The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-20


 Alamo. And of the thousands who crossed the plains of the great west, how many attained wealth? And of the other thousands who were the pioneers of Alaska, how many ac- quired even competence? No, judged by the money standard, pio- neering doesn't pay. And judged by that standard many of the men who have been a hope and an inspiration to the nation or the race, have been miserable failures. Measured with that measure Abraham Lincoln failed And the greatest failure of all was the Man who preached the Sermon on the Mount, for his history nowhere records that He made a will or left anything earthly to bequeath or devise.
 The pioneer has other standards of success than money. True, the tale of gold discovered had and has it's old lure to the pioneer. But the gold is only a symbol, and the real attrac- tion lies in the wide places. No pi- oneer would get any pleasure in dig ging gold in Yesler Way or Market Street. There is something thrilling, something enthtralling in the thought of dim, unpeopled timbered valleys, mountains that have never been seen by white mems eyes, and forests that have never been startled by the sound of white mans tongue. The pioneers of Alaska have been repaid by the joy of exploration of new and strange lands; the sight of the morning sun upon the great peaks; the camp fire on the chill of the evening; the tale carelessy told of the lost creek or the lost lode. What pioneer would not be repaid for years toll by the sight of the world from the crest of the great Alaska ranges; to see spread out before him first the lower ridges; then the rolling foot hills; then the great forested plains; and all cut and intersected with the silverv threads of the winding creeks and rivers, meandering among the gray gravel bars?
 Ancd what about the qualities c the pioneers? I have already spoken of his courage Add to that a rigid honesty. Add to that a hospitality and generosity the like of which ie not known elsewhere in the world Careless: Yes, Improvident? Yes. At times and in particular instance given to blasting dissapation, it mus be admitted. But his faults are the faults of child while his virtues give him the moral stature of q giart. The pioneer may injure himself, but he only does good to his fellow man.
 That is his success. That and his life. The pioneer has performed his function, done his duty and been successful-if he has been pioneer if he has always been between the army and the enemy-if he has made the road safe for those who may come after him. And if he dies in the service-if his foes, the forces of an unexplored nature, over- whelm him-if the river is too swift, the avalanche too sudden, or the cold too intense, and he dies; ie not his death fulfillment of his lifeo What failure Is there in that? If he desired to live long and safely, ac- quire wealth, and know only the soft and tender things of life, he would not be pioneer.
 And how many there are who have met with this last and great success Scarce river or creek or mountain or timbered valley in Alaska but is marked with the whitening bones of the pioneer. And if, on the other side, their spirits meet with spirits of any man who measured success by the power toacquire money, who, do you think, will be considered the failure? The kings of generosity or the kings of selfishness? One who knows the spirit of the pioneers, Henry Herbert Knibbs, said in "The Trail-Makers:
 Berries of the saskatoon were ripen-
 ing and falling;
 Flowers decked the barren with
 it's timber scant and low; All along the river trail were many
 voices calling,
 And cen the whining malamutes-
 they heard and strained to go. So we played the bitter game nor