ALASKA SET THE
THE NENANA
FOR VICTORY
DAILY NEWS
Volume Two member of associatfj> press
NENANA, ALASKA, SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1919.
Number 46
WICK OUTLINES PROGRAM FOR SESSION
AUTO CRASH FATAL fO TWO ON SEATTLE DRIVE
DEPARTMENT PLANS EARLY WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS
M’PHERSON IS
• RE m 10 AID
NENANA PLANS
That the interests of Nenana will
he carefully looked after at Wash
ington during the time that J. L.
0 McPherson, manager of the Alaska
Bureau of the Seattle Chamber of
Commerce, is detained at the na
tional capital in the capacity of
special advisor to the department
of the interior, is indicated in a
wire received by the Nenana Com
mercial club. The wire was in re
ply to a request of the club to look
after several matters of local im
portance, and shows that Mr. Mc
Pherson is ready to help Alaska in
* every way possible. The telegram
was read at the regular bi-weekly
meeting of the organization, at the
club chambers in the Union build
ing last night.
There was also ready a letter
from Road Commissioner Robert
Sheldon, in which the club was
informed that an investigation cf
the Kantishna road proposition
^ probably would be made sometime
during the summer. Mr. Sheldon
also stated that he hoped to be able
to improve the Happy trail into the
Tolovana district, but that nothing
would be done before late in the
season. Reference was made to a
change in the territorial laws cover
ing road work, and until instruc
tions have been received from Ju
neau, Mr. Sheldon will be some
what in the dark with regard to
t his new duties and feels that he
cannot make definite promises at
this time.
A telegram received from Secre
tary of the Interior Lane informed
■ the club that he was unable to
answer the inquiry regarding the
availability of certain funds ap
propriated for coal development.
He stated that he would have to
confer with the President before
answering the question.
Another telegram, from the Fauv
V banks Commercial club, requesting
support of their campaign for fed
eral aid for soldier homesteaders,
was read, together with the tele
gram sent by the N'enana organiza
tion, indorsing the Fairbanks move.
The plan is to have Alaska included
in the soldier settlement scheme
T advocated by Secretary Lane, under
the provision of which soldier home
steaders are to receive federal aid
in getting their farms started.
The . roads committee, to which
had been referred the matter of in
vestigating the cemetery road im
provement, reported, through Mr.
4 Brooker, that an estimate had been
made of the amount of wrork re
quired but that no action had been
taken. Mr. Brooker explained that
the proposed improvement would
entail the expenditure of a con
siderable sum of money, and in
asmuch as no funds appeared to be
available at this time, the com
mitte had decided to defer action
until plans could be decided upon
for raising the needed money.
M. A. Schaeffer, of the mines
committee, read a lengthy letter
from J. C. Martin, government
geologist, in answer to one that
had been written by the committee.
The committee had suggested, a
mong other things, that a geologist
or mineralogist be stationed per
manently in the Interior country
jf for the purpose of assisting pros
pectors and miners. Mr. Martin
explained that it would be im
practicable to send such men to
Alaska, because of the handicap
under which they would be com
pelled to work in the field. They
> could not carry a laboratory around
with them, he pointed out, and with
out some means of determining the
value or content of ores submitted
to them for examination, their serv
ices would be of little value to
the territory.
The letter stated, however, that
the geological survey would have
a large party in the field in Alaska
this year and would render material
assistance, in that way, to the de
velopment of the country.
With regard to a special summer
mail service between Xenana and
Fairbanks, which has been paid for
in the past by the Xenana and Fair
banks Commercial clubs and the
Alaskan Engineering Commission,
the secretary read a letter from
Chief Clerk Wetzler, of Tanana,
requesting information relative to
the cost of such a service as has
been requested, and promising to
take the matter up with the de
partment.
The only up-river service now
provided by the postoffice depart
ment is a weekly trip between the
two towns, under a contract with
the White Pass. This arrangement
is very unsatisfactory and has put
the people of Xenana to much trou
ble and expense in past years to
provide an auxiliary service. The
mail coming to Xenana from Fair
banks during the summer months,
Chairman McDonald explained, does
not include Outside mail, for the
reason that N'enana has not been
included in the over-the-trai! con
tract between Fairbanks and the
coast. Xenana’s mail from the
States will come by way of steamer
from the upper Yukon.
The matter of keeping a con
venient record of club accomplish
ments was brought up by the chair
man and discussed at considerable
length, the decision finally being
reached to leave the matter in the
hands of the secretary, with instruc
, tions to prepare a special report
at least once every three months.
These reports will be given pub
licity for the purpose of keeping
the public of Xenana informed re
garding the activities of the organ
ization. The club, it was pointed
out last night, has accomplished a
great deal during the short time it
has been in existence, and it is be
lieved that an occasional review of
progress made will help to swell the
membership of the organization and
render its work easier by insuring
co-operation outside the ranks of
the club, and spurring the mem
.bers to greater efforts.
CABLE STILL DOWN;
NEWS VERT SIM
The cable between Sitka and
! Valdez, which parted quite a few
days ago, has not been repaired and
put into commission yet, and in
consequence the press messages,
which are being sent by naval radio
from Bremerton to Cordova, have
been received at the News office
rather late in the afternoon for the
past few days.
These messages have been later
than usual today, only a smail
portion of them reaching here ir.
time for publication in today's issue.
It’s always amusing to hear a
rich man tell how much happier he
; was when he was poor.
* RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
in
* TEMPERATURE
As reported by the government
•t observation station, Nenana
■ R _
Saturday, May 24.
Maximum ...59 above
n Minimum .37 above
,n Forecast: Rain tomorrow.
**. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
l
IS
SURE OF SMI
SEATTLE, May 24.—Confident
of his ability to convince Congress
of his election as delegate from
Alaska, Judge Wickersham is pre
paring a program of legislation for
Alaska which he will present to
the lawmakers after his contest has
been disposed of.
His first bill, he says, will be
I one providing for the appropriation
I of four million dollars for the con
tinuation of work on the Alaska
railroad.
Another measure, which he has
under consideration, will pave the
way for the attraction of soldiers
to homestead lands in Alaska.
Regarding the coal and oil leas
j ing bill, which died in the late
Congress, Wickersham expresses the
belief that this measure will be
revived during the present session
and approved.
FRISCO TOUGHS
STEAL JEWELRY
IN NIGHT RAID
SAN FRANCISCO, May 24.—A
downtown jewelry store, situated in
the heart of the business district,
was relieved of jewelry and coin
to the value of fourteen thousand
dollars, in a bold raid which took
place early last evening.
The three men who committed
the theft, who apparently had
awaited a favorable opportunity to
make their raid, entered the store
when only a single clerk remained
on duty. While one of the robbers
remained on guard at the door of
the store, the other stood the clerk
up, bound and gagged him, and
then quickly emptied the contents
of numerous jewel trays and the
cash register into canvas • sacks
which they had brought with them
for that purpose. This done, they
left the store quietly and disap
peared, and thus far have eluded
the detectives who are searching for
them.
FAIRBANKS RANCHER
EXPECTS WHEAT CROP
Paul Riekert sowed a 12-acre
tract on his ranch near Fairbanks
to wheat, on May 6th, which has
now come up. Reports of those
who have seen it, indicate that the
! stand is excellent and a bounteous
; crop is expected.
Last year, Mr. Riekert sowed
only one acre of wheat, and the
results were so good that he de
: cided on extending its cultivation
this season.
He will probably go in for wheat
more extensively, following up the
success achieved on his 12-acre
tract.
MISS RICHARDSON MAY
BE BURIED TOMORROW
I The remains of the late Miss
; Sigrid Richardson, who died at St.
Joseph’s hospital yesterday after
a long illness, will probably be in
terred tomorrow at the Fairbanks
cemetery. No definite arrange
ments have been made, however.
i owing to the absence from town
| of the undertaker. He is expected
I back today.
AUTOS COLLIDE
SEATTLE, May 24.—Two joy
riders are dead, two seriously and
five slightly injured as the result
of an early morning auto collision,
which occurred on the Seattle-Ev
erett highway. The mo chines were
completely wrecked.
One of the seriously injured is
Carl Chilberg, son of J. E. Chil
berg, the prominent Seattle bank
er. He is badly hurt, but his coi
jdition is not regarded as fatal,
i Owing to the prominence of
i those concerned in the accident,
the affair has attracted considera
ble local attention, and it is un
derstood that an investigation ’s
being made to ascertain the cause
of the crash.
YANKEE TROOPS
TO RETURN HOME
MIDDLE OF JUNE
i WASHINGTON', D. C., May 24.—
That the demobilization of the Am
! eriean army is proceeding apace,
especially as regards that poriicn
; of it serving the country overseas,
I is indicated by an announcement
made this morning by General
March, chief of staff of the Ameri
can army.
General March stated that or
! ders have been issued which pro
l vide fully for the sailing from
France, by June 12th, of all army
units, with the exception of the
! regulars. All men drafted into the
i army, as well as national guards
! serving in Europe, are to be assem
| bled at ports of embarkation in
[France for transportation to the
| United States, and the necessary
|transports to accommodate the met
I will be provided at the proper time.
The arrangements made will In
sure the carrying out of the ord ;rs
issued by the war department and
the last transport will leave a
French port not later than June
'12th.
The chief of staff said also thaf
; definite plans are now being formv.
i lated, calling for the entire with
drawal of the American forces from
| Europe.
It is expected that due announce
! ment of the scheme will be made
| as soon as it has been perfected.
GEORGE A. PARKS
VISITING NENANA
I George A. Parks, mineral sur
veyor of the general land office,
with headquarters at Fairbanks, ar
; rived in Nenana yesterday on the
i launch Swan, on a brief business
! visit.
During the war, and until short
ly after the signing of the armis
tice, he was a staff officer of the
9th division, stationed at Camp
Sheridan, Alabama, with the rank
of captain. This division was slat
ed for duty overseas following the
j 8th division, but the signing of the
armistice made necessary an alter
nation of the plans and the division
t
was held for demobilization.
Shortly after the entrance of the
United States into the war. Mr.
Parks, who was at the time mineral
surveyor and special agent of the
general land office at Fairbanks,
was commissioned a first lieu
tenant of engineers and was sent
to Camp Lee, Virginia. He was
afterwards transferred to Camp
Humphreys, near Washington, D.
C., and attended the war college,
taking a special course in gas as
used in warfare. From this cam'i
he was promoted to the rank of
captain and was sent to Camp
Sheridan as chief gas officer.
At Camp Sheridan he was en
gaged in putting officers through a
course of training in gas, prepara
tory to being detailed for duty
overseas.
Captain Parks met a lot of of
ficers of the Allied armies while
at Camp Sheridan, and from them
gleaned a lot of interesting details
of the fighting in progress on the
European battlefields. He is glad
of the experience gained in the
army and of the 1 fe in the big
cantonments, and says he wiy go
back to the army again whenever
his services may be required. The
Alabama climate was rather trving,
he says; it was hot, damp and
sultry, and, from an Alaskan’s point
of view, was not all nice, and not
comparable to the Alaskan climate.
!He is glad to be back in Alaska,
| for several reasons, and he says
| Alaskans are much better off than
| the people in the States.
-.
!
COURT PARTV TO
SAIL ON MONDAY
The steamer Washburn, of the
|A. V. X. fleet, is expected to leave
1 Fairbanks for Iditarod early on
j Monday morning, and the court
' party expects to leave on the boat
for Tanana.
After a short session at the
army town, during which petitions
for naturalization will be heard,
ithe party will proceed to Iditarod
and hold a session of court there,
j The party will consist of Judge
' Bunnell, E. T. Wolcott, court sten
ographer, Miss Ella Knudson, from
i the clerk's office, Joe Miller, chief
deputy marshal, and probably Mrs.
Haggren, from the district attor
jney’s office.
OFFICER CHARGES
HUNS WITH STEALING
RED CROSS PARCELS
SYDNEY, Australia. — Charges
that Germans who handled Red
Cross parcels for Australian soldiers
in German prison camps robbed
the prisoners of their Red Cross
parcels are made by Captain Al
exander Donaldson of the steam
ship Matunga. He was captured
when the Matunga was taken by
the German raider Wolf and was
sent to a prison camp in the Hartz
mountains.
“The officer in charge of the
camp was an old rogue,” said Cap
tain Donaldson. “He seemed to
make a business of robbing us of
our Red Cross parcels. About 40
per cent of them went astray be
fore the armistice, and about 80
per cent after it, owing to disor
ganization in Germany. The ‘Fritz’
who had the job of driving from
the station to the camp with our
parcels had a habit of dropping a
lot of them off at his shop on the
way up.”
J. A. Fairborn, general agent of
the A. Y. X. company at Fair
banks, was a passenger on the
Washburn, bound for the upper
town.
BILL’S FAILURE
Representative E. B. Collins, one
of the Republican representatives
to the territorial legislature from
'the Fourth division, was a passen
iger on the steamer Washburn,
i which arrived here yesterday. He
i is on his way to his home near
Fox.
Mr. Collins said he saw the re
port appearing in the Fairbanks
I Citizen, which attributed the fail
i
! ure of passage of the bill carrying
an appropriation of $43,000 for
the agricultural college and school
of mines to his action in going to1
sleep while a vote on the bill was
being taken, and he absolutely de
nied the truth of the report.
He said that Representative Nor
dale’s action in nominating E. J.
: White for the speakership, in oppo
! sition to Daly of Nome, antagonized
i the representative from Seward
i peninsula, who, to get even with
] Nordale, opposed every measure
| that sought to benefit the Fourth
| division, and consequently they were
against the passage, by the lower
house, of the agricultural college
bill. It passed the house, he said,
(by the narrow- margin of one vote,
this vote being that of Representa
tive Casey, who was won over to
the support of the bill by Collins,
! who agreed not to oppose the bill
carrying an appropriation for the
bureau of publicity. This latter
bill met with strong opposition from
1 Collins when it was first introduced
in the house. The speaker of the
house, E. J. (Stroller* White, who
was at the head of the bureau of
publicity, asked Collins not to op
pose it, and in turn was instru
mental in enlisting the support of
Casey to the agricultural college
: bill.
! The agricultural college bill, on
; being sent to the senate, was cut
'down to $2,000 only, and as th->
i house would not agree to this, it
i was referred to a joint committee,
I which agreed on a compromise,
j making the appropriation $20,000,
i to which Collins, who was a mem
j ber of the house conference com
imittee, did not agree. In fact, he
j said, the compromise was agreed
! upon by the committee without cor,
| suiting him. In its amended form
:it came up for final action by the
j house with its passage assured, anil
| Mr. Collins says there was a very
'good chance of the appropriation
being increased to $30,000 before
its final passage.
With only a few minutes left ere
the legislature adjourned, and this
important measure to be disposed
of, with its passage practically as
sured in spite of the opposition of
the Nome delegates, Representative
Pennington, who had a penchant
for making speeches, felt called
upon to make a speech in support
of the measure, which was ill-timed.
Frantic efforts, said Mr. Collins,
were made to induce Pennington to
cut short his speech and resume
his seat, but it was of no avail.
He continued his w'holly uroece
sary speech until the hv.ise ad
journed aid the bill was not voted
on.
LAUNCH PEERLESS
DUE THIS EVENING
The launch Peerless is reported
to have left Fairbanks at 1 o’clock
this afternoon with three passengers
and will probably arrive sometime
this evening. The n*n>es of the
passengers were not reported.