The, Nenana News
VOLUME I
XEXAXA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, AUG. 25, 1!»17
::imiti:k t:>
. Business Men Meet
Railroad Builders
The first anniversary of the
founding of the town of Nomi
na and the presne-e of Chair
man tV. C. Edes, of tlie Alask
im aud the presence of Chair
ami Manager A. Christensen of
the laid and Industrial de
partment of the commission,
* were made the occassion last
evening of a joint celebration,
in which the visitors partici
pated as the guests of the Ne
nana Commercial Club—the
guests of honor at the first real
banquet enjoyed in the town.
There were also present, as
the guests of the club, the
heads of the various depart
ments of the local commission
force, and Various friends of
* the members. The entire atten
dance numbered fifty four.
When all had gathered about
the tables, which were arranged
in the shape of the letter T,
with Chairman Edes, Manager
A. Christensen Commissioner
% Thos. Iiiggs Jr., Townsite Man
ager F. S. Rvus, < Commissioner
Robert E. Burns, Toastmaster
George Pennington and others
seated at the top, Commissioner
Burns briefly outlined the pur
pose of the gathering, remind
ing those present of the won
derful growth of the town in
the year that had elapsed since
the sale of lots, which had been
conducted by Mr. Christensen
* on his earlier visit to the In
terior. lie reviewed the work
of the Commercial Club and
suggested the possibilities of
continued concerted action, at
the same time calling atteu
to certain urgent needs of the
town. He concluded his remarks
by introducing Mr. Pennington
as master of ceremonies for
the evening.
Mr. Pennington, than whom
there is no more able orator
in the Northland, reviewed the
development of the govern
ment enterprise, which origi
nated among the pioneers of
Interior Alaska, and expressed
the hope that the members of
the commissoin would continue
to be liberal in considering the
the immediate needs of the
a Interior country and particu
larly Xenar.a, which he enum
erated for the benefit of t'air
niau Edes and Manager Christ
ensen. These needs include a
bank, a bonded warehouse, and
a school.
When the toastmaster called
■ on Mr. Edes to address the
gathering, the chairman of the
commission remonstrated that
he had been informed that he
was to attend a smoker, with
out speeches. lie said that, be
ing a good smoker, and not
much of talker, he had wel
comed the opportunity to meet
the people of Xenana under
those circumstances. He demon
strated, however, that he could
* talk as well as smoke, and hip
remarks carried with them
the conviction that his heart
is in the work in which he and
the other members of the com
mission are engaged. He said
he did not anticipate any
change in the plans of the com
mission with regard to the
work. Ho long as congress con
tinues to supply the money,
the commission will continue
to build railroad. lie said,
however, that war conditions
might make it more difficult in
the future to obtain funds at
Washington, especially in the
case of a long struggle with
the enemy.
Regarding the work which
he has inspected since his ar
rival here, Mr. Edes said that
he was very well pleased with
the showing made, handicap
ped as the Interior end has
been, by adverse conditions
during the past season.
Mr. Christensen, who was
called upon next, said that he
was pleased to find au ener
getic commercial organization
in a town so young as Nenana.
He expressed the belief that the
club would be a great help in
putting the town on a solid
footing. Without an organiza
tion of that kind, he said, a
town would have difficulty
!in getting anywhere. In speak
ing of the school situation, Mr.
Christensen cautioned Nenana
ties to exercise care in the
selection of a board of trustees
at the approaching election.
Hi* said that tin* government
would present the town with a
modern school house and that
it was up to the people to see
that the affairs of the school
were properly administerd.
Questioned with regard to
a lot sale Mr. Christensen said
| that no effort would be made
I this year to dispose of any
!property at public auction. lie
{said, however, that residence
j lots would be sold, through the
jtownsite office, to those desir
ing them for purpose of home
building.
Responding to the demand
j of the toastmaster for a bank,
j<'ommissioner Riggs suggested
j that it might be a little strong
i to expect the chairman to carry
banks and bonded warehouses
'and school houses around with
{his other luggage. He said,
j however, that the bank <jues
jtion could be partially solved
i be depositing all tin* surplus
(Xenana cash with the commis
sion, whore it would 1m* gladlv
I received in exchange for gov
|eminent warrants. In this man
ner, it would be possible to
j avoid tin* risk and expense of
Ishipping money from Fair
banks during the winter to meet
the commission payroll.
Dr. Malclom E. Smith said
that his experiance among the
{people of Xenana had convinc
ed him that they were deserv
jing of all that they could get
the government to do for them.
He spoke in terms of warmest
praise of the town's high stan
dard of citizenship and ex
pressed the belief that the com
mercial club would play an im
portant part in the future
development of the town.
Townsite Manager F. S. Ry
us gave a brief outline of the
improvements contemplated by
his department and reminded
those present that it would
be his unpleasant duty in the
very near future to collect
from the property owners for
[ improvements already made.
Rev. F. L. Forbes, a veteran
in educational work and a mem
ber of the Xenana school com
i
mittee, spoke briefly on the
.meat importune of providing
the town with a good school
General Storekeeper Howard
P. Curtis reminded the mem
bers of tin* club that outfitting
time would commence within
a few weeks, with the partial
suspension of activities along
tin* grade. He urged that an
effort be made by local mer
chants to keep the outfitting
business at home this fall, in
stead of letting it get away
from them, as it did last fall.
ltev. Robert Joseph Given,
who recently came to Nenana
to take charge of the Presby
terian church work here, said
that he liked the Interior and
the people he had found here
and expressed a desire to as
sist in the upbuilding of the
community. ,
R. C. Morris told a little
story by way of introduction
then asked several pertinent
questions regarding the
status of unsold lots to which
Manager Christensen made re
ply. It was pointed out by M r.
[Morris th.it a number of lots
sold a year ago are being held
for speculation, without im
provements. He believed that
anyone desiring to engage in
j business should be given the
opportunity to acquire proper
ty at a reasonable figure.
Herman Anderson also ex
pressed the belief that some
j action should be taken to pro
tect those seeking investment
in homes or jn business enter
[ prises.
| The geneial Max Smith,
local manager for the Xothern
Commercial company, modestly
informed his fellow townsmen
that he was only a bean ped
dler, but ready to do his bit
at all times to further the in
terests of the town.
The banquet was prepared
[and served by tin* Tavern Cafe
and reflected much credit on
[that establishment. The menu
consisted of a variev of cold
meats, salads, celery, relishes,
coffee, assorted cakes and ice
cream. Near beer and lemonade
were the beverages.
To the People of Xenana:
I desire to express to the*
people of Xenana my apprecia
tion of their cordial reception,
hearty cooperation and kindly
spirit manifested during my
stay in Xenana.
It is a great source of satis
faction to me to know that the
| Hoard of Home Missions have
| picked upon and insisted upon
I my old friend and former as
jsociate, Rev. Robert Joseph
[I)iven, I). I)., as the one person
I able to take up the work and
[carry it on to a succesful issue.
After conference with Dr.
Diven and Dr. Condit, the rep
resentative of the Hoard of
Missions, and learning the fact
that money is in sight to build
a manse, as well as a church,
it was thought best to change
the site of the church property.
We have now secured a site
satisfactory to all and well lo
cated just across from the
school site, and construction
of the buildings will now be
but a question of days.
Most sincerely
F. L. Forbes
Sunday School Missionary.
THE RECEPTION
The reception given hy Mr. I
and Mrs. Ed. Rust on Wednes-:
day even in?' in honor of RevJ
and Mrs. Robert J. I liven, Rev.1
•James H. ('ondit and Rev. F. j
L. Forbes was a largely at
tended affair, more than 150 j
residents of Xenana having j
called to pay their respects to!
the quests of honor.
The ladies assisting Mrs. j
Rust in the reception room j
were Mrs. M. E. Smith, Mrs.
M. J. Cooney, Mrs. llrevig,
and Mrs. Craig Redman. Coffeej
was served by Mrs. ('has. Hall
and Mrs. Alleston and Misses
Jane Anderson and Tliora
Slippern precided over the
light refreshments.
The rooms were tastefully
decorated with Alaskan blos
soms, sweet peas, nastnrtions,
poppies and pansies being
much in evidence.
MORE PASSENGERS
LEFT SEATTLE TODAY
Seattle—The steamship Jef
ferson, sailing for the North
this afternoon, had the follow
ing passengers for Interior
Alaske points: For Fairbanks—
\V. R. Taylor; for Xenana —
Mrs. R. <t. Southwortk and
I daughter Margaret; for Hot
Springs—Mrs. E. 1). llowe; for
Ruby—Lida llreney, Edith La
belle.
CHURCH BUILDING
COMMITTEE 18 NAMED j
The following citizens have;
been secured as a building:
committee to arrange for ami,
direct the erection of the new'
church: Dr. Malcolm E. Smith!
M. J. Cooney, John A. Brevig
and Roobert Joseph Given.
Plans will he ready for con
sideration at an early date. >
—
WOOD RIVER LUMBER
FILLING LOCAL YARD
_
i
A large quantity of lumber
from the Wood River Mill has
arrived in Nenana during the
past week, the steamer Teddy
II. having delivered s everal
barge loads at the local yards,
which were recently leased
from the government for the
purpose of storing the lumber
itere.
Carl Schmidt came down
river a week ago to make the
necessary arrangements and he
announces that several hundred
thousand feet of lumber will
be delivered here before the
freezeup. to meet the require
ments of the local market dur
ing thi‘ fall and winter months.
It is the intention of Mr.
Schmidt to locate permanently
in Nenana, to look after the
business of his company, and
now that it has been deecideilj
to establish a school here, lie
will build a home and bring I
his family here instead of send-1
ing them to Fairbanks for the
winter, as he was compelled
to do last winter in order that
his sons might have the ad
vantages of the schools in the i
upper town. i
Tavern Bakery
The management of the Tavern Cafe
announaes the opening of a modern
bakery, in quarters formerly occu
pied by the cafe. Bread or any
kind of pastry made to order to
fill special requirements. Family
and out-of-town trade solicited.
DUTCH’S PLACE
ARE ON THE WAY
The mail arriving this week
from the Outside brought word
of the shipment from Seattle
of the books which will form
a very important part of the
Neuaua public library, and
within a very short time the
reading matter will be avail
able. The letter containing the
encouraging news came from
bowman & Hanford to Mr. II.
15. Joseph, who is one of the
members of the library board.
The letter, dated August 3, is
as follows, and explains why
the books were delayed: “We
are making shipment of your
library books on the steamship
ITnatella, August 18. We tried
to get it off on the boat leav
ing August first, but the dic
tionary and stand had not ar
rived from Chicago, and some
of the books from New York,
and we did not have the size
of shipment nor weight. How
ever it is all packed and wait
ing at this writing.”
FRENCH SHELLS HIT
GERMAN GAS TANKS
Paris—French air scouts re
port that a number of German
gas tanks were exploded dur
ing the heavy fighting yester
day by shells from the French
batteries. The deadly gas
spread quickly among tin* Ger
mans in the immediate vicinit'’,
causing the death of many
and throwing the troops into
the greatest disorder. The in
cident occurred on the cham
pagne front.
Washington—-The National
Guardsmen of the states of
Washington, Wyoming, Ore
gon, Idaho and Montana "ill
form the third division to {to
to France, where they will
form the Forty-first division
undei' Major-General Liggett.
AILING CONTRACTOR
IS SENT TO STATES
Andrew A loll', a Russian un
til recently in the employ of
the Alaskan Engineering com
mission in the capacity of a
stationman, was a passenger
on the steamer Alaska, hound
for the States in search of
health in a more tropical cli
mate. His trip was made
possible by the financial as
sistance received from his fel
low countrymen and the public
generally, the sum of -*.">-<» Inn
ing been raised by subscrip
tion. The list was circulated
by Hen Henson who desires,
on behalf of the sick man, to
thank the many contributors
for their generous assistance*.
Alotf came to Alaska about
three years ago.
The Fairbanks ball team
will reach Xennna early Sun
day for a special game with
the local players.
Mrs. Johnson, mother of
Louis and Joe Johnson, and
Mrs. (Janssen came down from
Wood River yesterday.
SCHOOL FUNDS
AREJVAMLE
All suspense regarding the
school situation was removed
with the arrival this week of
Manager A. Christensen, of the
Land and Industrial depart
ineent of the Alaskan Kngineer
iug eominission. The tow n had
been assured by Mr. Iiiggs
that the funds would be avail
able for the const ruction of a
school building but it was not,
known how much money could
be had until the requirements
of the town had been pointed
cult to the department manager.
As a result of a conference
| held during the week with
Townsite Manager Ryus, Man
ager Christensen hasannuonced
that the sum of $10,000 can be
jused for school purposes and
a further announcement has
since been made by Mr. Ryus
that a contract will be let im
mediately for clearing the
school reserve. Tin* contract for
|the building also will be award
jed without delay and by tin'
■time the new school board as
jsumes office next month, fol
lowing the election, practically
[everything will be in readiness
j for the commencement of the
school term.
\ The election of the school
board probably will be held at.
the time of organizing a school
district. Such a course, it has
been pointed out, will save
both time and expense. As a
means of further smoothing
the wav of the voter-, it has
been suggested that a public
meeting be held at an t arly
date for the purpose of select
in'’' a ticket, and ties probably
will be done.
The funds allotted to the
town for school purposes are
part of the refunded lot money.
SOLDIERS DEPART;
ol'IET AT HOUSTON
! Houston—The colored sol
diers who went on the warpath
Thursday night, causing the
death of thirteen persons,
left for the .Mexican border to
day, the entire battalion en
training without incident. In
cluded among the departing
j soldiers were thirty-four who
I have been charged with murd
Jer by the district attorney. All
; but three of those implicated
jin the shooting have been ac
counted for. The departure
of the disturbers has lessened
the tension here and no more
l trouble is anticipated.
I WEEKLY FORUE REPORT
There were 766 employees on
the Uommission payroll of the
[Fairbanks division on August
18, classified as follows: ramp
One general, 83; construction
1110; corral, 24; headquarters
store, 60; townsite, 16; lu spi
jtal, 8; Camp Nine, el; Uamp
10, 23; Uamp Eleven. 2.”; Uamp
Thirteen, 11; Camp Fourteen,
34; Uamp Fifteen, 93; Uamp
Sixteen, 70; Uamp Seventeen,
9; Res. One, 3; Res. Two, 0;
Res. Three, 15; Res. Four, 5;
Loation Party One, 9; Fair
banks office, 4; Uamp One Hun
dred Two, 55; Tanana Valley
Railroad, 43. In addition t«
the regular employees there
were on that date 201 station
men and 76 stationmen’s labor
ers. The livestock in use total
ed 207.