•NENANA ENTERTAINS
RAILROAD VISITORS;
• PLANS MADE KNOWN
(Continued from Page One)
of the failure of Congress thus far
to appropriate money needed to car
ry the work to completion. “We
> are now waiting on the $17,000,000
appropriation bill now pending be
fore the lawmakers, and which we
expect to have passed during the
coming winter.”
^ Questioned as to his policy re
garding construction — whether he
■would favor continuing the work
from both ends, as has been done
heretofore, or confining construction
activities to the coast end, working
%
toward the Interior, Colonel Mears
said that he could not answer the
question, for the reason that he had
not yet conferred with Mr. Browne.
Several things would have to be
taken into consideration, he ex
plained, before definite plans could
be outlined.
He did commit himself, however,
on the proposition of extending the
track Toward the south, so as to
make possible the development of
promising coal ledges several miles
beyond the present end of steel,
south of Nenana. He said it would
be the policy of the commission to
do everything possible to help de
■velop the country, and if an ex
tension of track toward the south
should be found necessary to insure
an adequate fuel supply for In
terior Alaska during the coming win
ter, he would give his endorsement
to the plan.
It was pointed out that, in the
past, it had been the practice of the
commission to exceed the annual ap
propriation, always with the assur
ance that Congress would provide
additional funds to carry on the
work the following year. That was
a safe enough practice, said the
chairman, so long as the commis
sion did not exceed the $35,000,000
^ limit. But now that the full amount
has been appropriated, it will not
be possible for the commission to
overstep the mark. Obligations may
no: be incurred for a single penny
beyond the limited fixed by the
original railroad bill, unless provi
* sion for the completion of the road
should be made before the present
funis are exhausted.
Colonel Mears said that he had
come to Xenana to check up on the
work so as to make sure that ex
penditures and obligations are kept
within bounds.
i
Regarding the progress of coal
mining in the Matanuska field. Col
onel Mears said that he had found
the outlook much more encouraging
upon his return to Alaska than
when he left Anchorage to loin the
army. The Eska mine, which is
■4 being developed for the commission
under the direction of Sumner S.
Smith, is showing up better now.
with a large body of coal blocked
out and indications that considerable
more will be encountered.
The chairman evidenced much in
i, terest in local fuel needs and ap
peared disposed to assist in hasten
ing development of coal ledges in
the lignite field, intimating that
when the coal fields and Fairbanks
had been joined by rail, the com
mission would have removed one
of the chief obstacles in the way of
Interior development.
Here to See Things.
John W. Hallo” ell, assistant sec
retary of the interior, who is in
Alaska as the special representa
tive of Secretary Lane, was the
next speaker. He said that Colonel
Mears had returned to Alaska as
chairman of the commission for
the purpose of completing the rail
road, and he believed that his ex
perience in France, at the head of
the American war railroads, would
be of much value to him and to
Alaska. Reference was made to
j two medals bestowed upon Colonel
Hears for meritorious service over
seas, and it was pointed out that
the foundation for the success in
France was laid here in Alaska,
while Colonel Hears was a member
iof the Alaskan Engineering com
mission, under Colonel Edes.
Referring to the third member of
jthe party. Hr. Hallowell said that
Alfred Brooks loved Alaska and
Alaskans loved him. He had found
that out since the party had started
on the long journey to the Xorth
j land.
He spoke in glowing terms of
, Secretary Lane and lamented the
fact that the secretary had been
.born in Canada instead of in the
; United States. Otherwise, he said,
he might be a candidate for the
presidency at the next election, and
a most acceptable and worthy one.
i The secretary. Hr. Hallowell con
tinued. preaches Americanism and
faith and team work. He wants
team work in Alaska, and it was
:for that reason that he had pre
vailed upon the speaker to make
j the trip North, to see the country
;over which the interior department
has much jurisdiction, and to learn
first-hand the aids most needed to
put the territory on a permanent,
prosperous footing.
Hr. Hallowell said that it was
impossible for one at the national
capital to realize conditions in Alas
ka. He had been inspired by what
he had seen, and was glad to be
identified with the solution of the
many problems confronting the
North.
He spoke in terms of enthusiasm
of the proposal, put forward by
President McDonald, to organize a
central chamber of commerce, rep- ‘
resentative of the various sections
of the territory. It is a good idea. I
he said, and ought to be good for
all kinds of development plans. And’
he expressed the hope that N'enana
would push the idea so as to insure
adequate backing for all undertak
ings in the future.
Secretary Lane, he said, had
,asked him to express his regret at
ir.ot being able to visit the terri
|torv. The speaker promised, how
jever, to do the best he could for
Alaska upon his return to Washing
ton. He would try to make the
United States appreciate all that
Alaska has done, in the way
contributing to the nation’s wealtn
and to the various war funds.
The war helped Alaska tremend
ously, he said, in tne way of gi-dng
the territory desirable publicity, but
he admitted that he had encoun
tered many with slight knowledge
regarding the country. The ignor
ance. he said, is almost supreme.
It was pointed out by Mr. Hallo
well that the territory, which had
cost the United States about two
cents an acre in 1867, had pro
duced since that time over a billion
and a quarter, ninety millions hav
ing been added to the wealth of
the nation during the past year.
Mr. Hallowell said that he had
; brought a message of greeting from
Governor Riggs to the people of
■ Interior Alaska. The governor met
;the party at Juneau and accom
panied them as far as Anchorage.
jHe wanted to come over the trail,
j but the death of Surveyor-General
Davidson had left matters in a con
fused state at Juneau and he could
not absent himself from the capital
longer.
The hospitality of Alaskans, the
speaker said, had impressed him
deeply, particularly the open hand
of welcome which he had found out
stretched to him since reaching the
Interior. He said he wanted to be
friends with the people, to help
them, and he expressed the hope
that those present at the smoker and
I elsewhere in the country would feel
(free to make known their troubles.
Iso that he might know how best
jco assist them. In this connection,
'he said they had found the people
| of Seward readv to speak of a
number of reforms desired by them.
‘"Dr.” Alfred Brook*.
When the presiding officer at
tempted to introduce the next speak
er as “Colonel" Brooks, that old
: sourdough objected strenuously. He
said that he had left his war title
behind him when he had discarded
:his uniform, after returning to the
United States from Europe. And
I besides, he explained, he preferred
'the title of “Dr.," bestowed upon
ihim during his first voyage up the
; Tanana river, and rightfully, too,
he averred, because of the fact
that he was the first pacticing phy
jsician to visit Interior Alaska. By
way of explanation, he said that
, he had come to Alaska in the early
; days, like the thousands of stam
ped ers who rushed to Dawson,
; equipped with one of those little
■"medicine boxes" which the Out
iside salesmen insisted upon attach
iing to every outfit sold to gold
seekes. If was of no use until
, the geologist reached the Tanana
valley, where he found the natives
much in need of medicine. And
he proceeded to treat them as best
he could with his available and
assorted supply of medicines, there
by winning the title of “Dr.,” which
has clung to him throughout all the
years he has spent in the Nort.n.
He spoke of the growth of N'e
nana since his first visit to the
town. Then, as now, he recalled,
he was greeted and entertained by
the commercial club, but in the 21
years that have intervened, the cem
plexion of the members has changed
somewhat, and the manner of en
tertainment.
Dr. Brooks spoke in terms of
confidence of the return of Colonel
Hears to Alaska, and of his ability
to complete the project in the
shortest time possible.
He said that he had formulated
no plans for the future, beyond
spending as much of his time a;
possible in Alaska, and he hoped
soon to see the Government rail
road hauling checnacoes over Broad
Pass in large numbers.
Relief ii Asked.
Walter Scott was the next speak
er. having been requested by the
taxpayers of the town to bring to
the attention of the visitors cer
tain matters pertaining to townsite
affairs. The question was presentee!
in a forceful, concise manner, and
at the conclusion of the meeting
both Colonel Mears and Mr. Hallo
well gave the assurance that they
would give the matters complained
of their careful consideration.
R. G. Southworth. of The News,
urged the early completion of the
railroad to the coast as the only
adequate means of relieving existing
! conditions in Interior Alaska. Tap
ping the coal fields, he pointed out,
would not cut transportation costs
j between Interior points and the
! coast, the great burden under which
jAlaskans have long struggled.
Attention also was called to the
j need of a central power plant as a
; means of cutting mining costs
through the introduction of cheap
power.
In conclusion, Mr. Southworth
asked Colonel Mears to make clear
his position as regards future con
struction—to state whether he fa
vored concentrating activities on the
coast end or continuing construc
tion from both ends as has been
done in the past
The reply of the chairman, made
when he addressed the gathering a
second time, appears as part of his
remarks, outlined above.
Robert E. Burns explained to the
visitors his plans for the develop
ment of a large body of coal beyond
the present mine, at the end of
steel, and called attention to the
fact that development will be im
possible until the raiload is extend
ed south a distance of several miles.
The present mine, he said, would
not meet the fuel requirements of
the Interior country, and he and his
| associates hoped to be able to open
, up a new mine which will produce
coal in greater quantity and of bet
ter quality.
! Robert Joseph Diven was next on
the list, and, as usual, created a
very favorable impression with his
remarks. He said he was glad the
! visitors had come to Alaska, and
felt sure they had been impressed
by the problems confronting the In
terior country—how to get fuel and
how to distribute it, and overcome
the many other handicaps under
■which the territory is laboring at
present.
The big needs of the country, he
pointed out. include education and
homes, and he expressed the hope
that the time would soon arrive
when the territory would be in a
position to invite settlers and to
offer them something substantial for
coming.
i Attention was called to the fact
that Nenana has one of the best
schools in the territory, and the
only self-supporting Anglican church
in the North.
i President McDonald called atten
tion to the great need of roads
throughout the country, feeders for
the railroad, and good wagon roads
; to tap districts now without ade
quate means of transportation. He
cited several instances of road build
ing in the Interior to show the value
i of such work as a means of re
ducing the cost of mining opera
tions.
j Attention also was called to the
fact that Alaska’s principal crop—
gold, with a fixed value—has been
hard hit by the high cost of pro
visions and mining supplies of all
kinds. The cost of production, he
pointed out, is now almost prohib
1 itive. even in the more favored
localities, and he suggested that the
only relief, substantial relief, lay
in a revision of the gold standard
or the granting of a bonus to gold
miners.
The Entertainment.
I The guests of the club were as
sembled about tables, occupying the
greater part of the floor space, and
profusely decorated with potied
plants and flowers of all kinds.
Liquid refreshments and smokes
were supplied in generous fashion
throughout the evening, augmented
; toward the end of the smoker with
sandwiches and coffee. There was
music between talks. Prof. Berggren
entertaining with a number of vio
lin sclos. A special attraction also
was introduced. Mrs. Leon Kellum
rendering two vocal selections,
which were greatly enjoyed. She
was accompanied by Miss Lucille
Diven and Prof. Berggren.
After the session had been ad
ijourr.ed, the visitors remained in
| the nail for some time, meeting
jNenanaites and discussing things in
j formally.
Leave for Fairbanks.
Colonel Mears and his traveling
I companions left for Fairbanks this
j morning, by way of the railroad,
i They were taken to the end of
| steel by train, where a wagon await
!ed them to take them to the end
l of steel on the Fairbanks end. They
'expect to reach the upper town
! tonight.
After a brief stay there. Mr.
Hallowell and Dr. Brooks will re
turn to the coast by way of the
Richardson trail, and Colonel Mears
will return to N'enana and go back
to Anchorage by way of Broad Pass.
I
New Puritam end Premium Himi
end Bacon. Fowler & Morris.
—
A live advertisement brings bust- ;
ness. A newspaper needs advertis
ers. A town needs a newspaper. I
clean suits, coats, hats—do a good
! business—I adve-tise.
D'ORSAY’S TAILOR SHOP
Third and A Streets.
NOTICE.
Anyone wanting to record ground
or desiring information about the
Kantisha, C. Herbert Wilson, Kao
tishr.a Commissioner, at Dr. J. R.
Bowen's office. k-10
—
OLD PAPERS FOR SALE AT
THE NEWS OFTICE <
»»w->w-w^w«-^»x,-x-x-w<-:-xw->»w»x-xx4: e »»♦
We Strive to Please
EVERYTHING THE BEST
Tavern Cafe and Bakery
WM. RODIGKEIT
Proprietor
x-x-xk-xk~xk-x-x~xk-x-x^^x~x~x-x-x-x-x-x~x-x~x-x-x->
Restaurant Tabs and Tablets at
the News Office.
Birth Announcement Cards at the
News Office.
Electrical Goods
Stoves and Ranges
Water Pipes and
Fittings
Bath Fixtures
Sheet Metal Work of All Kinds
Tanana Sheet Metal Works
*
Trappers and Traders of Alaska
SELL YOUR FURS TO A HOME INDUSTRY. WE GUARANTEE
YOU HIGHER PRICES THAN OUTSIDE
CONCERNS WILL PAY.
During the last season we conducted an advertising campaign
throughout the North and are prepared to send you the names of
people in all sections of Alaska and the Yukon who will verify our
statements.
Our excellent Eastern connections, and the tremendous amount
of mail order business we are receiving from all parts ef the
States for furs made to order enables us to turn our stock quickly
at a reasonable profit, but we must have fur, for which we guar
antee top prices. i
Make us a trial shipment. If our price does not suit you, the
goods will be returned charges prepaid.
WE MAKE FURS TO ORDER
at more reasonable rates than can be obtained Outside. At present
we are working three operators, and need others. If you are an
operator and finisher, and want a good year-around job, com
municate with us.
CHAS. GOLDSTEIN & CO.
JUNEAU, ALASKA
COLISEUM
STRONG SHUBERT FEATURE FOR PROGRAM TONIGHT.
Shubert Film Corporation Preaenta
Mile. Diane
AND
Charles Trowbridge
-IN
George W. Lederer’s Masterpiece.
A SEAFARING STORY OF INTENSE THRILLS
AND ROMANCE
IN FIVE GRIPPING ACTS.
A PICTURE WE CAN SAFELY RECOMMEND.
MUSIC-VIOLIN, PIANO AND DRUMS
ADMISSION 25c RESERVED SEATS 50c
SHOW STARTS AT EIGHT O’CLOCK.
*