90 Santa, hoping you Will get
acquainted with me.
From your little one,
Lorea Younger.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Columbus, Miss, Dec. IA, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus: This is Mabel
Harvey writing to you. ] want you
to bring me doll and doll buggy,
a pair of bed room slippers, some
nuts, candy, apples and oranges
That is all for this Christmas. Mo-
Their wants a pair of shoes and some
nuts and candy. Papa wants a set of
books the name of them is the life of
the General. | have been sick and my
nurse wants manicure set for her
Christmas. Mabel Harvey
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Your little friend.
Frances Andrews,

Columbus, Miss, Nov. 80, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus;
am little boy seven years old.
| have been going to school. | want
you to please bring me peddte-car.
some toys, fruits, candies, nuts and
anything else you can spare me.
hope you can go to see all of the lit
tie children, cause ! know they want
you to hurry and come-just like
me- | most forgot to tell you, ! want
pop-gun too. Hoping that Christ
mas will soon be here. | am,
Your friend,
Lynwood Andrews.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Lynwood Andrews.

Columbus, Miss, Nov 25, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus;
am little girl twelve years old.
am in the fifth grade. | want doll
buggy and a baby doll, and doll set
of furniture, and a yard and half of
red ribbon, and some fruit.
Your friend,
Annie Grace Bailey.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

to get something. Wishing all a very
Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year. From,
Gladys Baxter.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Caledonia, Miss.
December 5, 1920.

Dear Santa:
am writing you to tell you what
| want you to bring me and my two
sisters Christmas. want you to bring
me a roach comb, story book and a
cap, and my sister tricycle. and a
big doll, and my other sister a box of
candy and a pair of shoes, bring my
Mamma a pair of shoes also.
Your little friend,
Mile Parker.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens. Miss. Dec. 10, 1920.

Steens, Miss, Dec. 10, 1920. i
Dear Santa Claus:
Please bring me a tricycle. and
some oranges and apples. Please
bring my Mamma and Papa some1
thing too for they are so good to me.
From your little friend,
Alice Green.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
LETTERS TO
SANTA CLAUS
{ Continued on Page Two J

many, many other little girls and
boys to visit.
Margie Brewer.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
n fnDo

Steens, Miss.
Dec.7, 1920.
Dear Santa:
| thought would write you before
Christmas, want you to please
bring me a watch bracelet and some
fruit for Christmas. | will not
write for so many things this time.
Your little friend,
Glytie Belts.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Columbus, Miss, Dec. IA, 1920.
Dear Santa: Will you please bring
me a little train for Christmas and
bicycle and gun, some nuts and a
foot ball. Your friend,
hp Leslie Harvey.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Columbus, Miss, Dec. II, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus: My little sister
and want big nice doll for Christ
mas and my little brother wants a
little rubber ball. Your friend.
Ludy Williamson.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Columbus, Miss, Dec. IA, 1920.

Columbus, Miss, Dec. IA, 1920.
Dear Santa: This is Paul Harvey
writing to you. ! want a wheel, the
name of it is the Reading Standard.
want foot ball and some nuts and
candy. | want you to bring my little
brother knife with two blades, and
my little sister a great big doll with
eyes that will open Sld shut. Well
dear Santa | have so much to ask for
that can not tell it all, so will have
to close for this time.
Your good friend,
Paul Harvey.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Dear Santa Claus:

Dear Santa Claus:
Bring me a pair of skates for
Christmas and some candy. apples
and nuts. Your friend
Mary Stinson.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. 8, 1920.

Dear Santa Claus:
am little girl seven years old.
| am in the first grade. My teacher
says | have been very smart in school.
Santa please bring me doll and a
doll bed, nuts, candies and all krnds
of fruits.
From your little girl,
Ella Sudduth.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Dec. 5, 1920.

Dear Old Santa Claus:
am going to write you a few lines
and let you know what | want you to
bring me, want a doll and some
nuts and a roach comb, some apples
and oranges. think that is all that
want for this Christmas.
Your friend,
Maudie Parker.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. 20, 1920.

Dear Santa Claus:
Because things are so high | will
not ask for too much this Christmas.
Please bring me a watch and a
knife, and will thank you so much.
Your little boy.
Tilmus Cline.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. 7, 1920
Dear Santa Claus:

DeC, T. IJ-u
Dear Santa Claus:
| thought would write before
Christmas and tell you what | want.
| want wagon and fire crackers for
Christmas, some fruit and toy
air ship. will not ask for so many
things this time. Your little friend,
William B. Belts.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Dear Santa Claus:
| am a little girl with blue eyes
and light hair | want doll just
like me, also want some fire-crack-
ers. candy, and all kinds of fruit. |
will not ask for too much this time.
Your little girl,
Virginia Green.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Columbus, Miss.
Dec. 5, 1920.

Dear Santa Claus;
We are two little twin girls, seven
years old. We want you to bring US
a sleeping doll with real curly hair,
one apiece and some fruit, we want
you to bring our little brother, Cliff
little train and some fruit and a
little tricycle.. Bring Mamma dress
and Daddy some cigars.
Your two little friends,
Pauline and Earline Hearron.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Columbus, Miss.
Dec. 6, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus:

Dear Santa Claus:
Please bring be a tea set, some
chairs and table, a doll, a doll bed
and machine, some candy and cakes
and \ stove. Your friend,
Ruth Erwin,
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. 8, 1920.
Dear anita Claus:

Dear anita Claus:
Please bring me a toy car, some
fruit and some fire crackers for this
Christmas. will close for this time.
Your little friend,
Robert Belts.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. 20 1920.

Dec, 20 1920.
Dear Santa Claus:
Please bring me a ball and bat, fire
crackers, roman candles and a little
pony aud harness. Daddy says that
have been good boy and go to
school every day.
Your boy,
C. II. Ray, Jr.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec, %, 1920.

Dear Santa Claus:
| will write you just bit to get
you to come to see me Christmas.
Will tell you a few things | want this
time; a Super-Six Automobile and a
little saddle pony, some nuts, some
candy and some fruit. Well Santa |
will not ask you for any more.
Your dear little boy,
Edward Bittle.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

4 Columbus, Miss, Dec. Z, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus: | want you to
bring me a doll and a bed. | want
YOU to bring me some candy, apples
and oranges. have tried to be q
good girl and l want won to come to
see me Christmas and make it happy.
your litla pirl
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.

Steens, Miss.
Dec. 16, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus:
| have bedl very good little girl,
and hope you will remember me this
Christmas. Will be glad to get any
thing you bring me. So be sure and
come to see me Christmas.
Lou Nell Cash.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

S;teens, Miss.
Dec. 81, 1920.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

OTHER SANTA CLAUS LETTERS
ON PAGE SEVEN.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Emma Mae Atkins.

. Columbus, Miss, Dec. z, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus: have tried to
be a god little boy and l want you
to come to see me and make my
Christmas happy. want you to
bring me a map, wagon, a car that
will peddle and two good books. l
N nv work well in school. Good bye
Santa Your friend,
Charles A. Thornton.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. Is, 1920.

Dear Santa UIaus'
/ am a little girl lust seven years
Of age. Don't know whether you can
read this or not, but do hope you will
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. Z, 1920.

6bttiiof -hiNns
Dec Z, 1920.
Ny Dear Santa:
Will let you know that ! am look
ing for you, and ! want you to bring
me a bicycle so that ! can ride to
school and please Santa bring me
some fruit and nuts. | am six years
old and in the primer, ! am going to
school at Piney Grove, and we 1--we IN
Steens, Miss. Dear Old Santa don't
forget my little brother, he will be a
year old the 18th Of this month. You
may bring him some nuts, fruit and
candy. Please bring him a buggy
cart. Well Santa | am anxious for
Christmas night to come so will close.
Your little friend,
Howard Sanders.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Steens, Miss.
n Dec. Sth, 1929.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Columbus, Miss, Dec. 8, 1920.
Dear Santa: | have tried to be
good boy and l want you to bring me
a bicycle and airplane for Christmas.
Your friend,
ID Robert Montgomery.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. 8, 1920.

Dear Santa:
viii write you few lines tonight
/ am seven years of age, am going to
school and | am a good little girl.
Say Santa, as the times are so hard
l won't ask you to bring me many
toys, all | want is doll, doll bug
gy, pair Of little kid gloves, story
book, little wagon and little bu-
gle, some fruit and nuts also. Santa
am going to be a good little girl
so be sure and do not forget my
doll, for am going to name it DOVE,
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

Dear Santa Claus: Please bring
ME a good big irish mail, a horn, tool
chest, fire truck, lots of fire works,
and fruit, nuts and caldy. am try
ing to be good and saving my money
to help you, and Santa bring my little
brother Henry, something nice for
he is good too sometimes.
Carroll Sanders Hudson.
Steens, Miss,
Dec. 2lst, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus:
Please bring me French Harp and
rubber ball, some fruit, nuts and
candy. Times are so hard that |
will not ask for much this time. With
many, many thanks.
Your little friend,
Thszter Blalock.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
Steens, Miss.
Dec. 20, 1920.

Steens, Miss.
Dec. 20, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus:
Please come to see me this Christ
mas. | want you to bring me a watch
and some toys and stocking full of
fruits. Do not forget me.
Your friend,
Leroy Brown.
The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19

ss Columbus, Miss, Dec. 7, 1920.
Dear Santa Claus: / will write
YOU few lines to let you know that
II have been a good little boy and |
want some pretty things for Christ
mas. | want cap pistol, train, a
wagon. a bicycle, football and some
candy and nuts. l have my drum that
YOU brought and my brother has his
| am in the second grade. Good bye
Santa. Your friend,
Leroy Angler.
New-York tribune., 1920-03-07

habitants-the wolves and coyotes
flourish, the former being seen in
packs of as many as a hundred.
Nevertheless, wild game continues
New-York tribune., 1920-03-07
GRAZING LANDS IN the
K lex iver valleu
through aUhich ralns the
United States government
railroad

bureaucratic and long g-distance ad-
ministration that when the influenza
swept Alaska in the winter of 1913
10 the natives were permitted
to die like flies for lack of proner
food, care and shelter. All that was
needed was a few thousand dollars.
but Congress could not be persuaded
to give it, though at the very moment
1t was appropriating 100000, 900
for European relief, the government
was lending Europe billions and the
people were giving hundreds of mill
ions to all sorts. of foreign relief.
But 100000 could not be spared for
the Alaskans. What happened is a
tale OF horror that ennobles the old
maxim that charity begins at home.
whole villages of Eskimos lost
their entire adult population" said
Governor Riggs feelingly, in dis
cusslng this inconceivable abandon
ment of the natives. MANY infants
were frozen in their dead mothers
arms. To make matters more grue-
some, the half-starved dogs mangled
and mutilated' the dead and the
dying. We are still getting reports
OF that awful time. Several villa oes
were entirely wiped out by the cpl
demlc and then the dogs devoured
the bodies. 1 doubt if similar con-
dltlons existed anywhere else in the
world-the intense cold of the arctic
days the long distances to be tray-
eied by dog-team by the heroic doc
'ors and nurses we had, the living
children huddled AGAINST their dead
New-York tribune., 1920-03-07
A Host of Government Nurses
Bickers and Quarrels Over
Care of ''Seward's Folly''

tary Lane of the Department of the
Interior saw it seven long years ago,
what Alaska needs is to be weaned
and given a full opportunity to
"root hog or die," which is to say,
home rule. Not necessarily the full
home rule Of statehood, which would
permit a handful of persons who
happened to be on the ground to
exploit national asset as pleased
them, but Capitalization of all Fed
eral authority in Alaska relating to
it's resources and development into
one body, appointed from Washing
ton, but residing on the spot, clothed
with ample authority, responsible to
only one department in Washington
and having in view as it's goal the
development of Alaska in such a
manner as to cause it's resources to
support large permanent popula-
tion.
With so much divided authority
as there is now, the more Congress
legislates for Alaska, even with the
best of intentions, the worse the
situation gets; for the more laws the
more opportunities for the inter
ested departments and bureaus to
get tangled up with each other and
barricade against all real progress.
Concentration Needed
GAS time goes on and new legisla-
tion becomes effective" says Cover
nor Riggs, "the confusion existing
as result of conflicting depart
mental authority in Alaska becomes
more and more evident. Those inter
ested in Alaskan conditions can do
no better than to read the bulletin
written by Secretary Lane, entitled
Red Tape in Alaska More than
anything else that has been written
this shows the absolute necessity for
concentration of authority. In
forest reserves the Department of
Agriculture has full charge until
settler appears, when, after satisfy
ing the officials of the Forest Serv-
ice, he must comply with the land
laws executed by the Department of
the Interior. The fisheries are under
the Department of Commerce, but
cannery sites, if in forest reserves,
must be procured from the Depart
ment of Agriculture, while fish trap
New-York tribune., 1920-03-07
of
he uiJ

sites are procured from the War
Department. Of wild animals those
noted as game animals are under
the Department of Agriculture (Bio-
logical Survey, while fur-bearing
animals are under the Department
of Commerce. Separate wardens are
appointed for each service" Five
Federal departments and fifteen
bureaus concern themselves with
Alaska's internal affairs in addition
to the ordinary Federal activities.
Congress and the Bears
The we'll known Alaskan bears of
various species and varieties afford
an Illuminating and laughable illus
tration of the bureaucratic jam in
administering Alaska. Sportsmen
got Congress to pass law designed
to protect the great brown bears of
the Alaskan peninsula, the most
formidable variety of Ursus now ex-
tant and which was in danger of
becoming extinct. The law requires
the issuance of SIS shipping license
for brown bear skins wherever
taken. Governor Riggs took the
position that the b in brown should
be capitalized, thus limiting the
license requirement to the aforesaid
huge bears of the Alaskan peninsula
and outlying islands.
The Bureau of Fisheries of the
Department of Commerce, by which
for administrative purposes a bear
is considered a fish, and the Bio
logical Survey of the Department
of Agriculture promptly lined-up
against Governor Riggs and took the
position that a brown bear is a
brown bear, no matter how many
other cognomens-Latin, Siwash OF
English-it may have.
Governor Riggs supported his
position by citing such bear authori-
ties as Merriam and Nelson, who
hold that a grizzly bear is not a
New-York tribune., 1920-03-07
parents, ALREADY being gnawed by
the wolfish dogs.

parents, .already being gnawed by
the wolfish dogs.
"Dr. Lamb, of Marshall, at my re-
quest, hurried to Old Hamilton
where all the natives were dying, but
he himself caught the disease and
died. And no assistance could be
procured from any helpful agency.
They were all too much engrossed
with the woes Of Europe to be able
to note our own wards, seemingly
protected by solemn treaty with
Russia, dying by swarms in the dark
of Northern lights.
Lest you may take my general
statements for exaggerations l will
cite the case of the Aleuts at Una
laska and Bristol Bay. The whole
population was about a thousand
Every single adult died and the only
survivors are 238 children. That is
one way of solving the Indian prob
lem in Alaska"
While Alaska is conserved in MANY
respects to the point of atrophy, it is
beng sapped of it's very lifeblood in
other ways. Fishing is the greatest
industry, but the 1919 pack of
salmon was only SO per cent of that
OF 1918, and the lean years of the
salmon run become .leaner with each
succeeding cycle of the salmon's life
story. The Bureau of Fisheries does
the best it can, with wise regulations
IN abundance and expense money in
driblets.
New-York tribune., 1920-03-07
Oil Fields Tied In

The petroleum fields of Alaska
have been tied up so tight that only
one claim was ever patented and
produces only fifty barrels a day.
The coal land regulations are 50
rigid that development is difficult
Alaska has abundant coal and OIL
and imports both.
Agriculture in Alaska has ALREADY
approximated the bounds OF AS
possible development until the con-
Stunning population of the mlneS'
numbering camps, fisheries, eter
Increase and until there is better
transportation. The territory nas
great need of more wagon roads ana
trails. The government railway
from Seward to Fairbanks, some nss
hundred and fifty miles. is now
about two-thirds done, bat though
it will result in development OF t@
coal fields OF that part of AlasSs
and in the opening of other mins'
and will somewhat stimulate agfr
cultural development, undoubtedly" F."
will have to be operated at loss
until there is a larger pernaneA'
population in the country.
Students of the Alaska sltua1lsa
hold that it win be long time -
fore Alaska has much of an ag''
cultural population, unless the go',
ernment wants it encrgh to extern
credit to incoming settlers. on'
poor people settle on the frontiers
and on the Alaska frontier the p'e'
farmer is likely long FOREMAN
unless he gets credit. to start WIZ
There is no question that Alaska e's.
support population of sese'@
millIens. Much of the interior h'-
longer season of mild weatN
than the Canadian prairie proviiaeyg
have, while all the southeaA
coast country has mild weather sS.| :
year around.
New-York tribune., 1920-03-07

to have an easier time of it than
the Governor. His salary has been
reduced to $4,000 a year and his
contingent fund is so small that he
came near alternating, in a func-
tional sense, all last winter, but man.
aged to keep going by hypothecat-
ing territorial emergency fund. At
the same time Congress provides the
Governor with such an elaborate
dwelling that it takes the whole of
his salary to keep it open, leaving
nothing for other living expenses
except a deficit out of the Governors
pocket of another $4,000. If it
weren't for those dreadful bears, in
whose biological survey good inten-
tions. the Governor has no conf
dence, he might board up the Execu-
tive Mansion and take to an igloo or
tepee and make an excuse for
drawing down daily the munificent
sum of $4 a day he is allowed for
travelling expense in country
where for transit purposes 81 won't
go as far as nickel on a Manhattan
streetcar.
The bears are not the only section
of the feral fauna of Alaska that
worry the Governor. 1t seems that
tho pesky coyotes formerly were not
informed as to the delights Of the
Alaskan climate, but of recent years
they have undertaken the conquest
of the North Country-at the same
time they have been extending their
empire eastward from the Mis-
souri, to New York and Ontario. One
authority says that they got into the
Yukon Valley by the help of dead
horses; that is, they subsisted during
their migration on the dead pack
animals left behind by the gold
hunters on the Klondike trail.
However that may be, the intelli-
gent little predators haYe reached
the headwaters of thu Chintina