davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-02-08

Every Alaskan knows what set
tier would find here, and every Alas
kan would be glad to tell--up to a
certain point. When the agreeable
things have been told; such as our
unequaled scenic wonders, whose
glories dim the splendors of the New
Jerusalem; and our fishing and hunt
ing, the equal of which old Nimrod
himself never knew; and our free
dom from empty conventions and ar
tifcial distinctions and shams that
cheaper men and do women no good;
when these agreeable things have
that old bugbear of writer's and poll
ticians--a decision betwixt love and
duty. But as this is an assignment
to write what settler finds in Alas
ka, and not what a loyal Alaskan
would like to be able to say settler
find in Alaska, it will be necessary to
eliminate the love feature entirely
and present facts precisely as they
would be found by newcomer on his
arrival. He would already have found
that it costs an amazing jag of money
to get here, especially if he have a
family of any size, and that the esti-
mates made in advance by the trans
portation people prove them to be con
scrvativcs after Judge Ebert Gary's
own heart.
Alaska is no proper place for weak
lings. In at least one respect they
are like transplanted tropical flowers
they never do well, even when
carefully tended; and they can rely on
careful, or rather excessive, attention
in Alaska if they have a reasonable
bank roll on arrival.
Sickness is rare among seasoned
Alaskans, and almost rare among any
type of people anywhere in Alaska.
When an old-timcr gets sick they be-
ments, and would be considerably dis
appointed should the tentative ar
rangements turn out to have been
premature.
Any man outside of the weakling
class can get along in Alaska, pro-
vidcd he is reasonably honest. If his
character be all shot to pieces so he
cannot resist the temptation to do
crooked things, he had better stay
away; and this is particularly true of
persons given to stealing, killing,
forging, and such like serious mat
ters. These real crimes Alaskans do
not tolerate. True, some person, gen
orally stl anger, loses his head oc-
casionally and perpetrates felony;
but capture and punishment are so
certain that no sane criminal-if there
is such thing-would ever take the
risks involved.
Even in the more settled communi-
ties the presence of stranger is in
stantly noted, and the comings and
goings of residents are so we'll known
to everybody else, that any variation
from usual custom or any suspicious
circumstance, would have to be salts
factorily explained. The only prac-
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-02-08
What A Settler viii Find When He Goes to Alaska
By THOMAS b. DRAYTON

ticai way to get out of Alaska is by
boat, and no possible criminal could
procure passage. Should an offender
make for the hills or escape to the
brush, he would soon be faced by the
alternative of starvation or surrend-
er. Men can, and many do, live on
the country largely, but no mans
rifle will supply him with food per-
manently unless he have ammunition; /;
and permanent shelter against Alask-
an weather is immpossible without an
axe and other necessary tools.
Besides, there are many men living
back in the sticks who have the curios-
ity of a panther on noticing a strange
track, and almost panthers skill in
following such track These men
would all know of the crimes COM
mission, and would be on the lookout
for the perpetrator. Singularly they
are the most voracious readers and
news swappers imaginable. Nothing
escapes them fro mtrivial local hap
penings to diplomatic matters of in
tcrnational Importance. And they
have an abundance of time to devote
to such odd jobs as, aside from lit
tie trapping to supply themselves
with money for tobacco, ammunition,
printed matter, and other indispcnsa-
BILE, they never by any chance do a
lick of regular work. From all of
which circumstances it will appear to
the proposed settler that he will find
his Alaskan ncighbors to be as honest
and law-abiding lot as could be
found anywhere on earth. Unless he
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-02-08

live and dispute very much the same.
Alaskan miners are almost invariably
of the same hopeful, adventurous,
take-a-chance type; while it is per-
haps superfluous OF say that fisher
men show but little variation from
type.
The chicf amussmcnts in A!agka are
hunting and fishing. Dancing IS .nuch
in vog1e in the larger settlements,
card playing, particularly bridge, is
everywhere in evidence. Skating and
ice sports arc confined to children al
most exclusively, excepting in two
on three settlements. Sleighing is
almost unknown, due to the absence
OF suitable roads. Dog-team races are
quite common all over the territory;
one or two annual events having be-
come famous. The Nome Candle an
nual race is an especially important
event. and perhaps more money
changes hands on the issue of this
race than even on that other famous
annual event, the breakup of the ice
on the Yukon in the spring.
If there is any illiteracy in Alaska
it has escaped notice. Indeed, it is
probable that the average of intelli-
gence is rather higher than in any
other community under American
jurisdiction, except alone the most
highly favored educational ccntcrs.
The percentage of educated men is
certainly surprising to strangers.
Scarcely a great school in the world
but has its graduates here habited in
the rough dress of the pioneers; and
Yale, Princeton, Havard, Columbia
and other distinguished schools, par
tlcularly in California and Washing
ton, arc represented by a considerable
number in the aggregate.
Climate conditions are. quite diff
crcnt from what the average settler
expects to find. The coastal region OF
Alaska for 1000 miles is mild, drc
to the influence of the japanese Gu =
rent. In the interior, and north Of
the Endicott Mountains, the winters
are long and severe, although the ex-
trcmc temperature of 60 to 80 below
(Fahrenheit) are exceptional. They
are fine to give color to the hardships
Of explorers and other adventurers,
who all stay indoors at such times, but
otherwise are mostly of the character
of childrcn's tales of goblins and bogy
men.
The mean temperature of Point
Barrow, 300 miles inside the Arctic
Circle, for the coolest winter month
has stood at 81 below zero since the
weather '.ports were first recorded at
tN"t >ation. This is the extreme
nor ',crn tip of Alaska on the Arctic
Ocean. 1t is true that Fort Yukon
has shown q mean (on badly broken
record of 10 degrees colder; but no
other point in Alaska has been so
cold. Different sections of the inter
ior are greatly affected by mountain
ranges, and vary greatly in tempera-
turc both winter and summer. It
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-02-08

would be just as difficult to give a de-
| finition of Alaska weather applicable
to all parts of the territory as to give
a definition of climate applicable to
! both Italy and Sweden.
The great Tanana valley the fam
| ed agricultural" region of the Fair
banks district, never thaws out below
three feet from the surface. On the
the other hand the equally great Susi-
tina valley was unfpSzen to a depth of
eight feet last July. This was proved
by various excavations. 1t probably
| never freezes very deep. Moreover,
the Susitna valley is SOIL on top, not
| moss.
Topographically, the lower or south
ern part of Alaska, rather more than
a third part, is mountainous, with a
number of valleys and many glaciers.
1T produces much timber, some Of it
merchantable outside, and practically
| all suitable for rough lumber. The
western and northern part of Alaska
is largely a treeless tundra, except
near the waters. The remainder of
the territory. may be designated
roughly as the Yukon country, and
vision largely rises to the altitude Of
|
wise tundra country, except in uni
Important spots. This tundra region
| is expected to be the home of an i'm
mense reindeer industry of the future.
The Aleutian archipelago consists
OF about rs islands of map-sizc, and
innumerable smaller islands in var
lous groups. The islands extend so
far west that the tip is within the
eastern hemisphere to the extent that
the setting sun in summer in that
section of Alaska is viewed as the
rising sun on the New England coast.
These Alcutians are barren, treelcss,
and mostly uninhabitcd. The whole
southern coast Of Alaska, as it ex-
! tends westerly, is dotted with islands
of various size, the largest being
Kodiak.
All the towns have public schools,
perhaps equal in all important re-
spccts to the public school in the
states. 1t is an interesting fact that
Alaskan children removed to outside
school almost invariably pass into a
| higher grade, an dalmost invariably
head their classes in whatever grade
they find themselves placed.
The settler would find the chief in
dustry to be fishing. This industry
has produced business of nearly
$475,000,000 since the succession of
American jurisdiction in 1867. 1t is
practically monopolized by non-resi-
| dent corporations.
The next industry Of Importance is
mining, with an output to date of
more than $dG0,000,000, nearly three
fourths Of which was gold, and the
remainder chiefly copper.
| The9 fur trade comes next, with a
600. ~.
Agriculture, to which the proposed
settler would presumably devote him
self, is yet in the experimental stage.
Only q fool or knave would advise
any man to sell out in the States and
come to Alaska to farm before look
| ing into the situation thoroughly.
And the official report issued by the
governments agricultural depart
ment must not be given too much
weight Doubtless it Is absolutely
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-02-08

and exactly true in all it's statements
but it does not state enough. Wheat,
Tor example, can be grown in Alaska,
but there is no man who has tried it
but will admit it cost him at least.
three times as much to produce a,
bushel as he could get for it in the.
market-even as a curiosity.
Oats, rye and barley mature under,
favorable conditions, and the world
cannot beat Alaskan potatoes, straw
berries, radishes and celery, and no,
place on this planet can begin to
equal our Alaskan rhubarb. But this
orict sketch includes the story of
what a settler may find if he will use
his native mother wit in connection,
with what he has read.-The Dear
born Independent.
The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-02-08
ticularly discriminating in-
IL .Irni1ld nnaaa o. 70 % skdiHn1.oaat

ca y ticularly discriminating insS
> '"a' would come to a different!
conclusion during his early sojournI
as the first man he might meet
would dwell at length and in detail
upon the rascaity of his neighbors
and their general worthlessness as
citizens. This inormant would be de-.
Gy the next neighbor and so on,
throughout the community. In time
the settler himself would acquire the
same habit of villifying his neigh
bors, but would never dream of re-
fusing them q a-favor or of lending
any of them money, and would never
doubt for second that it would be.
promptly repaid when due; although
he himself, and everybody else in the
neighborhood, except the borrower,
would pretend to believe the loan ir-
retrievably lost.
The Alaskan Of long standing is
not only great fault-f finder, but is
pugnacious and contentious to the
nth degree. It was this identical cir
cumstance that resulted in the ap-
pointment of a carpet-bagger, Scott
c. Bone, as governor. President Hard
any Alaskan the Alaskans themselves
would agree on. Although any loyal
Alaskan would prefer a local Mephisl
to as governor rather than the great
est and most engaging carpet-bagger
cXtant, yet everybody knew the jig
was up when the President imposed
that condition Of the Alaskans' agree
ment. We never agree.
This spirit of contrariness on the
part of the men is fully equalcd by
thctendency to vindictive gossip
among the weaker vessels; to employ
a humorous metaphor to illumine
serious subject. We have many noble
exceptions presumably, but the rule
will hold good. Every Alaskan wo-
man knows just what every neighbor
had for dinner today; the price to q
cent paid for the new hat, and how
utterly horried it is; the exact trouble
with the new baby across the way,
and ow stupid te mother is; and the
lndlscretion of the parents down the
the young man who is sparkling their
daughter, and how the nice things said
of him by his employer is pure bunk;
and@all other intimate details of our
several Alaskan lives. Then, too, in
addition to the isolation and seclusion
OF their lives, our women come from
many social strata. Our society is
much mixed. There are great num-
bers of women who were once inmates
of dance halls Of decade or so ago,
now married and leading exemplary
lives. Singularly, these women are
more remorseless in the pursuit and
more pitiless in the crucifxion of wo-
men who have erred, or whom they
hope or suspect or insinuate have er-
red, than any other member of our
population. We have a way of tanning
the man who poisons social currents
but the person protected by skirt
is beyond our power.
Men of particular classes are much
alike in character and habits after q
few years of Alaskan life. The re-
clusei back in the sticks is about the
same man wherever found; the pro-
fcSSCnal trappers come to look and
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-12

FRANKVILLE

Mr.. and Mrs. Roy Kneeskern arrived
home Tuesday evening from Cresco.
Curtis Bollman was down from Decorah
Tuesday and while here SOLD MS foro
roadster to Lyle Bollman.
Mrs. Irving Crawford and son Cleoyne
spent several days the past week with
relatives in Waukon.
Mr.. and Mrs James kneeskeTn and
Lyle French autoed to Decorah we'd
The willing Workers were Pleasantly
entertained at the home OF Mrs. Geo.
Wolfe Thursday afternoon.
John and Ren Snitksr attended the
funeral of their mother in Ludlow
Thursday afternoon
Carl Letchford Of DEBORAH visited his
mother Mrs. Rilla Letchford here We'd
nesday and Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Brandt and Mr..
and Mrs. Lester Davis attended the
Gordon funeral at Postville Thursday.
Tom O'Donnel and Dean Kneeskern
were callers in Osslan Tuesday.
Miss Celia Earhart was called to her
home in Epworth Friday on account OF
the death of her father.
Claude Van Wey made trip to Post
vile Friday.
Professor Grouse was called to his
home in Wisconsin Friday on account
of sickness in his family.
Mrs. NJ. Green, Mr.. and Mrs. Allen
Green from near Castalia were visitors
at the James G. Kneeskern home on
Thursday.
DR. Juen of Osrian was a professional
caller at the Charles Webster nome
Thursday.
James Z. Kneeskern purchased a Ford
car at Postville Saturday.
Chris Waters sold several load of hogs
In DEBORAH Saturday.
Lawrence Pilgrim went to Epworth
Saturday to alta nd Mr.. Earharts nun
eral
The Interstate Power Co. man was
here Saturday repairing the electric line.
Clifford Hughes and Raymond Fritz
patrick were In OSsian Saturday whie
there Raymond purchased a Ford.
sam Waters and daughter Clara were
visitors in DEBORAH Saturday.
DIR. kiesau OF Postville was pro
fessional caller in this locality Friday.
Romeo Paddin came home Saturday
from visit at the Francis Paddin
home near DEBORAH.
Mrs. Emma French and Clifford Hugh
IS were DEBORAH callers Friday.
Attorneys Houck and Sayre OF De
corah were business callers in TINS
locality Thursday.
Walter Kneeskern took hogs to Post
Vile for Pat Fitzpatrick Friday.
Walter Van Wey went to the Chi1s
Meyer home near Postville Monday
where he will work this season.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Waters were De-
corah visitors Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ray Waters attended
the funeral OF Mrs. John Smith at Wau-
kon Tuesday.
win schutta sold hogs in DEBORAH
Saturday
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-12
NORTHERN CANOE

Elizabeth and Roy Coy were visi-
tors at Ben Eggen's last Sunday.
Those who were DEBORAH shoppers
Saturday were Johnnie and Fritz
Rensvold, Mr.. and Mrs. Johnnie Pc
terson, Mildred and Arthur Eggen
Orlando Danielson.
Mesdames Perry and Oscar Kenyon
called on Grandma Eggen who is i'll
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Ramlo ano
family were callers at the Einal
Peterson home Sunday afternoon.
Fred Fisher assisted Dan Danielsor
with butchering one day last week.
Edgar Langaas is working for Pc
ter DanielSon at present.
Mrs. Dan Danielson made a shor
call with Mrs. Ben Eggen Saturday
John Kirkeby and son called at the
E. Peterson home Sunday afternoon
Selmer Thorsen was out dragging
the road Saturday.
People in this vicinity are busy
raking their lawns.
Fred Fisher made a business trtI
TO DEBORAH Monday.
Coys are saving lumber at present
DR.. Lannin was called for Grandm;
Eggen last Monday.
Leland and Roy Coy were Burr
Oak shoppers Saturday evening.
Mr.. and Mrs. Barney Teepe, arr
moving to their new home on the
old Potter place.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-12
ORLEANS

Mr.. and Mrs. Willie Howard spent
Sunday afternoon and evening at the
Clarence Clink home.
A number of our people have been
quite i'll with hard colds the past
week. The following are the un-
lucky ones: Mrs. C. Olson, Norman
eager, Mrs. Roy Greensleigh, Harry
and Tina Stopperan, Mrs. VIM. SIP
peran, Steen Henderson, Homer and
Margaret Henderson, Lula and Ruth
Headington, Mrs. E. j. Henderson
and two children. All reported to
on the gain at this writing.
Mrs. John Evingdahl, Agnes Stat
Ter, Oliver Monson, Eugene Olson
and Stewart Clink were entertained
for dinner at the Mons Askelson
home Sunday.
A number of our young people at
tended the parcel shower for Elaine
Griswold last Tuesday evening. All
reported a fine time.
Mr.. and Mrs. C. Qualley came up
from DEBORAH Thursday to be pres
ent at the Griswold and Rude we'd
ding.
n lew young pCOpIC "CIC CilICl
tanned at the Mons Askelson home
Sunday evening in honor of Annals
birthday. Agnes says she had q
fine time.
Eta Belts came up from Cedar
Rapids Saturday for a visit with hei
sister, Mrs. Clarence Clink.
Stewart Clink was entertained al
the John Henderson home Sunday
evening.
Saturday afternoon at 8 o'clock oc-
Cured the marriage of Eline Gisvold
and Thomas Rude, both of this vic
Unity.
The bride was dressed in a dainty
dress of light blue silk trimmed with
silver lace and pearls. Her veil was
trimmed with sweet peas and ferns,
she carried a beautiful boquet of pink
and white roses. The groom was
attired in a blue serge suit, wearing
white rose in the button hole of
his lapel. They were attended by
Bertha Johnson, cousin Of the bride,
George Rude brother Of the groom,
Nora Johnson and Otto Sollie. The
bridesmaids were dressed in white
silk.
The bride is one of our best young
ladies. She has only been here about
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-12

Friday into their new home. They
recently purchased it of Fred Berg
man.
Mr.. Philip Seelye has been on the
sick list the past week.
The many friends Of Mrs. Frank
Thomas formerly known as Mrs.
Fannie Manning will be sorry to
learn she has passed away at her
home in California.
Mr.. F. C. Ward made business
trip to DEBORAH on Friday and re-
ports the roads TO be in awful bad
shape.
Born to Mr.. and Mrs. A. E. Smith
March 28, a girl. Mother and baby
are getting along fine.
Theo. Morrison drove to DEBORAH
on Friday to take Mr.. Ward.
Miss Ella Anderson returned to
her home on Sunday after caring for
the new baby at the A. E. Smith
home.
Earl Nash spent Sunday at home.
He lis going to work this spring for
his sisters husband, Mr.. Glenn Head
ington.
Mr.. Louie Krumm made a trip to
DEBORAH on Sunday to take the fol-
lowing young people back to school
after having a weeks vacation with
! home folks: Louise Krumm, Palma
Erickson and Arthur Headington.
Clifford Headington is entertaining
the mumps and will be unable to
return to school for a few days.
John Little accompanied by his
mother, Mrs. Joe Little spent Sunday
at the F. E. Nash home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Torgerson
and children spent Sunday at the
Fred Koenig home.
st. Pau's United Lutheran church,
Burr Oak, Iowa, Easter, April 16.
10 o'clock Divine worship in German,
II o'clock services in English, s p.
m. union services at the Methodist
church. Come and worship with us.
c. F. l.. Pieper, Pastor.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-12
CANOE VALLEY.

Mrs. Hanson and grandson Lester
Myrah also Peter Hanson were pleas
ant callers at the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. Gust Budahl on last Thursday,
Harry Haugen was laid up this
last week suffering with a boil or
his left knee.
The school children and a few
grown ups have been practicing fol-
a program at the Spring Water
school which will take place on Fri
day evening.
Bonnie Hanson spent Sunday af,
ternoon with Harry Haugen.
Ed Quandahl and son hauled hay
from Haugen's on Saturday last.
Andrew Jaastad was a caller at
Haugen's on last Friday evening.
Albert Haugen called at the home
of Carl Haugen on Sunday last.
Services is announced for EasteI
Sunday at 2:30 in the afternoon.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1922-04-12
LOOKING GLASS PRAIRIE

Mrs. Walter Tillapaugh of Canoe
visited her brother William Feltis
Monday.
Howard Pearson, Clarence Rolfshus
and Philip McMillen were Hesper
callers Wednesday.
Henry Sellman and wife were cal
lers in Hesper Thursday.
Mrs. William Plunkeet is on the
sick list at this writing.
Erwin and Palmer Peacock called
at the VIM. Feltis home Saturday.
Miss Mark returned to Hesper Sat-
urday after spending her week
vaction with home folks in Harmony.
Idella and Willard WEIGH spent
Saturday with their cousin, William
Darlington.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lloyd Richert and