■’* Buy Your Outfit in Nenana-Save Time, Money, Trouble
THE NENANA NEWS
VOLUME IV
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
NENANA. ALASKA. THURSDAY, MAR. 29, 1923.
NUMBER 431
’ POPE MAKES APPEAL TO SAVE PRELATE
MEARS RESENTS TRANSFER OF R. R. A UTHORITY
SENATE COMMITTEE OPPOSES ELECTION REFORM BILL
WEARS RESENTS REMOVAL
BEFORE JOB IS FINISHED
ANCHORAGE, Mar. 29—Speak
ing before the Anchorage Chamber
of Commerce, Col. F. Mears voiced
resentment at being relieved of his
duties as chairman of the Alaskan
Engineering Commission before the
completion of the railroad, early
in June. He told the Chamber that
“The first intimation I had that my
successor was being chosen was
when I read it in the newspapers.
Secretary Fall, when questioned,
said it -was his understanding I un
derstood the arrangement.” Col.
Mears said he felt that it was un
fair to him to relieve him of his dut
ies before the final completion of the
railroad.
The Colonel took umbrage at the
publisher statements of Col. J. G_
Steese, new head of the railroad
organization, regarding his record as
a transpartation expert. He said, in
the presence of Col. Steese that he
arrived overseas after the armistice.
The criticism of CoL Steese by the
retiring chairman followed a tribute
by Steese, who said the Alaska Rail
road would stand as a monument to
the genius of Col. Mears, who had
turned over a first class enterprise
which he hoped to make pay its
way. He pointed out that the rail
road is already paying part of its
upkeep and had a roseate outlook
for increased business when feeders
are built and other business devel
oped from the Outside.
Wa* News To Steese
When asked for a statement re
lative to the declaration of Col.
Mears to the effect that he had re
ceived no advance information re
garding the proposed change in the
management of the Alaska Railroad,
Col. Steese said he had had no pre
vious warning of the change, being
as much in ignorance regarding the
matter as was Col. Mears.
Those in close touch with com
mittee activities at Washington see
in the episode a clash between the
war and interior departments. Last
summer an emissary of Col Mears
asked the Chamber of Commerce to
further a move designed ultimately
to make the Alaska Road Commis
sion a pan of the Alaskan Engineer
ing Commission, the Mears organ
izaion absorbing the Steese organiza-'
tion. It is beleved this action caused j
conflict of opinion between Secre- i
taries Fall and Weeks in connection
with the proposal to create a govern-!
ing board for. Alaska, with Fall
holding the whip hand.
It is known that Col Gotwals,
vice chairman of the Alaska Road |
Commission, while making a recon- \
naisance in the Kantishna country,1
also selected a route for a railroad
spur and announced the eventual
necessity of such feeders
The names of candidates for City
Council and School Board must be in
the hands of City Clerk Henshaw
not later than Saturday night to in
sure appearance on the official bal
Frank Short, who is on his way
to the coast, is staying over in
Nenana for the Pioneer convention.
Tommy Jones, well known old
timer, who has been ailing during
the last year, has entered the hospi
tal for treatment.
STATE DEPARTMENT MAY ACT
TO SAVE CONDEMNED PRIESTS
O'MALLEY MODIFIES ORDER
CLOSING ALASKA WATERS
SEATTLE. Mar. 29—1. M. Foster
head of the Alitak Packing Company
who with Otto Hofstad, of the
Katmai Packing Company, went to
Washington on behalf of the small
packers of Alaska to protest against
the recently promugated fisheries re
gulations as affecting Kodiak, Af
ognak, report that a modification a?
to the regulations was made after
i they had held a conference with
: Commissioner Henry O’Malley. He
| reports that the permit of the Rob
| inson Fisheries Company, one of the
small packers, has been modified to
: permit them to fish near the mouth
• of the Karluck river, the principal
salmon stream on Kodiak island. The
Katmai company has been permitted
to buy fish from Ugar.ik, Terror
[ Litinic and Viekoda bays, which
were previously closed to them.
One of the big causes of the pro
; test was the license permitting the
Alaska Packers and the Northwest
ern Fisheries to build a weir across
; the mouth of the Karluck. taking
fifty per cent of the fish goinsr
through. This privelege has been
cancelled. Foster reports, the com
panies now being limited to beach
seine fishng as in previous years.
x r
m HOSPITAL NOTES «
«t *
r. *«*******
A special train was sent to Dun
bar this morning to bring in the
little Barker boy who broke a leg
this week in the Tolovana district
as a result of falling down cellar.
The injury was mended by Dr. J.
H. Romig as soon as the Little fel
low reached the Nenana hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Barker accompanied
their son on the trip
N. G. Egth, telegraph operator at
Healy, underwent an operation at
the hospital today.
Pete Donovan, of the Tolovana
district, who is under treatment at
the hospital, is reported somewhat
improved today.
John James has recovered suf
ficiently to hobble about town a
litle on crutches.
Sam Sanderson, road foreman, is
recovering nicely from the effects
of his recent operation for appen
dicitis.
Gust Heidrick, of Fox, is improv
ing steadily under the care of Dr.
Romig.
Lawrence Ferrias is a patient at
the hospital as the result of getting
a piece of coal in his eye.
Reports received from the coast
yesterday were to the effect that
Dr. Cannon will make a trip to the
States before returning to the In-'
terior. He is scheduled to leave
Anchorage on April 5.
Mrs. Parke L. Stump has accept
ed a position at the local hospital
as nurse.
WASHINGTON. D. C. Mar. 29—
The decision of the Soviet Govern
ment to execute Zepliak and Butch
kawvitch at Moscow, as announed in
dispatches received this week, is
j characterized by the state depart
ment as constituting an outrage a
gainst humanity which could not
fail to create the deepest feeling of
resentment and horror in the United
States. .
Pope Atlu Liberation
ROME. Mar 29—The pope has
, asked the Soviet government to 15
^ berate Zepliak and the other ec
j clesiastics who were convicted at
Moscow on the grounds that they are
members of the Catholic hierarchy
and subjects of the pope.
Prote*t Received
WASHINGTON, D. C. Mar. 29
Appeals protesting against the ex
eeutions have been received by the
state department from the Catholic
Club of New York and numerous
Catholic organizations throughout
the country. Department officials de
cline to state what action will be
taken officially but it intimated that
manifestation of the Government’s
opinon would find its way to Rus
sia and leave the Moscow authorities
at Moscow in no doubt regarding
the sentiment of America.
Appeal* To Be Considered
MOSCOW, Mar. 29—Appeals for
clemency for the Catholic relates
who are under sentence of death
will be considered at a meeting of
the executive committee tomorrow
or next week, according to an
nouncement made today. In the
meantime the condemned men will
remain in prison.
VISITING PIONEERS GIVEN
BIG WELCOME BY CITIZENS
The people of Xenana have en
tered heartily into the plans for the
entertainment of the delegates who
arrived here on Tuesday to attend
the annual meeting of the Grand
Igloo. Pioneers of Alaska, and the:
program aranged by the local igloo
is working out most successfully.!
Some form of entertainment has
been arranged for every night dur-1
ing the stay of the visitors and it is
possible the convention will be
brought to a close with an excur
sion to Fairbanks, it being the de
sire of most of the visitor^ to see
the upper town before their return
to the coast on Tuesday.
On Tuesday night of this wees
the delegates were given a public
recepetin at Union hall and there
was a large crowd on hand to wel
come them. President R. C. Moms,
of Xenana Igloo, presided as chair
man and there were brief talks by
Grand Vice President Steve O’Xeil,
Mayor R. G. Southworth and Grand
President Joseph Ulmer, of Ketchi
kan. following which the floor was
cleared for dancing. A lunchen was
served later in the evening.
The greater part of yesterday was'
taken up with committee work, in
preparation for the opening of the
Grand Igloo meeting this morning,
and last night the visitors were en
tertained at a “Smokeless Smoker”
Union hall being filled to capacity
and the program being an excellent;
one.
The entertainment started with |
an address by Steve O’Xeil. Mr. |
and Mrs. Anthony Letray followed j
with an instrumental duet, Past
President Joe O’Connor gave an j1
excellent exhibition of bag punching,
Master Everett Alexander made his j
debut as a soloist, Oliver and Wilson P
staged a fast boxing bout, Tony!
Letray appeared in a bagpipe spec- i1
ialty, R. C. Morris recitel some 1
clever original verse appropriate to
the occasion, B. W Miller and Pat 1
O’Connor gave an excellent exhibi- ;'
tion of wrestling, Fred H. Gattis ■
rendered a beautiful solo and Vin- j s
cent Ropers delighted the audience
with recitations. The evening was
rounded out with another informal
dance and a luncheon.
The visiting ladies who are in
attendance at the convention were
entertained yesterday afternoon by
Mrs. R. G. Southworth
The big feature of the enter
tainment program yesterday was a
dog race to Minto and return, a
distance of 36 miles. There were
five entries but only three started,
the starters being Billy Shannon,
with seven dogs, owned by Joe O’
Connor; Mike Cooney driving the
Vincent Rogers team of five dogs;
Stephen, native driving Kenan a
Pete’s team of nine dogs.
Shannon was first to get away
leaving town a: 10:35 and arriving
at Minto at 12:30. Cooney followed
at 10:50 and reached Minto at 12:57
and Stephen got away at 11:05, but
he did not finish, his dogs playing
out.
Shannon returned to town at 3:02
covering the course in four hours,
37 minutes. Cooney reported in at,
3:41, his time being five hours, 16
minutes.
Charles Swanson acted as starter
ma timekeeper, J. M. Burrows, Pat
O’Connor and Harry Owen were
judges and Mace Farrar acted as
judge at the turning place at Minto. '
The entertainment for tonight
will be a minstrel show, staged at
Onion hall under the direction of
Oapt. C. G. Jones. The show will
start at 8:30 and everyone is invit
'd No charge is being made for any
if the entertainments given during
Pioneer Week. The entertainment to- i
light promises to be unusually good |
ind it is promised that several new
aces will be in evidence.
The students of Franklin K. Lane
chool will have the boards tomorrow
light and it is said something good
s in store in the way of entertain
nent.
Saturday night has been set aside
or the grand ball, in connection
vith which there will be an elaborate
upper. This event also will be free
:nd there is reason to believe it
■sill establish a new record in the
entertainment line.
Grand Igloo memorial services
will be held on Sunday, probably in
the morning, and on Sunday night
the visiting delegates and the Ne
nana pubbc generally will be the
guests of the local igloo at a spec
ial picture show at the Coliseum.
Should an excursion be arranged,
however, it is probable the visitors
will leave for Fairbanks on Sunday
noon.
Grand Igloo In Session
The annaul session of the Grand
Igloo was formally convened this
morning at Union hall, with Grand
President Jos. Ulmer presiding and
an unusually large number of other
grand officers and delegates in at
tendance. The morning session was of
short duration, a recess being taken
until this afternoon to give the
credentials committee time to per
fect their report.
The afternoon session was taken
up largely with the presentation and
consideration of reports.
There is much business to come
before the grand Igloo but the of
ficers are hopeful of getting thru
with the work by the end of the
week, although there is no dispo
sition on the part of any of them
to rush matters.
BIG TOURIST PARTY COMMING
TO SEE SIGHTS OF ALASKA
Definite information has been re
ceived by Governor Scott C. Bone
that the Brooklyn Eagle Touring
Party will reach Juneau on July 3rd
next. Two years ago the Eagle con
ducted a notable tour to Hawaii and
last year to South America.
Acknowledging to. Governor’s
formal invitation to visit Alaska, i
the Associate Editor and Tour Man-:
ager of the Eagle writes as follows:;
“The Brooklyn Daily Eagle has
received with much pleasure your j
cordial invitation to organize and
conduct a tour to Alaska during
the coming summer. We are happy
to respond. It will be our privelege
to organize a group of some seventy
representative Americans to make
the most comprehensive Tour of
our great northern Territory that
has ever been undertaken by a I
party of such size. We desire to ac
quaint the people of the East with
what Alaska has to offer; we want
them to know what Alaska really
is. Our schedule calls for our ar
rival in Juneu on July third and j
we shall take pleasure in paying
our lespects to you at that time.
“It h^s been the privelege of the
Brooklyn Eagle to conduct parties
to practically every State and Ter
ritory under our flag. We are hap
py that an opportunity now offers
to visit the great Territory over
which you preside, whose success- ,
ful development is a matter of im
mediate interest to every American, j
(Signed) “Very sincerely yours, |
“H. V. KALTENBORN, i
“Associate Editor and (
Tour Manager.” i
SENATORS ARE DIVIDED
ON VOTING REFORM BILL
JUNEAU, Mar. 29—The Foster
literacy bill which passed the lower
branch of the Territorial legislature
this week, is threatened with a d.
vision of the vote in the senate, it
being understood that four senators
are arrayed on each side of the ques
tion. It is indicated that Ayer, Di
mond. Hunt and Chamberlin are in
favor of the passage of the measure,
while the others including the two
Fourth division senators are opposed
to it. Hearings on the measure
have been held up in committee and
it is probable a vote will be reached
this week.
Representative Raelston has in
troduced a memorial asking Con
gress to advance the date of the
Alaska general elections from the
first Tuesday after the first Mon
day in November to the first Tues
day after the second Monday in
October. This action was taken on
the ground that the present date
is too late for large numbers of res
idents of the Second division who
spend their winters in the State*.
Senator Dunn has introduced a
memorial asking for the establish
ment of wireless station at Wiseman
Haycock. TeJler and Kotzebue.
Committee Oppouei Bill
The senate elections committee
reported the Foster literacy bill
late yesterday afternoon recommend
ing that it not be passed. The report
was signed by Chairman Brown, of
-N'ome, M. D. Snodgrass of Fair
banks, and Aldrich_ The bill was
scheduled to come up for a second
reading today.
Dimond has introduced a bill re
quiring the filing of affidavits in
proof of labor on mining claims yj
days after June 30, instead of De
cember, as at present, the change
he points out is necessary on account
of the change in the assessment
work period from the calendar to
fiscal year.
Aimed to wipe out the existing
cooperative road law, Representative
Wilson, of Nome, has introduced a
bill providing for the creation of a
new territorial road commission
with perfunctory duties and four
divisional road boards in which is
vested control of all road construc
tion expenditures. The bill doe*
not mention anywhere cooperation
with federal agencies and if enacted
into law undoubtedly would result
in the loss to Alaska of all federal
funds made available by territorial
cooperation.
Foster has introduced a memorial
in the house denouncing the Nelson
game bill which was before the last
session of Congress and asking
for territorial control of game.
H. C. Dunlap and Fred H. Gatti*.
who arrived in Xenana several days
igo in the interests of the firms
which they represent, will go to
Fairbanks tomorrow.
E. L. Cook will leave for Gibbon
within the next few days.
Joe Meherin, well known travel
ng man, is expected in from the
oast this afternoon.
Since his return from the coast
ecently, Dr. Romig has been bother
d considerably by rheumatism. He
s feeling somewhat better today.