THE FAIRBANKS MINER

Alaska State Library - Historical Collections, PO Box 110571, Juneau AK 99811-0571

ASL-MS0107-62-29

The Fairbanks Miner, Vol. 1, No. 1, May 1903.

(cover)

May 9, 1903

THE FAIRBANKS MINER

Fairbanks, Alaska…….May 1903

Vol. 1. No. 1.

James Wickersham Editor

James Wickersham

ORIGINAL

THE FAIRBANKS MINER

Written by James Wickersham and typed by

Geo. Jeffery at Fairbanks in May, 1903 &

sold by Jeffery and Stevens for $5.00 per

copy. The proceeds used to buy grub for

the First Expedition up Mount McKinley of

May – July, 1903; led by James Wickersham

(page 1)

THE FAIRBANKS MINER

Vol. 1. Fairbanks, Alaska, May, 1903.

Telegraphic.

Alaska Land Law.

Washington, Mch.5. (Special dis-

pach to the Miner.) Congress pass

ed the Hoggatt donation land law

for Alaska. This act permits the

settler to take 320 acres of land

under the general provisions of the

homestead law, with these liberal

changes: The act applies only to

Alaska: it permits the squatter to

take 320 acres on unsurveyed land

and to stake it off as he would a

placer mining location. After

staking it out, and building his

residence the settler must reside

on the land four years when he ac-

quires the right to a patent. The

bill was prepared by Hon. Volney T.

Hoggatt, late city attorney at

Nome, now of Valzez, and was pattern

es after the old Oregon donation

law.

----------

AMENDMENTS TO ALASKA CODE.

Washington, Mch.5. (Special dis-

pach to the Miner.) Several impor-

tant amendments to the Alaska civil

code were passed by Congress and

approved by the President. One of

these reduces the time of residence

in divorce cases in Alaska from

three to two years. The most im-

portent one widely extends the pow-

ers of towns and town councils. It

also authorizes towns to elect a

police magistrate, pass local crimi-

nal laws, and generally provides

for wider self government. It also

gives all saloon and other licenses

paid in towns to the town for muni-

cipal uses – fifty per cent to the

town, and twenty-five per cent to

the school board, and he remaining

twenty-five per cent to be divided

as the court shall order. A new

act provides for the formation of

private corporations in Alaska.

DELEGATE BILL FAILED.

Washington, Mch.5. (Special dis-

pach to the Miner.) The bill pro-

viding for the election of a dele-

gate from Alaska failed to pass Con

gress.

(column break)

Local.

THE FAIRBANKS MINES.

NOME AND DAWSON RIVALLED.

DISCOVERY AND VALUE.

Felix Pedro discovered the Fair-

banks placer mines in July, 1902 –

only nine months ago. Pedro is an

Italian, forty-two years old. He

was for many years a coal miner at

Carbonado, Washington, and had been

prospecting for three years in the

Tanana hills before he made his rich

discoveries on Pedro and Cleary

creeks. His adventures in the Ket-

chemstock range, his long summer

tours afoot, his dangers from the

bald faced grizzly, the bull moose

and other animals, how he was eaten

by mosquitoes and how he are his

dogs, his travels through deep

wooded valleys, across snow swept

plains and over the high peaks of

the Alaskan range, ever in search

of the yellow metal – these would

fill a volume and equal the rich-

est book of travels in interest.

His modesty and condor in relating

the stories of his wanderings, hair

breadth escapes and final success

are indicative of the mans charac-

ter. He has found a fortune and

has the good sense to appreciate

its value and he will save and lay

aside enough for his old age.

In the summer of 1900 Pedro and

Frank Costa prospected Fish creek

and found colors on Fairbanks and

other tributaries. In August, 1901,

Barnette and Smith were trying in

vain to push the steamer Lavelle

Young through Bates rapids, intend-

ing to establish a trading post high

up the Tanana. From his lookout

on the dome at the head of Cleary

and Pedro creeks, Pedro first saw

a smoke far across the Tanana valley

- a close examination with his

field glass disclosed that it was

rising from a steamer on the dis-

tant river. He watched it descend

to the mouth of the Chena and enter

that river, which Pedro had fully

explored the year before. Hastily

informing his companion of the lo-

cality of the steamer, they descend-

ed from the hills crossed the vall-

ey to the Chena and that night

(page 2)

ALASKA BOUNDARY TREATY.

Washington, Mch.6. (Special dis-

pach to the Miner.) The President

has appointed Secretary Root, Sena-

tor Lodge and ex-Senator George

Turner of Washington as the Ameri-

can representatives upon the Alas-

kan boundary commission. England

will appoint one commissioner from

Canada and two from England, and

the commission will indertake to de-

termine the contentions raised by

Canada over the Alaskan boundary.

The Commission will meet at once in

London.

----------

THE FAIRBANKS MINER

Published occasionally at Fair-

banks, Alaska, by a stampeder who is

waiting for the snow to melt and

the ice to go out of the rivers.

The paper will be mailed as soon as

the Posmaster General establishes

the first Post Office in the Tanana

valley, to our living subscribers

at the regular subscription price

of an ounce. Single copies $5.00

chee-chaco money. No more adver-

tisements wanted; - public notices

refused – rate too low. If you

don’t like our style, fly your kite

and produce your 30-30.

----------

EDITORIAL

----------

STOP KILLING MOOSE.

The game law of Alaska ought to

be more strictly enforced. Its

liberal provisions per it travelers

and prospectors to kill game needed

for their own use, but this will

not justify the promiscuous killing

of moose for sale. Now will it

make it less brutal for men to run

poor heavily laden moose cow down

in the deep snow and slaughter them

and their unborn young for dog feed

as is too often done. Do not for-

get that there will be travelers

and prospectors in the Tanana val-

ley next winter.

----------

Fairbanks was so named in honor

of Senator Fairbanks, of Indiana,

chairman of the Joint High Commiss-

ion for the settlement of the Alas-

a boundary question.

(column break)

came to the boat tied to the bank

where the town of Fairbanks now

grows. The merchant and the miner

- the only representatives of their

classes then in the splendid Tanana

valley passed a pleasant evening a-

board the boat. Barnette informed

Pedro of his inability to get over

the rapids and of his intention to

establish a trading post on the

Chena. Pedro quietly informed the

merchant that he had found “pros-

pects” on several neat by creeks,

and then and there it was agreed to

establish a post on the bank where

the steamer was ties up. The nest

day Pedro and Gilmore renewed their

packs from the ample supplies on

the steamer and again disappeared

in the wilderness.

The nest day Barnette and Smith

began to unload their goods. A

small house was erected for the

use of Captain and Mrs. Barnette ,

tents were put up as warehouses, and

assisted by Jim Eagle, Dan McCarthy,

Ben Atwater and John Johnson they

soon built a log store and other

log buildings and Barnette’s trading

post was the beginning of civiliza-

tion of the Tanana. The first

year at the Post was uneventful – a

stampede to the Goodpasture river

and a good trade with the Tinneh

for martin skins. That winter Dan

McCarty went out to Valdez and met

Frank J. Clearly, Mrs. Barnette’s

brother, and these two young men

crossed the mighty Alaskan range in

midwinter, came down the Deltariver

and amid hardships and siffering

they reaches the Post on February

20, 1902, traveling the last hour

days without food. On March 10,

Captain and Mrs. Barnette left the

Post for Valdez with dog teams

leaded with the rich furs purchased

during the winter. They went

across the Tanana valley, up the

Delta and climbed through the Al-

pine passes of the St. Elias range,

and though often in water and snow

reached Valdez in safety and thence

want to Puget Sound for the next su

summers outfit for the Post.

In April Pedro, accompanied by

Gilmore came into the Post and re-

newed his prospecting outfit. They

had one hundred dollars, only, but

Cleary, though instructed to sell

only for cash, gave them a full out-

fit and charged the balance to his

own account. Early in July Pedro

came back to the ?o?e and reported

that Gilmore had gone to Circle

City. He was sick and got both

(page 3)

FAIRBANKS.

Fairbanks now has a population

of more that 1000 inhabitants and

387 houses by actual count. When

the river opens and the boats arr-

ive the population will be greatly

increased. An application has been

make to the District Court for

town organization though this can

not be acted upon until the

July term at Rampart. In the mean

time the MINER advises the citizens

to perfect a consent government by

the election of a mayor, a council

of seven and a chief of police to

enforce local rules and regulations

for sanitary purposes and fire pro-

tection.

---

CHENA.

Chena is the name of our neigh-

boring town, at the junction of the

Chena and the Tanana. It was star-

ted this winter and the influx of

mushers from Rampart especially

has rapidly built a generous rival

to Fairbanks. Hendricks & Belt

have moved their post across the

Tanana to Chena, other business

houses are being erected and the

restless American is building a

town there worthy of its name.

They are also making active preper-

ations to incorporate. Welcome to

out[r] sister town – but won’t we

scratch your for the trade?

---

As we go to press, May 7^th the

Chena river in front of Fairbanks

is breaking up and the ice must go

out in a few hours.

Later: The ice went out at five

o’clock P.M.

---

FAIRBANKS HOTEL.

Restaurant and Saloon.

Monte Carlo games on the square.

Family Concert every evening.

Mrss & Marston.

First Ave. Fairbanks.

medicines and provisions and return

ed to the mountains. On the 28^th

he again came into the store, very

much elated and announced very

secretly to Cleary that he had

“STURCK IT.” He had found rich

prospects on Pedro creek but in his

nervous and weak condition had been

unable to sink to the bed rock – though

he had gold to show as evidence of

his success.

Pedro was known to many to be a

careful and competent miner and

prospector. He had been followed

so often by others who sought to

get the advantage of his well known

superior information and knowledge

of the creeks, that when his pros-

pects on Pedro and Cleary grew to

be a certainty he was nervously

afraid these camp followers would

descend upon him and stake the creeks

befo[r]e he could get his friends loca-

ted. To avoid them he camped over on

Fish creek and came quietly across

the divide and prospected even with-

out building fies to attract their

attention. He succeeded in locating

the best known claims for himself

and friends – to which he was cer-

tainly entitles by reason of his

ardous labors and great success.

His report at the Post was quietly

made known, and Costa, Cleary and his

other friends stampeded off and

staked. Pedro staked both discovery

on Pedro and Cleary creeks, and the

splendid dome between these golden

creeks is his monument – Pedro’s

Dome. From its summit one overlooks

the wide (splendid) Tanana valley framed on

its southern limit by the giant

peaks of the Alaskan range, - Mt. Mc

Kinley, at its western flank, the

royalist of them all.

Accompanied by Ed. Quinn and

Smallwood, Pedro set out for the

creeks secretly and by night and

taking with them plenty of supplies.

They sink a hole to bed rock, and

there lay the flittering gold –

seven feet of pay dirt. Other holes

were sink, and pay was located on

Pedro, Cleary and Gold Stream. Loca-

tions were make, notices prepared

and again Cleary and McCarty took

their way through the wilderness –

this time to Circle City to record

a large number of claims. Pedro’s

claims have been carefully prospect-

ed and he now seems to be sure of

Fortune’s smile.

(page 4)

A TANANA TALE.

“Whoo-O”. Windy Jim filled

his cheeks with hot air and every

body knew he was going to beat the

king. “That’s nothing. In ’98 I left

Forty Mile to go over to the head

of the Tanana with a sled and my

dog Doughnuts to stake the copper

mines that I afterwards sold to

Patsy Clark. Whoo-o.” Jim looked

solemnly around and then proceeded.

“The thermometer was froze up when

I left Forty Mile but after I

crossed the Ketchumstock hills it

was much warmer, and the Tanana

was wide open. I built a raft and

put Doughnuts and my outfit on it

and started down stream. We went

fine for a while but in the after-

noon we came round a sharp bend

and into a big log jam. My raft

tipped, sank and went under the

drift. I jumped for the jam but

missed my hold and I went under

too. I swam a hundred yards or

more under that drift holding to

Doughnuts’ tail, and came out below

and swam ashore. Whoo-o” and Jim

puffed out his cheeks and looked

as honest as God.

“And there we were, Doughnuts

and me, five hundred miles from

supper for I had lost my entire

outfit, gun, provisions, blankets

and all. We started back to Forty

Mile. Not a thing could we find

to eat and the thermometer seventy

below. Even rabbits had gone

south and I could not even catch a

cold. For twenty days we mushed

across the hills, siwashing it at

night until we were starved. I

couldn’t kill Doughnuts”, and Jim’s

eyes were filled with tears, “but

we just had to have something to

eat so I cut off his tail – you

know what a big long tail he had

Frank”, and Cleary solemnly nodded

his head. “Well I cut off his

tail and made soup of it, and it

saved my life for I came into camp

four days later. Whoo-o.” The

other able liar ran his fore fing-

er down his coat collar and scrat-

ched.

“Well I should say I did. I

would divide my last meal with

Doughnuts. Yes siree. I gave

Doughnuts the bone out of his tail

and after gnawing it a while he

came on into Forty Mile with me.

That tail saved us both and I

could prove it Charley Hall if

he was here Whoo;o.” The ex-cham-

pion quit whittling, slipped off the

counter and went out.

The writer made a personal in-

section of the mines on Gold

Stream, Pedro and Cleary creeks. A

dozen pans from the top of the dump

on Pedro’s discovery claim on Cleary

creek yielded an average of over

seven cents to the pan. The pay

streak in located for more than 100

feet in width and 800 feel long on

this claim and is at least six feet

thick. On No. 2 above on Pedro creek,

Jack Costa’s claim, the dump yielded

eight cents to the pan, and Costa

informed us that his pay streak had

been located 150 feel wide, six feet

deep and the length of his claim. A

rough calculation shows that if his

statement is correct there is about

half a million dollars in his

claim. Discovery on Pedro panned

as well as Costa’s. On Gold Stream

Dan McCarthy’s claim panned an aver-

age of eight cents and Willig’s but

little less.

Pay has been located for six

miles or more on Pedro and Gold

Steam into which Pedro empties.

Cleary creek heads just over the low

divide from Pedro and extends the

placer ground that much further

north. Coarse shot gold has been lo-

cated on Fairbanks creek, and pros-

pecting is being pushed on a number

of other tributaries of Gold Stream

and Fish creek. Rich pay is known to

exist on at least three creeks,-

Pedro, Cleary and Gold Stream, and

the future of the camp is beyond

doubt. Other creeks are prospecting

high and the prospectors are confi-

dent. What the creeks need is system-

atic and careful prospecting.

---

R.C. Wood T.D. Smith

THE TANANA RESTURANT.

Meals at all hours.

Short Orders. Table dehote.

Wada’s Bldg. Second Avenue.

---

“THE COMET”.

Tonsorial parlors. Ladies hair-

dressing a specialty.

B.F. Sherman. George Irish.

First Avenue.

(page 5)

[page crossed out]

DOWN WHERE THE TANANA FLOWS.

(Chorus by the crowd and the dance hall faires).

If you will listen to me I will sing you a song,

Down there the Tanana flows;

Of a trail that is nearly five hundred miles long,

Down there the Tanana flows;

Our sleds they were heavy, our hearts they were light,

We mushed them along from morning ‘til night,

O’er the Good Pasture tails – it was clear out of sight,

Down there the Tanana flows.

Chorus.

Down, down, down there the Tanana flows, flows, flows,

It goes down, down, down but no body knows where it goes,

We started from Dawson one morning at two,

We all felt so happy we thought we’d get through,

But now we are stuck, ‘tis a hard piece of luck,

Down there the Tanana flows.

No doubt you have heard of Curly Monroe,

Down there the Tanana flows;

He started from Dawson a short time ago,

Down there the Tanana flows;

The pay it was small and it diggings were deep,

And Curly turned back with a pair of cold feet,

But since he has left we have struck the pay-streak,

Down there the Tanana flows.

(Chorus)

Monroe he left Dawson with a bottle or two,

Down there the Tanana flows;

Says he “With this whiskey I’ll surley pull through”,

Down there the Tanana flows;

But right from the start ‘till he got to Chena,

The soldiers told Curly his work would not go,

So he put on his coat and slept out in the snow,

Down there the Tanana flows.

(Chorus.)

At the City of Fairbanks we all had to quit,

Down there the Tanana flows;

We found one dollar meals and we near had a fit,

Down there the Tanana flows;

Spuds there were none and the meat it was tough,

But we sat down and chewed ‘till we all had enough.

And now like the rest we are out for the stuff,

Down there the Tanana flows.

(Chorus.)

Now John Bonnifield was the first on the trial,

Down there the Tanana flows;

He said “Good bye boys” in the Old Klondike Vale,

Down there the Tanana flows;

And now with the glad hand his old friends we will greet,

He will show you a lot down on the front street,

He’ll tax you two-fifty, now boys ain’t that cheap,

Down there the Tanana flows.

(Chorus.)

(page 6)

SCHOOLING & VIRTUE

Jobbers.

Any old thing bought and sold. Buy

at your own price. Sell at

your own price.

Second Ave. Fairbanks

---

If you don’t see what you

want ask for it.

KELLUM’S COMMISSION HOUSE.

First Ave. Fairbanks.

---

BUSINESS CARDS.

---

LUTHER C. HESS

Attorney-at-law.

Asst.U.S.Dist Attorney Fairbanks.

---

EDWARD B. CONDON

Attorney & Counselor

at law. Fairbanks.

---

ALLEN R. JOY

Attorney. Fairbanks.

---

ABE SPRING.

Lawyer Fairbanks.

---

JAMES TOD GOWLES

Attorney. Fairbanks.

---

H. J. MILLER

Attorney-at-law. Fairbanks.

---

BION A. DODGE.

Attorney. Fairbanks.

---

GEORGE STEELSMITH

Notary Public. Fairbanks.

---

DR. OVERGARD.

Physician and Surgeon. Fairbanks.

---

DR. WHITNEY.

Dentist. Fairbanks.

---

DR. C.D. MEDILL.

Physician. Fairbanks.

---

BANQUET AT THE FAIRBANKS.

Mine host Marston of the Hotel

Fairbanks entertained a few of his

numerous friends at a dinner on the

evening before May day. The dining

room was handsomely festooned with

evergreens surrounding the Stars

and Stripes and the table was

bountifully supplied. Among those

present were Judge Wickersham, the

lawyers and court officials and many

of the most prominent business men

of the town. Harry West’s orchestra

made music and the guests remained

long after dinner singing college

songs and national airs. It was an

enjoyable evening and will long be

remembered by those present.

---

HENGRICKS & BELT

Mining supplies a specialty.

Chena. Alaska.

---

Within a week a party consisting

of Judge Wickersham, M. I. Stevens,

George A. Jeffery and Jonnie McLeod

will leave Chena on the Tanana

Chief for the Kantishnar river on a

trip to Mt. McKinley.

---

The Fairbanks hotel is being en-

larged by the addition of a two

story building in front and by

raising the rest of the building

to two stories.

---

(page 7)

“THE TANANA.”

Case goods a specialty.

Full orchestra music.

Powers & Robertson.

First Avenue, Fairbanks

---

When you are thirsty go

“THE NORTHERN SALOON.”

Fine Liquors and Cigars.

George Noble,Prop.

---

“THE EAGLE.”

Fine Liquors : First Ave.,

and Cigars : Fairbanks.

Coulter & Brown.

---

“BOHEMIAN”

Saloon and Restaurant.

Dupre & Barber. First Ave.

---

BARNETTE’S

TRADING

POST

Absolutely Reliable.

Good Grub outfits put up by exper-

ienced men. No over-charging. The

only grocery store in Fairbanks and

by far the best place to buy in the

town.

---

“MAMA” ABBOT.

Dealer in general merchandise.

Full line of ladies’ and mens’ furn-

ishings.

Second Ave. Fairbanks.

---

The

AMERICAN DRUG CO.

P u r e F r e s h D r u g s .

Dr. C. D. Medill, Prop.

First Ave. Fairbanks.

A BAR BANQUET.

The first Banquet in the Tanana

valley w s tendered to the members

of the bar of his court by Judge

Wickersham on the evening of April

28^th, at the Tokio restaurant. The

bill of fare may be of interest to

prove that even in winter the Tanana

in not without food.

Hiyu Muck-a-Muck.

Hooch – Chena Cocktails.

Consomme, a la Tawtilla.

Olives.

Chicken Mayonaise, Oyster Paties.

Sauterne.

Wine Jelly, Cream Sauce.

Roast Moose, Prospector Style.

Mashed Potatoes, Green Peas.

Ice Cream – Yuma Canned.

Jelly Cake.

Nuts, Raisins, Cheese, Coffee,

Cigars.”

After the feast smoking and speak-

ing entertained the company until

a late hour. Mr. Allen R Joy, from

Koyukuk, came in at a late hour but

was make welcome and spoke for the

Koyukuk. The gentlemen responded

to the following toasts:

James Wickersham --- Fairbanks.

H.J.Miller --- Mushing with a

Minister.

Jesse Noble --- Cleary Creek.

Abe Spring --- The First Sign-Board.

Felix Pedro --- Prospecting.

L.C. Hess --- The President.

Dan McCarty --- The Moose Pasture.

E.B.Condon --- Dawson.

Frank J. Cleary --- Barnette’s

Trading Post.

J. Tod Cowles --- The first Court

in the Tanana Valley.

Bion A. Dodge --- The Ladies.”

Mr. Pedro brought the old gold

pan in which he first discovered

gold on the Fairbanks creeks, and

Judge Wickersham informed the com-

pany that he intended to send it,

with a bottle of Pedro dust to Sen-

ator Fairbanks of Indiana.

---

“THE SPRING”

Fairbanks only news stand. The

Latest periodicals always on

hand.

“Solly” Spring, Prop.

(page 8)

FAIRBANKS OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.

J. Tod Cowles, Esq., Justice of the

Peace and Deputy Recorder.

L.C. Hess, Assistant U.S. District

Attorney.

Edger Wickersham, Deputy U.S.

Marshal.

---

DAWSON – FAIRBANKS.

STEAMERS.

The Steamers “Isabella”, “Gold Star”

and “Lavelle Young” will connect

with the “Robert Kerr” and other

steamers from Dawson at Tanana, dur-

ing the summer.

FREIGHT AND PASSENGERS.

E. T. Barnette, Agt.

Fairbanks, Alaska

---

The members of the Arctic Brother

hood at Fairbanks organized recent-

ly, and applied to the grand lodge

for a charter. They have also let

the contract for the first hall for

the order in the Tanana country.

It is to be a fine structure and

is being build on Second Avenue.

Messers. Badger, Hess and Cleary com-

prise the committee in charge of

the work.

---

THE PIONEER SALOON.

W h i s k e y a n d C i g a r s

First Ave. Dave Petree, Prop.

---

THE FAIRBANKS BAKERY.

Bread, Pies and Cake.

First Ave. Clark & Kiemberg.

---

The contract for building the U.

S. jail was let to Laughery, the

contractor, who now has it well under

way. It is situated at the corner

of Cushman street and Third Avenue.

---

THE CITY LAUNDRY

Good work guaranteed.

Fairbanks, Harry & Satau

THE “MINOOK.”

Good Whisky, Wines and Cigars.

First Ave. Joe Anicich, Prop.

---

THE TELEGRAPH LINE.

The government telegraph line is in

fine working order from Valdez to Eagle

and from Eagle to the outside world

via the Canadian lines. The line

from Eagle to Nome, via the Tanana

is completed with the exception of

about thirty miles, and this gap

will be finished within sixty days.

This will place the Yukon and Tanana

valley in instant communication with

the States. NOW FOR THE RAILROAD.

---

WOODWARD THE STENOGAPHER.

First Avenue. Fairbanks.

---

SCOTT, BENNETT & DUNBAR.

Freighters to the Mines.

Fairbanks, Alaska.

---

O’CONNOR & SONS

F R E I G H T E R S .

Fairbanks, Alaska.

---

An order has been signed by

Judge Wickersham fixing July 26^th at

Rampart as the time and place for

hearing the petition for the incir-

poration of Fairbanks.

---

COPELAND & NOYES

H O T E L

Good Rooms. Bunks.

Free Bus to and from all Steamers.

---

GENTS FURNISHING GOODS.

A T B A R N E T T E ’ S S T O R E .

Fairbanks. J. Wada.

Original

“The Fairbanks Miner”.

May 1903.

---

Written by James Wickersham

+ typed by Geo. Jeffery.

at Fairbanks, in May 1903.

+ sold by Jeffery Stearns

for $5.00 per copy the

proceeds used to buy

grub for the Mt. McKinley

trip of May-July 1903.

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