THE NENANA NEWS
Application made October 30, 1916, at the Postoffice at Nenana, Alaska, for
entry as second-class mail matter under the act of March 2, 18/9. by The Ne
nana Printing Company. _
Published Weekly by The Nenana Printing Company
Day op Publication Saturday Edited by R. G. Southworth.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Per month; by carrier.S 1.00 Single copies. Two b
Six months, in advance .... 5.00 One year, in advance. 10.00
" NENANA, ALASKA, SATt HDAV SEI‘T. LM). 1!)17
SPRUCE NEEDLE-OIL
The United States Forestry
Service has recently given to
the public the results of its in
vestigations regarding this oil
It points out that the source
is the sprue e. tir o r pine
tree, for one of its ingredients
is the oil of spruce pine or liir
needle oil. That aromatic essen
tial oils of the various ever
greens have been extensively
used in Europe for sometime.
That in this country the treat
ment of evergreen leaves as a
commercial crop is comparative
ly recent and yet, this crop has
already an annual value of over
#50,000. That the waste mater
ial left after cutting down trees
could he profitably utilized. That
the large quantities of needles
and twigs on Forest Service
timber sale areas are not only
a sheer waste, but also form a
a special hazard. An increase
market for leaf-oil would make
possible the utilization of this
waste material. Black and white
spruce and hemlock produce
very similar oils, worth about
40 to 50 cents per pound.
1 h(‘ greater portion ot tin* i
oil produced is distilled by i
men of small means and many!
farmers during the winter j
months when work is slack. I
The distillation process is verv!
simple. Steam is passed through |
the needles, usually at atmos
pheric pressure. The oil volat
li/.es and the mixed vapors pass
into a cooling apparatus,—
where condensation takes place,
leaving a layer of oil and a
layer of water. Distillation by
steam under pressure is more
rapid and produce^ more oil.
rutting the needles in small
pieces before* treatment, in
creases t h e oil-production.
Young trees yield most. Trees
growing in the open, contain
more oil, than those in a dense
stand. The winter and spring
months are best for oil content.
The spruce wood is also used
for box material, for aero
plane frames, furniture, piano
hacks and oars for racing boats.
Hut a greater value is its use
for paper pulp. It has tough
ness and pliability. From the
foregoing one can see a near
day, when there will be built
up in Alaska profitable indust
ries,— in a utilization of Ala
ska spruce wherever found, but
especially along and adjacent
to-the government railroad.
This is another industry that
profitably can be engaged in
when the government railroad
is completed. Instead of de
stroying the tops and branches
of spruce trees as now, they can
be utilized in the manufacture
of oil.
Teach Patritism in Schools
The governor of West Vir
ginia recently sent letters to
all teachers in that state. He ap
peals to them as those who are
conducting the education of the
coming generation, into whose
hands lies the future of the
people. He calls upon them to
familarize themselves with con
ditions that drew our country
in the war. To teach the prin
ciples of conservation and to
make the schoolshouses centers
of intelligent patriotism.
Farms for Canadian Soldiers
American Consul Edward A.
Daw, accredited to the Pro
vince Ontario (’anada transmits
the following understanding to
our State Department: “The
minister of lands, forests and
mines of Ontario, announced
a few days ago, that the Pro
vince is about to undertake the
establishment of an agricul
tural colony in the vicinity of
Port Author. The plan is being
tried at one point, where 30
sets of farms buildings are
grouped in one community. The
buildings are now ready for
use. Separate houses are built
for single men.
The government clears 10
acres of land and advances a
¥500 loan on the improvement,
charging six per cent interest.
No payments are required (lur
ing the first three years and the
loan expires in 20 years. The
farmers are to he allowed 5
years to make certain improve
ments and develope the farms.
SANTA CLAUS.
The American Red Cross has
completed plans for Christmas
cheer of every soldier and sailor
lad in our national service.
None will be forgotten. Red
Cross chapters nearest the 32
army camps and cantonments,
will arrange in their town’s
community, < Tiristmas trees
with carois, pageants, and holi
day movies, to which the HOO
DOO men in training will he in
vited.
In addition, Christmas cele
bration for our lads in France
is being made, and the Red
Cross will see to it, that every
soldier has his Xmas package
with its message of good will.
There will he surprises in every
package, but all an* likely
to contain writing paper, pipes,
tobacco, cigars and cigarettes,
unbreakable mirrors, puzzles
dominoes, handkerchiefs and
playingcards.
The United States Commis
sioner of Education lias issued
a letter to parent-teacher asso
ciations, mothers' clubs and the
general public, in which he
says, “That there must be no
failing off in school attendance.
From a statement issued by
U. S. Food Administration, we
learn that there has been a
total decrease of 115,005,000
animals in the world's meat
producing animals. While the
increase of cattle in tin* United
States was 7.090,000 during
this period, the total world
decrease was 28,080,000. Sheep
decreased 3,000,000 in U. S.
and 54,500,000 in the world.
Hogs increased 6,275,000 in l .
S. but decreased 32,425,000 in
the world supply.
The Government Official I»ul
letin informs us, that it costs
8156.30 to equip an infantry
man for service in France and
this is divided as follows:
Clothing, etc $101.21
Eating utensils etc 7.73
Fighting equipment 47.36
Total $156.30
Steel helmets and gas masks
arc* being bought in France and
England. The first 600.000 to
800,000 troops to go to France
will carry the United States,
model 1903, generally known
as the Springfield. The so-call
ed Enfield rifle, used bv lirit
ish troops is being manufac
tured to equip other American
troops and is officially known
as the United States rifle
model 1917.
The United States Official
bulletin informs us, that this
country, on August IS, 1917
had an armed force of men, on
land and sea of 943.141. Of
this number total land forces
were 710.024 with total sea
forces of 233,117 men.
IT. S. District Judge Emory
Speer of the southern district
of Georgia recently rendered
a decision with reference to the
selective-draft act affirming
its constitutionality. He denies
Habeas Corpus writs to Geor
gians who did not register. Rid
dles the argument of slavery
and tells the slackers that Con
gress has the right to send con
scripts abroad.
ELSEWHERE IN ALASKA
Tin* price of thirty-five
cents is now being paid for
colioe salmon. This is the high
est price ever paid for that |
article in the vicinity of Juneau)
and both Juneau freezers are!
looking for the fish.
—
\\ ork has been started on a
three story annex to the An
chorage Hotel, which whenfin
ished will make this hotel one
of the finest in Alaska and the
!largest in Anchoorage. It will
the modern in every respect.
The heating and plumbing will
be <tf ihe best.
! «
Wrangel Lodge No. Still, Loy
al Order of Moose passed a
resolution exempting all mem
bers who enlisted for military
service in the U. S. army or
the entente allies from paying
any dues for a period from the
date of enlistment until one
year after the war.
MATANUSKA FARMERS
INCORPORATE
i _
The farmers of the Matanu
ska Valley have formed a cor
poration under the nameof the
Matanuska Farmers Coopera
tive Product Association. Al
ready nore than 100 members
have been enrolled. The presi
dent of the new organization
is Carl Martin, the secertarv
J. A. Whitaker, and the board
of directors the following: A.
A. Cobb, W. P. Murphy, Peter
Murray, Martin Leckwold and
F. F. Winchester.
; The principle object of the
association is to effect a stand
ardization in grade of all pro
ducts placed on the market by
farmers of the Matanuska Val
ley section. Potatoes, turnips
rutabagas, cabbage and the vari
ous other crops will be graded
to uniform size and quality,
the inferior products to be cull
ed and withheld from sale.
The assessment of property |
I within the Anchorage school;
I district has been completed by
James A. Wilkinson, assessor
for the hoard and anproximate
valuation of $2,000,000 placed
upon the property. The tax
for school purposes is intended
to rise $10,000 so a levy of five
mills will he laid.
—
The Juneau Land Office re
cently issued certificates for
six fishing sites on Rering Sea
and along the Alaskan penins
ula, four going to the Alaska
Packer's Company and one each
to the Pacific American Fish
eries Coompanv and the North
west Fisheries Company.
Three veins of coal have been
opened in the Clark Davis
mines in the liering River re
gion. according to information
received recently from Cordova.
The coal is described as a fine
grade of anthracite. It is ex
pected to have the railroad from
Ivatalla to the mines in opera
tion September of this year.
A petition was presented to
the Seward city council by
every storekeeper and a major- j
ity of the residents asking that j
every cannine of every variety!
and color he kept off the streets
of town. Councilman Chamber
lain, owner of sled dogs, said
that if the public demanded it
j lie would move that an ordi
nance 1m* drawn up to keep the1
animals off the streets. The
dogs are of great interest to
tourists hut cause much trouble
and damage.
Ilecause he let his valor and
enthusiasm for the German
cause get away with him John
George, an oldtimer of Dawson
has been sentenced to serve
three months on the rock pile, i
He had said that the whole
world was jumping on Germanv
but that siie was going to win
anyway.
MATANUSKA EXPERI
MENTAL FARM
The Matanuska Experimental
Station, which is located about
one mile north of the town of
Matanuska, was made possible
through the appropriation by
Congress on March 4 last of
$10,000 for the purpose of “lo
cating, equiping and maintain
ing an agricultural station at
rhi* Matanuska Valley."
Early this summer Mr. Fred
erick E. ltailer. of the States
Uelation Service of tlfe Depart -
inent of Agriculture, came to
Alaska and assumed charge of
the work of establishing the
station. Most of the activity this
season has been of a prelimi
nary nature. Four acres of
land have been cleared and two
acres were planted with oats
on June 22. The oats are al
ready two feet high and are be
ginning to head. This is con
sidered very satisfactory show
ing. considering the lateness
of sowing tin* seed and the new
lies of the soil. No effort has
been made this year to plant
a large variey of crops but next
season experiments on a wide
scale will be made with a view
of determining the grain and
vegetables best adapted to this
soil and climate.
A log barn. 20 x 27 feet, has
been built at the station to
house and feedaanseobmthtmh
house the horses and feed, and
Mr. Uador and his assistants
are now building a frame resi
dence for their own use.
Alexander M'Lean. govern
ment teacher at N'ushagak, Ala
ska, has been convicted of man
slaughter. Last January he kill
ed his native wife. He was sen
tenced to 20 years at M Neils
island.
Cordova and the Copper river
valley registration for selective
draft’ was 870 men, with one
precinct to hear from.
Suit was recently begun at
Seward, in whieli Thora Iteed
claims damages of tin* Pacific
Steamship company in the sum
of $10,000. Slie alleges that
while she was passenger on one
of the boats of the company,
she was attacked by a cabin
boy, employed on the boat.
When the Juneau registra
tion office closed on Saturday
night, September 1, 509 men
of” that city had placed their
names on the rolls for the se
lective draft. Of the number 25
were government empolyees;
seven claimed total disability;
ITS claimed exemption on ac
count of dependent relatives; 11
claimed exemption on account
of occupation; 141 did not
claim exemption of any kind.
One hundred eighteen aliens
registered, including five citi
zens of enemy countries.
Frank Skeen and Osit re
cently returned to Seward
after completing their annual
assessment work at Nika Day
They brot some very rich quartz
with them, from a pay streak
sampling $30,000 to $40,000 per
toil. Ill the ten days that the\
were on the ground they pan
ned out $50 from crushed and
oxidized outcroppings.
Juneau capitalists are plan
ning on subscribing to a com
pany to be formed for the pur
pose of making cans for all the
canneries of Southeastern Ala
ska. Thev a.lso expect to operate
a machine shop in conjunction,
overhauling and repairing be
ing a speciality.
One of the construction cars
on the Alaska-Anthracite rad
road at Katalla .pimped the
track and the thirty men aboard
were scattered in all directions,
and were badly skinned and
bruised, two of them sustaining
serious injuries.
“Dad” Hunt, tin* mushroom
king of Knik recently brot in a
large lot of mushrooms to An
chorage and had no trouble of
trouble of disposing of them.
While he makes a specialty of
mushrooms Mr. Hunt also has
a fine vegetable garden from
which he secures substantial re
turns.
Tin* Hawk Inlet cannery
near Juneau will make a record
for handling fish this year. The
cannery has already put up
120,000 cases, more than have
been put up at tin* cannery any
other season since it was built.
Every cannery in Alaska will
put up a good pack with the ex
ception of the far western
points, which have made a pom
pack.
WE HAVE THE
LUMBER
DELIVERY ON SHORT NOTICE
INDEPENDENT LUMBER CO.
THE LOGGERS WILL
NOT IJE FORGOTTEN
From official bulletins we ob
serve that a regiment of trained
woods men, between the ages of
IS and 40, for service in France
has been recruited recently,
among the loggers and sawmill
men of Washington. Idaho and
Montana. Forest supervisors
are the authorized recruiting
officers. There are six companies
each of 104 men. It will become
a part of tin* engineer corps in
[France. Chief of the Fnited
States Forest reserve, Henry
S. Graves, is now in France.
He has been commissioned a
major in the Reserve Engineer
corps. This regiment is organ
ized on military lines, but its
work will be industrial, not
fighting. In the woods, getting
out lumber and timber repaired,
will be its work.
Ricked woodsmen, skilled ax
men, sawyers, tie hewers,
skidders, teamsters and black
smiths are selected. The port
able sawmills will be manned
by millwrights, sawyers and en
gineers. Of course, many helpers
i will be needed in the woods,
camps and mills. Similar regi
ments will be recruited and
sent to France, as needs de
jmand.
GEOLOGIST HERE
Dr. George G. Martin, of E.
S. Geological survey, was in
Nenana a few (lays ago, having
returned from a visit to the
I Nenana coal fields, or rather,
| from Lignite Greek coal fields,
which lie. approximately 60
[miles south of Xenna. While
there lie completed his investi
gations and studies regarding
the coal, and the future dispo
sition of the fuel by the leas
ing system. The main part of
the coal fields was surveyed in
1916. He included in his re
search and examination, the
jeoal croppings on the west hank
!of the Nenana. The law pro
vides for the leasing of mining
|units, and that the same he
I divided in blocks of ten acres
each, and suitable for econom
! ical working. Any one interest
led in the leasing of this coal
jean secure the right informa
ition by addressing a letter to
i the General Land Office, \\ ash
! ington, D. <
HOUSES FOR SALE or
rent; also dry wood for sale.
Koland. Third and G.
Tvnut
NENANA BEANERY
Cold Lunches, Hot Tamales
Chile Beans
SERVED 10 A. M. TO 2 A. M.
Tom Monagon
f Visiting Cards
Typewriter
Ribbons
Carbon
Paper
Legal
Blanks
Tablets
Blotters
i
Envelopes
Scratch Pads
NEWS OFFICE
BROOKER’S
BAKERY
and
Restaurant
COONEY HOTEL
REASONABLE
COMFORTABLE
CENTRAL
NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS
All dogs in our camp must
l>e called for and paid for on
or before October 1. After
that date we will sell, for
their board, all dojis not tak
en out. No dojis delivered.
Stevens & Johnson
NOTICE
All tents now in the dis
trict bounded on tin* west by
Main street, on the north b"v
J Front street, on the east by
j“U" street and on the south
| by Third street, must be re
moved not later than October
15. 1017.
The object of this regulation
is to reduce the fire hazard
in the business district and to
aid in preventing the spread
ing of such tires as mav occur.
F. S. R VI'S.
Townsite Manager
Sept. 24. 1017.
LOT FOR SALE—Close in;
I cleared; cheap. Inquire News
office.
FOR SALE
•TrsT received
Large Shipment of
Plain and Fancy Doors
Windows and Window Frames
All Sizes
The lowest prices in town.
Table Legs, Transmits
.Moulding of all kinds
Door and Window Stops
Sash Stock for Store Fronts
The above entire stock is com
posed of Outside seasoned
Lumber
REAVER HOARD in assorted
sizes.
Rock faced ornamented Pressed
Steel.
House Lining in any quantity
One Tent. 20x40 ft.
Linoleum and Rugs.
Carpet by the yard
Two upholstered couches at a
bargain
Cash Regi. ter and Show Oases
(iraniteware. Glassware* and
< 'rockery
Aluminum Percolators, ..$2.30
Mlankets, Quilts and Pillows
Eiderdown Quilts
Sheets, Pillow slips. Spreads,
and Towels of all kinds.
SPEGIAL MEETING
Scrim and Cretonnes. Lace
SIMSON’S
FOR SALE—Motor boat,
with 12 II. I*. Ferro engine.
Inquire at News.
NOTCE TO CREDITORS
In probate court, Territory
of Alaska, Nenana precinct.
James Duke, decased.
Notice is hereby given that
the undersigned has been ap
pointed by above named court
executrix of the estate of
James Duke deceased. All per
sons having claims against said
estate are hereby notified and
required to present them with
the proper vouchers within six
months after the date of this
notice to the undersigned execu
trix at her place of business
in the town of Nenana, Alaska.
Dated at Nenana, Alaska, July
23, 1917.
Mrs. Emma Duke
I