THE NENANA DAILY NEWS
Application made April 1, 1918, at the postoffice at Nenana, Alaska,
for entry as second class mail matter, under the Act of March 3, 1879
“WHERE RAIL AND RIVER MEET”
Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Nenana Printing
Company, at First and B Streets. Nenana. Alaska.
R. G. Southworth — — — — Editor and Manager
Mrs. R. G. Southworth_— — —_Circulation Manager
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cation of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in
this paper and also all the local news published herein.
GOVERNMENT CAN DEVELOP
ALASKA.FARM RESOURCES
The number of farms in Alaska
in 1920 was only 364. an increase
of 142 in a period of ten years.
The value of all farm property
last year was $1,808,661, an in
crease in the decade of less than j
$800,000.
These statistics, vouched for by
the United States Census Bureau,
establish the need, says the Seattle
Times, for a new government policy
designed to encourage the develop
ment of the Territory’s agricultural
resources.
The doubt that now exists in the
minds of some federal officials hail
ing from Eastern states, as to the
farming possibilities of Alaska, is
no greater, points out the Seattle
paper, than the skepticism of earlier
Americans concerning the soil re
sources of the West.
At one time many questioned
whether successful farming was pos
sible in the prairie country.
At least one statesman, ignorant
of the riches of the Pacific coast,
expressed a fervent hope that the j
western boundaries of the United i
States never should overpass the j
summit of the Rockies.
The total value of all Alaska’s
crops in 1919 was but S393.902,'
but this figure does not indicate
even remotely the Territory’s ag
ricultural possibilities.
Leaving aside the area not now re
garded as available for anything
save reindeer pasturage (although
some day it may be too valuable
as farm land to be used longer for
the other purpose), there remains a
vast domain on which crops have
been raised successfully, of good
quality and in generous amount. i
Now that the Alaska railroad is
nearing completion, means must be
found to provide traffic for it in
order that it may become self-sup
porting.
Additional mineral development
will be beneficial. Paper-making
should contribute a big tonnage to
the system. Lumber will furnish its
quota whenever repressive regula
tions are modified.
But the hope of the future lies
in agriculture—in the gainful tilling
of the available acreage of the Ter
ritory. j
The Harding administration can
promote that development by making
it easy for the small farmer to take
up land and by assisting him to
get started. |
Such a policy would change the
face of Alaska beyond recognition'
in ten yearn and would provide a
broad and enduring foundation for
its future development in every
line. I
DOCKWORKERS STRIKE !
GLASGOW, May 7—A strike of
dockworkers has resulted here from
the ban placed on foreign coal by
the Transport Workers Federation'
in sympathy with the striking coal
miners.
Miss Reat has arrived at Healy
from the coast to assist Miss Jessie
Johnston in the A. E. C. voucher
department. i
* mtKKKKKItliltRKIlltKIC X
at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx at
Kantishna. April 30, 1921
Editor Nenana News:
1 note that a writer signing him
self “Subscriber” has published an
article, at some length, as to the
relative financial value of a branch
line of the railroad running into
the Kantishna district, to the build
ing of a bridge over the Tanana
river. Now, while this is a lucid idea
and fraught with good ultra judg
ment, it labors under a delusion—
a succubus or phantom of imagina
tion—-for the Government never
had ary idea of building a bridge
over the Tanana river, although
many statements made in the past
have a trend that showed dribbles
in that channel, but those possess
ing the inside facts knew, or had
good reason to believe, that there
was nothing in the original archives
that spelled bridge. But as the writ
er of that article was possibly not
in touch with such matters, it is
quite likely that his intentions were
correct as to conscientious details;
but to those who think that to dep
recate the bridge building will en
hance the prospects of a branch
line to the Kantishna, I will just
say, dispel that idea and base your
energies on the possible good that
would be derived from the branch
line and you will need never pause
for reflection.
A branch line to the Kantishna
has many ganglings of thought and
good results are bound to follow;
like the Pia matre and arachnoid
are to the brain of the Homo cap
ian—the intelligent feeder of wis
dom, for the Kantishna district has
assets that may be readily realized
upon, to some extent, without the
branch line, and these assets would
appreciate in value and economical
perseverance immediately that such
steel-trail was laid. In the first place,
it would open up the entire country,
and the entire range, shown to be
mineralized extending into the Kus
kokwim, to the individual prospect
or, and the past history of Alaska
has shown us that every develop
ment of mineral resources has been
discovered by the old sourdough
prospector and from his discoveries
has come the realization of large
profits derived from the use of
modern and adequate operations,
with the necessary machinery to de
velop these findings.
As above stated, the Kantishna
already has assets that may be re
alized upon without a railroad, and
the strong point of this argument
is that Tom Aitken has just com
pleted delivery to a point of navi
gation, a quantity of ore, the vaiue
of which w'ould keen any man from
the poorhouse, and he must pay a
large freightage from the mine to
this point of navigation; also the
freight on the waters to Tacoma,
Washington, where the ore is smelt
ed. But Mr. Aitken has abandoned
the project because the cost of pro
ducing—mining, .freighting and in
cidentals—would eat up the profits.
And this ore, while very valuable,
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COMMUNICATION.
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; averaging over $600 per ton in
silver and gold, and he mu«t need
dump many hundred tons of ore of
a less value in the waste pile, a:
it would not pay the cost of trans
portation by water, but hy rail, with
the rate placed within the reach of
the proper development idea, all
this ore could be transported tn
Tacoma and realized on, and the
construction of a branch line into
the Kantishna would undoubtedly
solve the problem.
Joe Quigley has opened up a
I more valuable lead of unknown ex
j tent, and Alois Freidrich has opened
| up and is now operating, thru lay
; men, a very valuable lead on El
j dorado creek, while numerous leads
! have been staked and more or less
developed. These latter findings
have shown values ranging from
fifteen to three hundred dollars per
ton, but as the richer veins are not
enough in evidence to pay the op
erator ito mine them alone, as the
veins containing a lesser value in
tersect in such a way that they also
must be removed during the process
in order that the richer ore may be
gotten at, it is impossible for any
one to develop these properties un
less cheaper transportation was ac
cessible; hence, it is transportation
facilities that is directly respon
sible for the retarding of develop
ment of the mineral resources in
the Kantishna, and the running of
a branch line of the Government
railroad into this country would
readily solve the problem. And until
such is available, much of the rich
ore in the Kantishna district will re
main undeveloped.
Had Mr. Aitken been fh a posi
tion to realize on his investment to
the extent of as anticipated, and
which showed up when he took over
the holdings he would, no doubt,
have operated the property many
years, and the conservative mind
will readily know that such opera
tions are necessary to the develop
ment of this or any other country—
and transportation spells the answer.
Since the opening up of the Kan
tishna and up to and including 1918,
the Government reports record an
output of gold from this district
of $425,000, and when one takes
into consideration that less than 30
men were operating in the district,
and that by the slow, crude method
of pick and shovel, one will grasp
the idea of the wealth readily ac
cessible. But these methods are slow
and ponderous, and while a stou.
heart will labor long for the yellow
dust, the mode becomes irksome
and the facalties naturally retard
from lack of energy, and while the
output, as recorded, may be esti
! mated very conservatively, one ac
quainted with the modus operandi
of production can realize that not
all of people who then resided here
were producing every year. But the
production since 1918 has been in
creased by many units owing to the
operation of the Aitken property
alone, and the current year will, no
doubt, show a larger increase, as
the Mt. McKinley Gold Placers Co.,
capitalized sufficiently to insure suc
cess, have lucrative holdings which
they will operate during the ensu
ing season. This company has large
holdings and offers the only solu
tion for a beginning, or a ‘hunch”,
to the district, as the solitary pros
pector will be enabled to work for
a grubstake in the summer ar.d thus
he can prospect in the fall and win
ter. And this will solve one of the
minor questions that in the past
!has been nothing but a drawback
j to development, as the prospector
must need go to the railroad for
work in the summer, to earn suffi
cient to enable him to prospect in
the winter.
A branch line into the Kantishna
will do many things for the people
of the Interior of Alaska. Thfs
country has never been scratched,
as the prospector puts it, and the
high cost of living and transporta
tion has been the cause. With cheap
er facilities in and out of the dis
trict, lower freight rates on pro
visions in, with the first cost lower
ing in the States, and a railroad
from the coast with cheaper rates
from the water, and cheaper trans
portaion for the product of the dis
trict out, it will enable the people
to seek, and there is no question
but what they will find inthis region.
Let us now look at this railroad
building' in a sensible way. It is not
being built, as some say, to provide
a political job for some of the
carpet-baggers nor to slough off un
desirable human material from other
positions, but to develop this In
terior country. Now, what could be
. a more reasonable idea than a
branch line into the Kantishna to
' develop the country? The mineral is
here, and thousands of tons of ore
of the lesser values will be mined
and shipped every year, thus adding
' tonnage for the railroad, and if
ever the railroad is to become self
supporting. it must depend on ton
nage to do so. With all the mines
Ifc s
sight in this district alone.
I to say nothing of the miles of min
eralized ranges leaping out toward
the Kuskokwim country, the tonnage
from this district alone will increase
to such an extent that the tonnage
from every source will look insignifi
cant. This includes all other sources
combined.
Now, if there should be a spirit
of appreciation shown by the Gov
ernment, there is no doubt but what
a hydro-electric plant will be built—
as the right has already been staked
—and cheap power will be furnished
the prospector of quartz, thus solv
> ing the question of fuel which must
! be hauled from the lower planes on
; to the site of operations, which is
usually far above timber line. This
company will also construct a smelt
er, treat the ore and purchase the
concentrates brought to them by the
small, or individual operators, thus
enabling men backed by a hand
drill, a hammer and the necessary
• brawn to become an operator on a
I small scale, and in this way the
' country will be developed, as hold
j ings can be “shown”, and it offers
|an inducement to capital not other
wise apparent.
I We are the children of the Gov
| ernment and also the father of the
! children, but we do not expect to
1 swim a Helespont like Leander did
to bask in smiles and beauty; nor to
' sit like Narcissis, gazing at our own
1 pulchritudes in the bosom of some
translucent lake waiting to be turn
ed into a fragrant rose. We are here
for the gold that is sealed with the
signet of time and we realize the
obstacles to be overcome e'er we ac
complish our desires. But if the de
! velopment idea will be taken up
| and the desire for self-honor, place
and power forgotten, and every
man put his shoulder to the wheel
of progress instead of looking for
personal favors and personal gain,
vve may accomplish something and
, move civilization a step nearer the
I goal.
A PROSPECTOR!
I
! Agent J. H. Scott, of the A. Y.
| N. Co., says the water in the Tan
[ ana river is as high now as it was
i last spring when the ice went out.
| THE SUN AT MERIDIAN NOW—
Makes the spots and frayed places
on your clothing show up. Remedy
these little defects by bringing your
l suits and coats to be pressed, mend
j ed and cleaned; your underwear re
inforced at
HARRIET D’ORSAY’S
TAILOR SHOP
i Third and A Phone 32 Green
; Phone or call at Third street, near A
Nenana, Alaska
Fine Stock Staple and Fancy Gro
ceries. Fowler A Morris.
r.s. McDonald
Public Stenography Typewriting
Bookkeeping Conveyancing
REAL ESTATE
RENTALS LOANS
LIFE INSURANCE
FIRE INSURANCE
Only the most reliable companies
Safety Deposit Boxes
For Rent.
WE MAKE A SPECIALTY OF
OUTFITTING
Groceries and Provisions
Clothing, Hardware, Notions
FOWLER & MORRIS
^-»30<>xx>oooooockx>ckxxxxxx>ooooo<xxxxxxxxxxx)ooooooooo
NENANA'S BEST APPOINTED HOTEL
Cooney Hotel and Annex
HOT AND COLD WATER AND BATHS
ROOMS SINGLE OR EN SUITE
COMFORT AND SERVICE UNEXCELLED
DOG BARNS
* * ip r * r r r * * * r * * i» •* ir *■
m m
». STEAMER SAILINGS *
** (Arrive at Anchorage) It
* H
it m « n *, * 9 m » * * m. k *• « * it *
Alameda May 10
Northwestern.May -J0
Alameda, southbound, calls at
LoTouehe, Valdez, Cordova. Juneau,
Ketchikan. Northwestern, same ports.
Coast Train Schedule
Train leaves Gold Creek for {
Anchorage on Sunday and Thurs- i
day at 1:00 P. M.
Train leaves Deadhorse for An- j
chorape on Tuesday and Friday. |
Train leaves Anchorape for Sew-;
ard on Wednesday and Saturday at t
9:00 A. M.
Train leaves Chickaloon for An- j
chorage, via Eska on Tuesday, j
Thursday and Saturday at 7:30
A. M.
Nenana Train Schedule
Trains leave Nenana for the end ,
of steel four times a week—on
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Saturday.
WANT ADS
I
FOR SALE CHEAP—Best p.ardei in
Nenana. Six acres, with four un
der cultivation; well manured, ■
plowed and ready to plant. Also j -
2-room house, pood cellar, pood ;
water, electric lights. Barn and'.
shed; three tons hay, ten sacks;
of oats; horse and wagon, plow.!
harrow, cultivator, shovel plow:!
two tons seed potatoes; all kinds '
of tools. Must go Outside.
William Smyth
FOR SALE OR RENT—The Nenana
Rooming House. Good opportunity
for man and wife. For further ■1
particulars, inquire on premises. |
*-**—*—'—— - w-Ch J
Life Insurance Lengthens life by ,
lessening worry when seriously ill;
by giving peace of mind during
financial troubles; by discovering I
disease. See R. S. McDonald, New '
York Life Insurance Company agent
Women, in ever-increasing num
bers, are recognizing the investment
and protective benefits of life in
surance. There were very many more
jfolicies issued to women last year
than ever before in history. See
R. S. McDonald, New York Life In
surance Company agent.
COAL
From Healy River Coal Mine
will save you from one—third to j
one-half on your fuel bill.
2-ton lots, a ton 8.50 2
Special rates on carload lots J
Deliveries, Tutsdays and Fridays
Order from
Dr. J. R. Bowen, Agt !
Bowen Bldg. Phone 54 Green i
mmi 1111111 urimi 11 .....
If Comfort, Economy and tho
Environments of Homo
Appeal to You,
STOP AT THE
MONTANA
SPECIAL RATES BY WEEK
OR MONTH.
aimmiiiuMa
WATCHES
JEWELRY
Watch Repairing
DESIGNING AND NATIVE
JEWELRY A SPECIALTY
WM. TAYLOR
Pioneers of Alaska
Nenana Igloo No. 17
MEETS AT UNION HALL
FIRST MONDAY EACH MONTH
AT 8:00 P. M.
Visiting Members Always
Welcome.
Frank Rourke Geo. S. Smith
Secretary. President.
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A
Department of the Interior
Alaskan Engineering Commission
NOTICE
Schedule of trains, subject to
hange without notice:
LEAVE NENANA for Healy on *
ilonday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Saturday at 8 a. m.
Returning leaves Healy at 1 p. m.
LEAVE FAIRBANKS for Nenana
in Tuesday and Friday at 8 a. m.
Returning leaves Nenana at 1:80
i. m.
NENANA LODGE No. 1193
L. 0. 0. M.
flEETS AT MOOSE HALL
Fourth and B Streets
iECOND AND FOURTH MONDAY
At 8:00 P. M.
lLEX FOWLER. ALF EICELAND,
Secretary Dictator.
It is estimated that between $15,
100 and $20,000 will change hands
n Nenana on the breakup this year,
Deluding .the money in the big ice
iool.
tnmtmrcitn;