VOLUME NO. 2
The Nenana News
NENANA, ALASKA SATURDAY. JANUARY 12. 1918. WHOLE NUMBER 67
CLUB SENDS WISE !
URGING NEW HOAD
The Broad Pass wagon road ques
tion was the chief subject discussed
by the Xenana Commercial club, at
its meeting held last Sunday, the
discussion resulting in the appoint
ment of a committee consisting of
german Anderson, Carl Schmidt and
Townsite Manager Ryus, to com
municate with Commissioner Thos.
Riggs, Jr. for the puropse of secur
*
I
*
ing his co-operation.
Mayor Ryus informed the club
that he had taken the matter up with
Commissioner Mears, upon his ar
rival at Anchorage, and was assured
by the major that the project would
receive the support of the commis
sion on the coast end of the rail
road, providing sufficient funds were
available for the work. Such a road
as is proposed, Mr. Ryus pointed
out, would be necessary to carry on
the railroad building between Lig
nite and Indian river, and he ex
presed the belief that Mr. Riggs
would heartily approve the plan to
construct the road immediately if
the necessary funds can be obtained.
Stephen Foster appeared before
the club with the request that sup
port be given to his plan for releas
ing Alaskan game for consumption
throughout the year. He proposed
the licensing of hunters, each one
taking out a license to give a bond
as a guarantee against the killing
of female animals and the waste
of meat.
Mr. Foster informed the club that
he was going to Fairbanks to take
the matter up with the the commer
cial club of the upper town and while
there he expected to have a bill
drafted, covering his suggestions.
He said that he would send a copy
of the bill to the local club, and
action was deferred pending the re
ceipt of the copy. Later it was de
cided to refer the game question to
r- the council of defense.
The club also referred the eight
hour question to the council of de
fense, the matter having been
brought to the attention of the club
by the Anchorage Chamber of Com
merce, which recently took action
urging the governor to suspend the
law.
E. J. Hutmacher told the club of
the organization of a company which
purposed to engage in the brick
making business and requested that
the members give their moral sup
port to the enterprise. Later on, he
said, the stock of the company would
be ofered for sale.
Mr. Hutmacher said that a large
body of high grade clay had been
found close to the railroad, about
three miles south of Xenana and he
produced partially burned samples
of brick, to show the possibilities of
fuch an industry. , The company will
e known as the Xenana Clay Pro
ducts company.
Woodbury Abbey and Dr. J. R.
^ Bowen were admitted to membership
in the club.
nother meeting of the club will
be .eld tomorrow afternoon, at the
office of the United States Commis
sioner Robert E. Burns, commencing
at three o'clock.
GOVERNMENT WILL BUILD
BIG POWDER PLANT SOON
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Jan. 12.—
Announcement has been made of
the intention of the government to
erect a big powder plant immedi
ately. The plant will cost sixty mil
lion dollars and will give employ
ment to fifteen thousand. The site
selected by the war department is
at Nashville.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR
* TO REPLY TO TERMS
LONDON, Jan. 12.—Advices re
ceived from Berlin state that Chan
cellor von Hertling will address the
reichstag on Monday making reply
to the peace term announcements
* ^knade by Premier David Lloyd
George and President Wilson.
DESTROYER HITS ROCKS
The British destroyer Raccoon is
ported to have foundered as the
result of encountering a reef. De
tails of the disaster are not known.
BAKER SAYS NATION
HAS RIGHT TO KNOW
WASHINGTON', D. C., Jan. 12.—
Continuing his testimony today, be- \
fore the senate investigating com
mittee, Secretary of War Baker said, I
in reply to the charge that he had j
lulled the country into a feeling of
security when actual conditions did ;
not warant such a feeling, that
he believed the country was entitled
to feel secure. “When the facts are
known,” h continued, “the country
will feel secure.”
Baker admitted to the committee
that a shortage of ordnance and
equipment existed at the present
time, but declared that it did not
affect the strength of the American
troops and would not aelay active
participation in the war. He said
further that training camp condi
tions are ideal and that complaints
of slow pay and failure to provide
for the families of soldiers were, in
most cases, without foundation. He
admitted a shortage of motor trucks
but explained that the production has
! been speeded up and that many will
be ready for delivery soon.
MILITARY TRAINING URGED
TO HASTEN PREPARATIONS
WASHINGTON. D. C., Jan. 12.—
| Universal military training will be
; urged on congress immediately as
a vital step in speeding up the war
program. Senator Chamberlain and
Representative Kahn will lead the
fight.
PLANTS ARE NEEDED
FOR ARMY SUPPLIES
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 12.—
The National Council of Defense
has requested manufacturers en
gaged in making auto covers and
corsets, to use their plants for the
manufacture of powder bags. This
J is the first step in a general move
ment contemplated to divert indus
I trial plants to war work.
—
COAL SHORTAGE DELAYS
MAKING OF MUNITIONS
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 12.—
Fuel Administer Garfield says that
the shortage of coal may make it
necessary to limit the amounts used
by munition plants in this country.
He predicts extreme conditions dur
ing the next sixty days .and warns
Americans to save every lump of
coal they can.
RUSSIANS ARE DEFIANT;
RESENT GERMAN TERMS
PETROGRAD, Jar,. 12.—Upon his
arrival here today from Brest Lit
ovsk, Trotsky declared that Russia
would not submit to a peace devised
by the German imperialists. He said
that the Russians would fight to the
bitter tr.d and rely upon the great
plain people of the Central powers
to rise up and aid in bringing about
international peace.
SHORTAGE OF COAL
SEVERE ON STORES
CHICAGO, Jan. 12.—All of the
big department stores in this city
were forced to close at three o’clock
yesterday afternoon as the result of
the fuel shortage here. Unless the
shortage is relieved immediately,
I conditions will reach a critical stage
next week.
CHURCHILL SAYS NEED
OF YANKEE AID VITAL
LONDON, Jan. 12.—In a talk
made before the American Luncheon
club, Minister of Munitions Winston
Churchill declared last night that
America must send more troops to
France quickly and in as lai^re num
bers as possible. He said that he
did not question the ultimate result
of the war, but expressed the belief
that the coming year would be the
j hardest of the war.
RUSSIANS GET READY
TO RESUME STRUGGLE
LONDON, Jan. 12.—Advices re
ceived from Petrograd this after
noon state that the commander in
chief of the Bolsheviki forces has
issued a call for volunteers, to be
sent against the Germans in case
the negotiations now in progress at
Brest Litovsk fail to bring satisfac
tory peace.
TEUTON TROOPS
ARE REBELLIOUS
LOXDOX, Jan. 12.—The mutiny ’
among German troops on the East
ern front, announced in reports re
ceived from Ko%-no several days
ago, is now spreading to the Austro
Hungarian forces, according to ad
vices received today. German de
serters who have crossed the Rus
sian lines, are quoted as saying that
| Austrian troops holding the line in
the Tarno sector. In Galicia, have
mutinied and that fighting is now
in progress between the mutineers
and loyal divisions of the Austrian
army. Many of both sides are re
ported to have been killed as the
result of the clash.
The 25,000 German mutineers in
the Kovno sector, have taken pos
session of the city of Kovno and are
defending it against the vigorous
attack launched by loyal troops, in
cluding German heavy artillery.
PRESIDENT IS OPPOSED
TO MUNITIONS OFFICER
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 12.—
! Despite the fact that the proposal
to create a department of munitions,
headed by a new cabinet officer,
j is strongly favored by the senate
military committee, it was made
known today that President Wilson
! is opposed to the plan. He expresses
; confidence in the ability of Secre
tary Baker to handle the munitions
The indications are that the bill will
not get far in the house.
VON T1RPITZ TALKS
LONDON, Jan. 12.—A dispatch
received from Amsterdam today says ,
that von Tirpitz is of the opinion
that while Germany must retain the
Belgian coast, the annexation of Bel
gium by Germany is not necessary.
He says that a solution of the prob
10 CONSERVE F000
A food savin" campaign has been
inaugurated in Xenana, the purpose
of which is to economize in the use
of certain articles of food in order
that the burden of supplying Alaskans
with provisions may rest more lightly
upon the nation. The campaign was
started by the Food Saving com
mittee of the local Council of De
fense, the first step being the dis
tribution of placards requesting
Xenanaites to cook potatoes with
their “jackets” on.
This committee also has decided
that the best interests of the com
munity demand economy in the use
of sugar and butter, and housewives,
restaurant owners and those in
charge of Commission messhouses
are urged to observe rigidly the but
terless and sugarless meals which
have been suggested. Pledges are
now being circulated, the signers
of which promise “neither to serve
nor eat butter between the hours
of 11 a. m. and 3 p. m. on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday of each
week.” They promise also “neither
to serve nor to eat sugar between
the hours of 11 a. m. and 3 p. m.
on Tuesday, Thursday and Satur
day.” The signers further pledge
themselves to cook potatoes before
peeling.
The Alaskan Engineering commis
! sion has taken the initiative and will
observe the sugarless and butterless
hours hereafter at all mess houses
in this division. Potatoes also will
be cooked with their “jackets” on.
Pledges are to be circulated among
the restaurant owners of the town
and the matter of appealing to house
wives for co-operation has been
placed in the hands of the Friendly
society, through Mrs. F. S. Ryus,
president of the organization.
t The Food Saving committee, in ad
dition to deciding upon the above
mentioned curtailment of food con
sumption, sent a telegram to Judge
Gunnison, of Juneau, who represents
the food administration in Alaska,
requesting that the game law, as
applied to male animals, be sus
pended until the end of March. Sim
ilar action, it is understood, has al
ready been taken by the Fairbanks
council.
The food economies suggested by
the committee will be followed, from
time to time, by other suggestions
along similar lines, and it is urged
by the members that the people of
Xenana give their earnest support
to the movement.
I
MJSTRIAN RESERVISTS
WORKING FOR PACKERS
OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 12.—It is
shown by questionnaires that ten per
cent of the men employed in the
packing house district are Austrian,
reservists, many of whom have op
portunities to tamper with the sup
plies which are being prepared for
the American soldiers in France.
SCHOOL BOYS PERISH
MUSKOGEE, Jan. 11.—The dor
mitory of the Dwight training school
was destroyed by fire at an early
hour this morning, resulting in the
death of thirteen Indian boys, who
were attending the school.
Washington.—Secretary McAdoo
has designated next week as Nation
al Freight Clearance week, when the
aid of governors and city officials
will be asked to help end the car
shortage.
SCHOOL DIRECTORS
REPORT PROGRESS
A very complete report of finan
cial transactions and other data rela
tive to the work of the Nenana
School board for the quarter ending
November 30, 1917, was submitted
to the directors by Clerk Carl
Schmidt at the meeting of the board
held last Sunday evening.
The report shows that the board
held its first regular meeting on
September 25, since which time the
members have been hard at wors
organizing the district, raising funds
through taxation, and formulating
and adopting rules for their organi
zation, teacher, janitor and children.
The board held eighteen meetings
during the quarter, of an average
length of two hours Tile report
shows further that all the pupils
attending school submitred to a rigid
medical examination, short'/ after
the commencement ox school. A
census of children in t.ie town show s
that theie will be a class of thirty
more pupils for th? term of 1913
191?
School opened November 5, 1917.
and there was an average attend
ance during that month of 28 pupils
1 daily, divided into six classes.
The financial report follows:
Expenditures for Quarter Ending
Nov. 30, 1917.
! Helen Kobe, salary as teach
er for Nov.$175.00
jj. N. Gilcrease, janitor, Nov.
salary . . 125 00
Light for Nov. 4.25
Cyriele Verhaghe, 5 cords
wood . 35.00
j Hans Hagan, scavenger ser
vice . 8.00
Joe Johnson, sawing 26 cords
wood . 52.00
Norman Campbell, 20 cords
wood . ! 10.00
Fowler & Morris, mdse. 30.50
Cooney & Cooney, mdse. 1.00
j Thompson & Gagnon, mdse 1.00
1 Supplies for clerk, telegrams 5.80
Supplies for clerkf $175.00 eof. ..
Nenana News, asst, paper . . 11.75
Tanana Sheet Metal Works,
mdse. 1.05
Alaskan Engineering com
mission, rubber stamp. 1.00
W. A. Coghill, mdse. 2.50
| A. J. Ghezzi, mdse.. 3.00
i Paul Lescure, mdse. 6.00
In. C. Co., mdse. 22.50
N. C. Co., mdse.. 9.25
R. E. Burns, insu-ance- ••. 300.00
One American Flag. 19.75
Total .$954.35
ARMY BANKERS KILLED;
BANK ROLL IS STOLEN
CAMP FUNSTON, Jan. 12.—'The j
country is being: scoured for the men
who last night murdered four army
policemen and seriously wounded a
fifth during a raid on the army bank
on the reservation. The men were
killed with axes, after which the
robbers proceeded to loot the bank.
The amount stolen has not been
made public, beyond the fact that
the swag included several liberty
bonds.
The injured man declares that one
of the robbers wore a captain’s uni
form and that he was recognized.
This story is doubted, however. One
■
of the murdered soldiers was |
Fuller Winters, vice-president of the
National Reserve bank, of Kansas
City.
MIDDLE WEST STORM
REAPS BIG HARVEST
—
CHICAGO, Jan. 12.—One of the'
most severe blizzards in the history j
of the Middle West has isolated this
city from rail communication with '
the outside world. There is two feet!
of snow- on the level, with drifts
piled mountain high on many of the j
streets. Intense cold also prevails,
the temperature having dropped to
fourteen below zero last night. The
storm extends to the gulf region.
MONTGOMERY, Ala., Jan. 12.—
The town of Coworth, this state, was
destroyed yesterday by a tornado.
Seven persons were killed outright
and a score seriously injured.
MEARS RETIRES
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 12.—
Major Frederick Mears. member of
the Alaskan Engineering commission
since the commencement of work on
the government enterprise, has been
relieved from furthr service in the
North, at his own request. He is
retiring from the commission in
order that he may accept a comims
sion as colonel of the Railroad En
gineering regiment, which is now or
ganizing for service in France.
William Gerig has been appointed
to take charge of the railroad work
in Anchorage division, in place of
Major Mears.
GERMANS SAY U BOATS
HELP KAISER’S TROOPS
-—
1 -O\DO\, Jar'.. 12.—German news
papers declare that inasmuch as sub
marines have proven the principal
factor in the war, great preparations
are being made to expand the cam
paign. It is understood that larger
boats are to be used, craft with a
much wider cruising radius than any
thus far launched.
OIL BARON OBJECTS
TO FEDERAL ACTION
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 12.—
J. A. Phelan, an Oklahoma oil pro
ducer ,is vigorously opposing the
action of the government in placing
the oil industry under federal con
trol. He declares that the apopint
ment of an oil administrator has
paralyzed the business and that a
continuation of the policy can re
sult only in disaster.
SENTIMENT DOES IT.
SEATTLE, Jan. 12.—The German
Press ,the only German newspaper
here, will suspend publication this
month, as the result of growing anti
German sentiment in this city.
STEEL MOVES FORWARD
AS WEATHER MODERATES
Considerable work was accomplish
ed by the Alaskan Engineering con
struction gang during the week, the
more moderate weather having en
abled the men to push forward to
the trestle, two miles and one-half
north of Twenty-Mile. The work
of driving the trestle was completed
a couple of days ago and the struc
ture is now decked, ready for steel.
Beyond the trestle, the grade is
glaciered to some extent, but it is
believed that no serious delay in
extending the track will result in
consequence. The main require
ment at present is favorable weather,
low temperature doing more to re
tard the work than any other handi
cap.
CITIZENS ORGANIZE
DEFENSE COUNCIL
Fully aroused to the necessity of
conserving the food supplies of the
territory, and those of the nation,
the citizens of Nenana have launch
ed an economy campaign, along lines
suggested by the Territorial Council
of Defense, and similar to action
already taken by many Alaskan
towns.
In response to a call issued by the
local members of the council of de
tense, a large number of residents
of the town met on Wednesday eve
ning, at the office of Howard P.
Curtis, general storekeeper of the
Alaskan Engineering commission,
and perfected a permanent organi
zation, to be known as X'enana
Chapter, Council of Defense of the
territory. Geo. W. Pennington was
chosen president of the chapter, Wm.
L. Packer, vice president and R. R.
Douse, secretary. The members of
the defense council appointed by
Governor Strong, will serve as
the executive committee, together
with the other officers of the chap
ter. They are Commissioner Robert
E. Burns. Howard P. Curtis, Thos.
Riggs, Jr., Ben Simson and R. G.
South worth.
President Pennington explained
the purpose of the meeting and in
vited discussion relative to such ac
tion as might be deemed necessary
to conserve the food supply of the
territory and of the nation. By
way of introduction, he read a re
port on the subject of food conser
vation, which had been submitted
to the Xenana Commercial club by
a committee of that organization.
The matter of securing the sus
pension of the territorial game law
during the period of the war, for
the purpose of enabling Alaskans
to draw less heavily upon the food
supplies of the States, was discussed
at length by the members, resulting
finally in the appointment of R. G.
Southworth, R. C. Morris, H. B.
Joseph, Woodbury Abbey and W. L.
Packer as a committee to act on the
matter, it being the sense of the
meeting that action be taken im
mediately to release the game for
local consumption. This committee
I was also instructed to obtarn food
1 saving pledges from restaurant own
: ers, the management of the Com
mission messes and X'enana house
wives. Particular reference was
made to the importance of cooking
! potatoes with their jackets on, it
I being pointed out that a saving of
| seventeen per cent is possible
through the simple process of boil
ing spuds before peeling.
The eight-hour day was taken up
for discussion, but definite action
was deferred until the matter could
be considered by the X'enana Labor
■union. That organization probably
will take up the question at its
regular meeting tonight.
An organization committee, con
sisting of William Casey, M. J.
Cooney, Harry Davis, Jack Ronan,
J. D. O’X’eill, Woodbury Abbey, W.
L. Packer and W. J. Hubbach was
appointed to solicit members, every
■ loyal citizen being invited to affili
ate with the organization.
Mr. Curtis suggested that every
member of the council consider him
self a committee of one to dis
courage seditious utterances and to
report such cases to the federal
authorities. He pointed out that
the chief function of the council of
defense is to co-operate in every
way possible with the government,
the work of weeding out the dis
loyal being fully as important, in
his opinion, as the conservation of
j food supplies.
The next meeting of the chapter
will be held next Thursday night,
at which time the various commit
tees will submit their reports.
FIRST BOAT FINISHED;
HAS BIG CARGO OF FLOUR
SEATTLE, Jan. 12.—The first
vessel constructed for the govern
ment by local shipyards, has been
completed and is now loading flour
for the Allies. The vessel will start
on the voyage to France tomorrow
night. The master of the new ves
sel was presented today with a large
American flag, the gift of the citi
zens of Seattle.