The Nenana News
VOLUME I
NENANA. ALASKA, MARCH 17. 1917.
NUMBER 26
ASSESSMENT LEVY
Townsite Manages Ryus
Explains Method Of
Distributing Costs
The first assessment which owners of
Nenana town property have been requir- j
ed to pay since the sale of lots last fall i
was levfed by the townsite management i
several days ago, and is meeting with .
prompt response. The assessment is:
graduated from $2.63, for lots in the 3rd
division, to $10.52, for the more valuable
lots in the 1st or business division. Sec
ond division lots are assessed $5.26.
The object of the assessment is fully
explained in the following circular, is
sued by the townsi e management:
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.
In order that the public may be in
formed as to the nature, purpose and ex
tent of the assessment now being levied
against Nenana townsite, a brief explana
tion is here given.
Tiie present assessment is a charge
for the general supervision and mainten- j
ance of the townsite, and is levied under
the following heads or divisions: 1st--1
Fire Protection; 2nd—Sanitation; 3rd—
Street, Sidewalk and Alley Maintenance.
To supervise the matter of fire protec
tion, sanitation and other matters inci
dent to the management of the town,
there necessarily must be a general over
head expense, such as the keeping of
records, keeping time of employes, ttie
accounting for the various expendi
tures, inspection of buildings as to sani
tation and fire protection, the giving of
graucs IU JUl,UWUCI9, auu iiuuiuuua wui- j
er incidentals. This overhead expense
is apportioned among the three assess
ment divisions given above. Other ex- j
penditures included in this assessment1
are the cost of the townsite office and
furniture, surveying instruments, the
public toilets in use last summer, etc. j
For assessment purposes the townsite j
has been divided into three districts. The
first, or business district, is bounded by
Water, Third, Main and B streets. The
second district is bounded by Water, Ne
nana, Main, Third and Fifth streets. The
third district is bounded by Water, Nena
na, Fifth, I), E and F streets. The ratio
of these districts for the present assess- j
merit have been fixed as follows: First'
district, 4 to 1; Second district, 2 to 1;
Third district, 1 to 1.
Thus it will be seen that the first dis
trict pays twice as much as the second '
district and four times as much as the •
Third, or outlying district, which, for!
the present at least, we consider a fair j
division of the general expense of main-'
taining the townsite.
Since this assessment is for service I
rendered the entire townsite, every lot,
whether sold or unsold, must bear its
proportionate share of this expense. Each
unsold lot will be charged with its pro
portion, and when offered for sale the
bidders will be notified of the amount
due, which the purchaser will be required
to pay iu addition to the amount of his
bid. F. S. Ryus,
Townsite Manager.
CHARTER ENROUTE
FOR MOOSE LODGE
Organizer Zickwolff, of the I,oval Ord
er of Moose, has been advised that the
charter for the lodge which is to be or
ganized inNenana, left Cordova on March
21 and should arrive here shortly after
the first of April. Upon its arrival, the
local organization will be perfected, and
the indications are that it will start off
with a membership of nearly 100, there
being many members of other lodges of
the organization here who intend to j
transfer as soon as it is possible to do so.
Application blanks and other needed sta- ,
tiouerv were received some time ago.
CZAR HELD PRISONER;
MAY BE NEW REPUBLIC
PETROGRAD The Czarevich, thirteen-year-old son of Czar Nicholas, is re
ported to have been assassinated late this afternoon.
NEW YORK Secretary Lane succeeded this afternoon in securing a 48-hour
postponement of the railroad strike, originally called for this afternoon.
PETROGRAD:—The Republic of Russia is in the making. The abdication of Czar Nicholas was
followed swiftly by the retirement of Grand Duke Michael as regent, who has issued a statement in
which he declares that he will serve only on condition that he is elected by the people. This is regarded
as making it almost certain that a republic will be established. The Duma has gone on record as favor
ing the abolition of all religious ann political restrictions, full political amnesty, inclueing the freeing of
all Siberian prisoners, absolute freedom of speech for the press, and the holding of general elections in
the near future, based on universal suffrage and the convention of a constitutional assembly.
WILL RECOGNIZE NFW RUSSIA.
WASHINGTON: It is practically assured that recognition will be given the new Russian government
whatever form it may take.
FAVORABLE TO ALLIES.
BERLIN: The press of Germany admits that the new Russian government will be more opposed to
Germany and her allies than the Russia which was dominated by Czar Nicholas and his German wife.
GERMANS TO HAVE SAY
LONDON: A political reorganization of the German empire after the war, involving a greater share
by the people in the conduct of imperial affairs is predicted by von Bethmann-Hollweg, according to dis-j
patches received in this city. The prediction was made during an address delivered before the Prussian
diet.
CZAR IS A PRISONER
STOCKHOLM: Czar Nicholas is a prisoner in the hands of the Russian revolutionists. He is con
fined in Tauride palace. Prince Golitzin is reported to have committed suicide while confined in prison.
The czar signed a formal abdication on Thursday, at the same time on behalf of himself and the heir
apparent, and transferred supreme command of the army to Grand Duke Nichofas. The grand duke
claims that the Czar abdicated at his suggestion.
BASEBALL BENEFIT
SHOW WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday evening, March 21, at
8 o’clock, at the Coliseum theater Mr.
Thos. Riggs, Jr., member of the Alaskan
Engineering commission, will show mov
ing pictures and slides covering Alaska
from the Pacific to the Arctic oceans, and
will deliver a very interesting descriptive
lecture as the pictures are shown. The
motion pictures will include scenes on |
the White Pass & Yukon route, the Cop-1
per River & Northwestern railway, Ram- ]
part House Indians, pack trains, the
“Midnight Sun” on the Porcupine river,
the first pictures ever taken of wild while
sheep, a bath iu the Arctic ocean, setting
the final point on the international boun
dary at the Arctic ocean, and the sale of
lots at Nenana. The proceeds of the en
tertainment will be devoted to the Nena
na Athletic club for the purchase of base
ball uniforms and paraplienalia for the
coming season. Admission will be 50
cents for the lower floor, and $1.00 fori
box and balcony seats. For reservations
apply to Mr. R. E. Burns.
MRS. DUKE PLANS
NEW STORE BUILDING
Plans are now being prepared for a
two-story frame building which is to be
constructed on the Duke property at the
corner of Frst and Market streets. The
ground floor of the building will be oc
cupied by the Duke store and the second
story will be fitted up as living quarters
lor Mrs. Duke.
The new building will be erected just
as soon as the necessary lumber can be
secured and weather conditions will per
mit, it being the desire of Mrs. Duke to
remove from her present location on the
waterfront as soon as possible.
FAIRBANKS NOTES
Mose Dunn, while enroute to Fairbanks
from Rapids, was stricken with paralysis
and is now in a serious condition at St.
Joseph’s hospital.
First class mail arrived from the coast
on Thursday. The stage also brought
four passengers, Louis Golden. Georg*
Lewis, Dr. Moore, prominent physician
who is enroute to Nenana, and Mary
Krokert, a Belgian girl who is direct
from her native land. She is a sister of
Mrs. Leyn.
The Daughters of Erin will celebrate
St. Patrick's day with a grand ball on
Saturday night.
Leo Rogge, Cleary creek operator, has
returned from Seattle, where he under
went an operation recently.
The tlirice-a-week mail service between
Fairbanks and Cliitiua will end on March
20. During the remainder of the season
there will be but two mail stages a week.
Rev. Marple, new Presbyterian minis
ter who is to take the place of Rev.
Bruce, arrived during the week and will
occupy the pulpit on Sunday. He was
accompanied by his wife.
The following were registered at the
Coonev house during the week: C. A.
Davidson, Woodchopper; Clay Hiser, H.
Eckstrom, Yanert Fork; D. E. Dunbar,
Seattle: C. H. Calhoun, Billy Hartwig.
Chas. Swanson, Chena; S. H. Millwee,
Ed Fawcett, J.H. Burnett, L. Forebloom.
J. Eschelman, Bob Touissant, Andrew
Thorson, Fairbanks; Carl Schmitts, Oli
ver Lee, Archie Johnson, Joe Johnson,
Andrew Anderson, Wood River; R. H.
Knight, Ed Poggie, Toklat; Dan Keeler,
Glenn Creek; N. A. Lundstrom, Mrs.
Amy E. Patterson, Oscar G. Oslon, John
Mitchell, Win. Shea, Malamute Kid.Ne
na na.
CALICO DANCE AT
COLISEUM TONIGHT
The Calico dance, which is to he given
at the Coliseum tonite in honor of St.
Patrick's Day, promises to be a very
largely attended affair, and some unus
ual costumes will be in evidence A num
ber of those who will attend have made
considerable preparation and a lot of fun
is in store lor both dancers and spectat
ors.
During the dance a four-reel Triangle
Keystone comedy feature will be thrown
on the screen, the title of the picture l>e
ing “A Modern Enoch Arden,” with Joe
Jackson and Mack Swain in the leading
roles. The picture will be repeated
Monday night.
Admission to the dance tonite will be
$1.50 for gentlemen, ladies free. A charge
of fifty cents will be made for spectators
occupying the balcony.
TERMINAL BUILDING
RAISED THREE FEET
Carpenters have been busy during the
past several days raising the second story
of the Terminal building. Three feet
have been added to the height of of the
building, improving its appearance great
ly and making the second story much
more roomy.
The interior of the upper portion of
the building will be finished immediate
ly, so that as many rooms as possible
will be furnished befoie navigation open«.
The work is being done by Gulliford,
Catchpole & Koon.
CHURCH NOTICE
There will be a church service in the
Marshal’s office on Sunday afternoon at
four o'clock. Evervliodv welcome. This
will be the last service held 'before the
breakup
STEAM SHOVELHERE
Will Be Overhauled And
Started On Work On
Grade Soon
The steam shovel ami narrow gunge
locomotives which were used by the
Alaskan Engineering commission last
fall on the north side of the Tanana, were
brought across the Tanana during the
week, and are now being made, ready for
use on the grade extending south of Ne
nana. Probably during the next few
days temporary track will be laid from
the dock to the end of the grade, approx
imately 1500 feet, and the roadbuilding
equipment will be started on its way to
the coal fields.
As has been already stated in these colj
uuins, construction work will start on a
small scale, owing to the limited funds
available at this time. (Questioned re
garding the emergency appropriation of
£3,000,000, w hich was secured during the
closing hours of congress, Mr, Riggs
stated that he had not yet been advised
by Chairman Rdes how much of the
luoifcy would be allotted to this division.
CALYxliklLL BORING
THIRD TEST HOLE
The Calyx core drill, which is being
used by the Alaskan Engineering com
mission in making test borings on the
foundation sites of the proposed steel
bridge which is to span the Tanana river,
is operating at present in mid-stream,
where the channel is deepest. The re
sults thus far obtained indicate that the
gravel formation which was encountered
on lioth banks of the river extends across
the stream.
williin a lew <iavs me uriu win oe
moved a short distance up-stream, to a
point where there is said to he a rock
reef extending across the channel. The
reet is supposed to lie about opposite the
Duke buildings^}
OFFER OF TROOPS
IS ACKNOWLEDGED
Thos. Riggs, Jr., is in receipt of a 'let
ter from Secretary of the Interior Frank
lin K. Lane, containing an enclosure
from Secretary of War llaker, in which
the latter acknowledges the protler of as
sistance from the North, and expresses
his gratitude to Commissioner Riggs and
the members of the proposed Nenana
Ktigineer company tor the prompt tender
of their services.
Following the meeting which was held
for the purpose of organizing an Kngin
eer company, Mr. Riggs wired Secretary
Lane, proffering the services of the com
pany in the event of war. The wire was
transmitted by the Secretary of the In
terior to the Secretary of War, and the
reply was received through the same
channels.
NEW DOCTOR COMING
FOR HOSPITAL WORK
In anticipation of an increased demand
for medical and surgical attendance at
the local hospital of the Alaskan Kngm
eering commission, authority was grant
ed some time ago for the employment of
an additional physician and surgeon, and
Dr. David II Moore, college friend and
later associate of Dr. M. li. Smith, is
now enroute to Nenana to fill the new
position. He is due here tonight.
Dr. Moore graduated from the medical
department of Columbia university in
1907, tw o years after Dr. Smith had com
pleted his studies at that institution.
The two became acquainted at college,
both obtained their hospital experience
in New York, and afterward were associ
ate* l for some time in the practice oi
their profession.
The family of Dr. Moore, consisting of
wife and young soil, will arrive some
-time later, when a cottage has been pv<^
pared lor their occupancy.