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The Nenana News
VOLUME I
NENANA. ALASKA. JANUARY 13. 1917.
NUMBER 17
FIRE PROTECTION
Signals Are Adopted For
Townsite And Com
mission Buildings
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Hereafter, when there is a fire in the
town of Nenana or any of the buildings
of the Alaskan Engineering commission
a general alarm will be sounded by the
big whistle at the electric power house,
followed by one or more blasts, as the
case mav be, according to the district in
which the fire is located. For this pur
pose the railroad reserve and the town
site have been divided into fire districts,
the former comprising three districts and
the latter four.
The fire bell, which was installed by
the townsite management some time ago
near the corner of First and A streets,
will continue to be used as heretofore.
Anyone announcing a fire from that
point, however, is requested to use the
blackboard found there as a means of
directing people to the fire.
The Commission fire engine is now in
stalled at the power plant, and it will be
operated hereafter by a regular engine
brigade, organized among the employes
of the Commission. In case of fire in the
town, the chemical wagon will be brought
to A street, near the fire bell, where the
town people will be expected to lend a
hand in hauling the apparatus the re
maining distance to the fire.
Tue fire signals adopted and the dist
ricts in which the reserve and town are
divded are as follows:
Alarm: At least six short blasts.
RESERVE.
Signal. District No. Boundaries
1 long l Main to Nenana
2nd to Waterfront
2 ” 2 Nenana to Railroad
2nd to Waterfront
3 ” 3 Everything West
of Railroad St.
TOWN
Signal Dist. No. Boundaries.
1 long 1 short 4
1 >' 2 5
1 " 3 *’ 6
1 ” 4 ” 7
Main to B St.
Waterfront to 3rd
Main to B St.
3rd to 8th Sts.
B to F Sts.
3rd to 8th Sts.
B to F Sts.
Waterfront to 3rd
FAIRBANKS NOTES
The funeral of George Smith, colored,
will be held on Sunday.
Sam Godfrey is in town from the Tol
ovana country.
Clarence Dorflinger is reported to have
struck very good pay on Livengood creek
in the Tolovana country.
Pete Peterson, jail guard, is improving
steadily an.I will soon be able to leave the
hospital, where he has been hovering be
tween life and death since last Septem
ber.
C. Christensen, who is operating on
Gold Hill, is reported to have reached
bed rock and landed on some very good
pay.
Mushers arriving here report that Fred
Dunbar recently fell off the roof of the
Joyce Lake roadhouse, receiving injuries
which are causing him much suffering.
John Barrack and W. B. Reabuju left
tor the coast Wednesday, travelling on
the auto stage. Romeo Hoyt and wife
leave today.
Al. J. Johnson, the photographer, is
minus several teeth and has a badlv cat
face as the result of chopping wood too
close to a clothes line.
Max Smith, formerly of the N. C.
store, is coming in from the Outside to
relieve Jack Donald, of the Tanana store.
1 / Donald is going Outside on a vacation.
Tommy McSmart, well known to nearly
all the oldtimers of the Dawson and Fair
banks camps, is reported to have joined
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a Canadian horse regiment and is now en
route to try his luck on the firing line.
John Barrack, of the Samson Hardware
company, w'as the guest of honor at a
banquet given at the Arcade one night
this week bv the employes of the com
^ panv, fourteen in number. Mr. Barrack
was presented with a gold watch, to re
mind him of happy Fairbanks days after
he reaches the great Outside
Mayor R. R. M>ers has tendered his
resignation to the city council, and Geo.
M. Smith, the hardware merchant, has
been elected to fill the vacancy. Dr.
Myers is going Outside.
BENEFIT IS PLANNED
TO AID WATCHMAN
A high-class minstrel and vaudeville
show will be given at the Coliseum on
the night of January 26 for the benefit of
James E. Dethletsen, former town night
watchman, who has lost all of his fingers
and one thumb as the result of freezing
his hands during the Cramer fire, which
occurred more than a month ago. The
injured digits were amputated early in
the week by Dr. M. E. Smith, and their
loss leaves the unfortunate man crippled
for life.
The benefit was decided upon last ev
ening at a very enthusiastic meeting held
in the office of United States Commission
er Robert E. Burns, and a committee
consisting of W. C. Gagnon, Andy Hoey,
Doc Ehlan, Earle Welliver, Jas. Momb
and Commissioner Burns, was appointed
to take full charge of the arrangements,
j There is a lot of splendid talent in Ne
liana and the committee is confident that
: an exceptionally fine show can be staged
j for the worthy cause. The plan is to
conclude the entertainment wilhja dance.
RUMANIAN CAMPAIGN
NEARING AN END
Berliu: Advices received from the
j Balkans state that the onward rush of von
Mackensen’s victorious army continues
1 uninterruptedly. The important Ruman
ian town of Galatz, near the Russian
boundary, is being bombarded and its
capture by the Teutons is imminent. All
of the Russian positions along the Sereth
river, to the southwest of Galatz, have
been evacuated by the czar's forces.
THAW INSANE; TRIES
TO KILL HIMSELF
Philadelphia: Harry K. Thaw, slayer
of Stanford White, and adjudged insane
and sent to Matteawan asylum, where
j he kept up a legal fight for his liberty
! and finally escaped from his keepers, has
, been located in this city after his attempt
to kidnap a young boy. He is now con
| sidered to be entirely unbalanced men
tally. When detectives attempted to ar
rest him he slashed his wrists and throat
with a razor, and his recovery is doubt
ful.
SUFFRAGETTES BUSY
CARRYING BANNER
Washington: The suffragettes began
today a silent picketing of the White
House, all gates being patrolled by wom
en carrying banners inscribed: “Mr.
Wilson What Will You Do For Woman
Suffrage?” Nothing will be done to dis
lodge them as long as they create nodisi
turbance or make no attempt to enter the
White House.
The following persons were registered
at the Cooney hotel during the week: N.
J. Campbell, Sam Stone, Owen Williams,
of the Howell sawmill; C, H. Calhoun,
Cliena; H. Malland, Wm. Butler, Game
Warden R. S. McDonald, L. Stanley,
Con Baggs, Geo- Palmer, Geo. Ewers,
Roy Lund, Frank Tondro, Fairbanks; H.
Counter. Fairbanks creek; Bill Ziloff,
Dan Terroff, N. A. Lundstrom, Mike
Nikkaneu, Bob Mitchell, George Taylor.
PROSPECTORSBUSY
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Oldtimer Reports Upper
Nenana Scene Of
Much Activity
“There is a lot of genuine prospecting
in progress this winter between Nenana
and It road Pass, and it need not surprise
vou to hear ot a placer strike of import
ance being announced before the snow
'eaves the hills.” Such is the statement
of Red Rogers, well-known oldtimer,
who returned during the week from a
trip to the Nenana coal fields.
Rogers found considerable activity on
nearly all the streams visited by him, in
cluding Lignite, Moose and others. And
he was informed that considerable pros
pecting is in progress above the canyon.
He estimates that there are about twenty
men prospecting between Nenana and
the canyon, most of them being old-tim
ers, and all bent on fiuding the pay.
There are probably as many more above
the con von.
With that number of good men scat
tered over the country Rogers believes
something should be found. His trip has
convinced him, at any rate, that the
streams back of Nenana are being subjec
ted to a more seacrhing investigation than
new creeks in Alaska usually receive.
ADVANCING PRICES
FELT BY RAILROAD
The war, or something, has caused a
tremendous advance in the cost of mater
ial needed in railroad construction work,
according to Thomas Riggs, Jr., whose
plans for the year are somewhat upset by
a curtailed allotment on the one hand
and an advance in prices oil the other.
The increase in the cost of materials,
since last year’s purchases were made, is
35Yi says Mr. Riggs. This means an
advance of approximately $10 a ton on
rails and other similar material, or $1300
per mile of railroad, figuring 110 tons of
rails and 20 tons of other material to the
mile.
Except for the work being done bv the
contractors, there is practically nothing
doing in this division in the line of con
struction work. Notwithstanding this
fact, the December payroll amounted to
$23,993.23, which does not include the
payments made c n contracts.
Game Warden Finds
Sheep In Local Cafe
The carcass of a sheep, found in the
cache of the Combination cafe, was con
fiscated by Game Warden R. S. McDonald
early in the week, and the owner of the
restaurant was fined $1 and costs by Com
missioner Burns for having the meat in
his possession after the time prescribed
by the law. The sheep was valued at
$35, and the costs amounted to $11.
Game Warden McDonald arrived from
the upper river late last Sunday and im
mediately made the rounds of the res
taurants. The only game found, how
ever, was at the Combination, and there
was no evidence in that case to show that
the meat was being used, although pos
session by a dealer after December 25 is
a violation of the law.
The meat was turned over to Commis
sioner Burns and is being disposed of by
him in accordance with instructions re
ceived from Governor Strong.
COPPER INTERESTS
IN GIGANTIC MERGER
Seattle: Well-founded rumors of a
gigantic merger of all the holdings of the
Utah Copper company, of which D. C.
Tackling of San Francisco is head, and
the Kenuecott coipuration, representing
the Guggenheim ami Morgan holdings,
in addition to the latter's Braden copper
mines in south America, are in circula
tion in financial circles here, and have
liot been denied.
FAIRBANKS PLAYERS
COMING FOR SERIES
Having been successful iti his efforts
to raise sufficient funds to bring the
Fairbanks basketball players to Xenana,
Manager James Momb, of the local team,
announces that the Fairbanks boys will
make the trip down the river during the
coming week for a two-game series. The
games will be played at the Coliseum on
Friday and Saturday nights, January 19
and 20.
Reports from the upper town indicate
that Manager Slim Packard has developed
some real talent and will meet the local
quintet with a team of exceptional speed
and strength. This insures two very
fast games, for the local boys are practic
ing diligently and are confident of their
ability to capture the series.
The lineup of the local team is as fol
lows: Meagher and Taylor, forwards;
Momb, center; Hubbacli anil Ward,
guards.
FEW VOTES REMAIN;
SULZER STLL LEADS
Fairbanks: Verified reports from the
Kuskokwim cut Sulzef’s lead in tliatdis
trict from six to one vote. This leaves
the Democratic candidate still four votes
ahead of Wickersliam with Bristol Bay
the only district remaining unreported.
ALLIES CLAIM THEY
CANT STOP WAR NOW
London: It is claimed in military cir
cles that the momentum of the war is too
great to be stopped at the present time.
The Entente allies are preparing a great
offensive in Macedonia, and also to make
the Teutons pay dearly for any new of
fensive they may attempt.
SOCIALIST SAY “QUIT”
PEOPLE STARVING
London: Well-founded rumors indic
ate that the German soiidist party is
importuning Chancellor Bethmanu-Holl
weg to give up his plans of conquest and
make peace immediately. Much sickness
among the German working class is re
ported as a result of the serious shortage
of food, actual starvation con fronting the
people of some of the districts.
MOB THREATENS
TO LYNCH JUDGE
Murray, Ky.: Gov. Stanley arrived in
this city this morning to take charge of
the militia which is protecting Circuit
Judge Bush. He is threatened with lynch
ing because he refuses to hand over to
the mob a negro accused of murder. The
judge has barricaded himself and his
prisoner in a local hotel.
BRITISH BATTLESHIP
REPORTED SUNK
London: The admiralty officially re
ported the sinking of the British battle
ship, Cornwallis, in the Mediterranean
yesterday Thirteen of the crew were
drowned. She had a total displacement
of 14,000 tons and carried a crew of 750.
SAM BLUM FALLS TO
HIS DEATH FRIRDAY
Seattle: Samuel Blum, pioneer banker
and merchant of Valdez, Cordova and
Cliitua, sustained injuries which resulted
in his death yesterday afternoon, when
he tell from the third story of the Pacific
block, on Yesler Way. He died while
being conveyed to the emergency hos
pital. He never regained consciousness
and the cause of Ins fall is unknow n.
BANK FOR NENANA
Williams To Start Insti
tution Here With
in Few Weeks
Nenana is to have »bank. This is the
pleasing announcement maile bv J. C.
Williams, until very recently special dis
bursing agent ot the Alaskan Engineer
ing commission, with headquarters at
Fairbanks. Mr. Williams came to Ne
nana early in the week for the purpose
ot consulting with the locul merchants
and others regarding the need ot a bank
here; and having found a strong senti
ment in favor of the establishment of
such an institution, he has taken a long
term lease on quarters in the New York
block, and will proceed iinmediatelv to
make such other arrangements as maybe
necessary to insure the early opening of
the new bank. Mr. Williams believes,
however, that it will be impossible to be
gin business before the middle of April.
The bank, which is to be known as the
Bank of Nenana, will be organized under
the laws of Alaska, and will have a cap
ital stock of $25,000, a large part of which
will be supplied by Outside capitalists.
R. C. Wood, president ot the First Na
tional bank of Fairbanks, will be presi
dent of the new institution, and Mr. Wil
liams will be cashier. The other officers
have not vet been selected.
Mr. Williams left for Fairbanks and
the Outside yesterday to confer with his
backers, and to arrange for financial con
nections in various parts of the country,
and while in the stales will attend also to
the ordering of safety deposit boxes, fix
tures for the bank, and a steel door for
I the concrete vault which is to be built,
i When these matters are attended to he
j will be back in Nenana to get his new
quarters ready for occupancy.
Mr. Williams is on old-timer in the
banking business, and came to Alaska
with the best ol recommendations from
the various institutions with which he
has been connected, and with numerous
offers of financial support should he de
cide to engage in business here. The
past several years were spent with the
Riggs National bank of Washington, D.
C., one of the best known concerns in
j the country, and when Mr, Williams left
I that place to come North he was looking
for just such an opportunity as has pre
sented itself here in Nenana.
RAILROAD NEWS
There was another lot sale at Anchor
age on December 18.
The O'Reillv-Doherty coal mine at
Moose creek is now producing about 80
tons of coal daily.
The Commission recently contracted
with Matanuska farmers for 300 tons of
spuds.
Between 500 and 600 farmers have been
locat d along the line of the railroad in
the Matanuska and Susitna valleys.
A detachment of forty men of Com
panies A and C, 14th infantry, have been
stationed permanently at Anchorage.
Considerable trouble was experienced
at Anchorage during the cold weather of
December, through the freezing of water
pipes
Several roadhouse men and others
have been granted permits and are pre
paring to establish small businesses at
Kings river, and a considerable number
of people have already located there tem
porarily, awaiting developments in the
Chickaloon coal fields.
The number of persons employed
by the Alaskan Engineering commission
in the Anchorage division on November
25, including stationmen, was 2041. On
December 2 there were 614 employed in
* the Seward division.