The Nenana News
YOU'ME I
XEXAXA. ALASKA. SATl'lJl>AY, Aid. is' U»17
MMr.Ki: i>
Affording to George E. l’oul
V ter. superintendent <*f govern
ment schools for the ^ ukon
district, who was in Xenana
during the week on a tour of
inspection along the Tauaua
river, the natives of the inter
ior are deserting their villages
to take up land under the hoine
^ stead privilege extended to
them by the government. Mr.
lion Iter says that between for
ty and fifty homesteads have
been taken up by the natives,
and in quite a number of in
stances they have developed
a eommedable capacity for
farming. Numerous families
which iie visited along the river,
have comfortable homes itflu
little gardens whit* a supnly
them with fresh vegetables
during the summer. Others of
i the natives, less enterprising,
have done too little work ini
their homesteads to entitle
them to hold the Jaftd
Homesteading na> net nmt
so popular among the natives.
Mr. Boulter says. that the prob
lem of educating the children
has assumed serious propor
tions. The families have become
so scattered that it has been
found necessary to close several
of the government schools,
and the attendance at others
of the schools has decreased
to such an extent that there
is little to keep the teachers
occupied. At Tanana. for in
stance, where there was a
large attendance a few years
ago. there are now scarcely
enough native children left to
warrant the government in
keeping the school open.
Regarding the recommenda
tion of the Unity grand jury
that three of the Yukon river
schools bo reopened. Ill’, Boul
ter explained that these schools
had been closed for no other
reason than that no children
were left in the villages. The
families had moved away,
some of them for the purpose
of taking up land. W hether or
not the schools will be reopen
ed will depend upon the num
ber of prospective pupils and
the amount of money available.
Mr. Boulter says that his de
partment. like all others in
Alaska, is usually short of
funds.
If the children of the native
homesteaders are to be educat
ed. it will be necessary for the
government to inaugurate a
new system of schooling. If
has been suggested that board
ing schools he established at
central points, where the chil
dren can be taken care of dur
ing the school term. This plan
was adopted by several of the
states and found to work sat
isfactorily and it is believed
That similar action will solve
The problem in Alaska, where
the families are scattered over
a large district.
Mr. Boulter is one of five
superintendents in charge of
the educational work among
the natives in Alaska, under
the supervision of the depart
ment of the interior. His dist*
rict includes all of what is.gen
erally referred to as the In
terior of Alaska, taking in the
Yukon river and its tributar
ies. The schools, however, are
confined to the Yukon river
proper. In addition to the
government schools, there are
several mission schools, entire
ly independent of the govern
ment.
Mr. Boulter has been in the
service of the government for
eleven years. His headquarters
is at Tanana, from which point
he makes frequent trips up and
down the Yukon river, looking
after his wards. His present
trip up the Tanana is a special
one, made for the purpose of
looking into the homestead sit
uation.
NEW SECRETARIES
ARE NAMED BY
THEJESIDENI
Washington—President Nil
sun has nominated C'larno Ouse
ley. of Texas, and Kuymond
A. Pearson, of Iowa, to be as
sistant secretaries of agricul
ture. The names of the two
men were sent to the Semite
yesterday afternoon.
TROOPS REVIEWED;
NOT IN TRENCHES
American Headquarters ir
France—The American troop*
were reviewed for the first
time yesterday afternoon b\
(Jeneral Seibert and it is under
stood that they are now ready
to take their places in the fight
ing line.
wpIused” 10
MAINTAIN ORDER
Washington. 1>. <\—Tlie dis
patch of federal troops to
Washington, Oregau, Mnntaua,
ami Idaho to keep the war in
dustries going and to curb
threatened disorder in those
states, is regttrded by federal
officials as a possibility of tie
near future.
bisTme
FOR SOME TIME
London—In an address de
livercd before the house o:
commons yesterday afternoon
David Lloyd George declared
that the British government
had reached the conclusion that,
with reasonable economy. tl»t
country is not in any danger
of being starved by the German
stibmerine blockade. Food sup
plies aro-arriving steadily froi
all directions, despite the an
tivities of the divers.
London—Representatives of
seamen's organizations of Great
Britain, France, America, Italv.
Belgium. Autralia and the
Scandinavian countries sire
holding a conference in this
city for the purpose of consid
ering the inhuman acts of the
commanders and crews of Ger
man submarines. The delegates
are in favor of holding si tri
bunal after the war for the
purpose of try the Teutons
offenders on the charge of mur
der. _
Paris—One of the biggest
air raids thus far attempted
by the Allies resulted early
today in the destruction of a
vast amount of property in
side the German lines. One
hundred seven machines of
various types participated in
the raid, iud a total of seven
teen tons of projectiles were
dropped on German military
establishments. Seven defend
ing German planes were shot
down in the course of the
flight across country and two
of the Allied machines were
lost. The raiders reached a
point within eleven miles of
the Rhine.
_
The firm of Abe Stein & Son
has purchased the old St. Mat
thews hospital building at Fair
banks.
BELGIANS WIRE
GRATITUDE FOR
Mrs. Tims. Riggs, Jr. has re
ceived a telegram from the Bel
gian minister at New York, ac
knowledging tiie receipt of the
funds raised in Nenaua for the
relief of Belgian war suffer
ers. and expressing his grati
tude for the assistance received
The Belgian fund, it will be
remembered, was started by
Mrs. M. S. Love, in response
to the appeal of Governor
Strong, and was later com
bined with the Bed Gross fund
which was started by Mrs.
Riggs, the two funds being
afterward divided equally. The
telegram received by Mrs,
Riggs reads as follows:
New York. Aug. 10.
.Mrs. Thos. Riggs. .Tr..
Nenana, Alaska.
Deeply touched and grati
tied at Neuana's splendid eou
! tribution.
Deeartier, Belgian Minister
GO J STRIKE
Mexico City—There is mud
dissatisfaction among the rail
road men in Mexico in conse
quence of the practice of send
ing locomotives to the United
States for repairs. The threat
is made that a general strike
will he died unless the prac
tice is abandon.
PLAN^FOR BIG
HARVEST STRIKE
Seattle— The Industrials
are making great preparations
to call a general strikethrough
out the agricultural districts
of Oregon, Washington. Idaho
and Montana and the predic
tion is made that they will
add at least fifteen thousand
to the number of men already
on strike in the four states
mentioned. The strike is to be
for August 20.
STATES TO MAKE
SEPARATE REPLY
Washington—Secretary Lan
sing has authorized the state
ment that the United States
will make separate reply to the
peace proposals suggested by
| the pope.
H OM EST E AI>Ell LE A V ES
* TO PLANT FALL CROP
Andy .1. Irvine left town for
his homestead during the week
to plow the tract of land which
In* had cleared earlier in the
summer. He has about ten acres
cleared now and will plant tin*
! entire tract for hay.
The homestead is close to the
railroad, about a mile and a
half south of town. The soil is
rich and of good depth, capa
ble of producing an excellent
quality of hay and vegetables
of all kinds, although it is not
the intention of the homestead
er to devote his time to garden
ing. As rapidly as he can get
the land cleared he will increase
his oat acreage. The homestead
was located last May.
As soon as he is through
with his plowing. Farmer Irvine
will build a house and barn
and otherwise prenare to make
the homestead his permanent
home.
NEED IS URGENT
While ii is doubtful if the
elaborate program of street
work outlined earlier in the
summer will be carried out
this year, sufficient work is to
be done to prevent a recurrence
of the conditions existing dur
ing the past month, when rub
ber boots were needed to navi
gate the numerous ponds about
town. When the fall rains
begin, several of the principal
streets will be partially grad
ed. the low places filled and
provision made for the escape
of much of the surplus water.
Townsite Manager F. S. l{v
us has had a number of men
at work with teams for sever
al days and rapid progress is
being made with the work.
The improvement, which is in
the nature of emergency work
will include Market street and
portions of First, Second and
Third avenues.
RANKS SWELLED
BY RECRUITING
Washington—Officials <»f the
war department announce that
the regular army new numbers
more than 1510.000. consider
ahlv more than the authorized
war strength of the army. The
recruiting is going on steadily.
FLIER FAILS 10
Paris—An elaborate set of
pictures of the American army
camp in France, which were
taken by a German aviator,
were captured by French air
men today, following an excit
ing chase through the air. The
German was intercepted by
three French machines which
were returning from a scoui
ing flight over the German
lines. Fpon sight of the enemy
macliine.the French gave chase
and brought down the German
with a well directed shot. The
camera, with its valuable con
tents, was taken to headquar
ters.
MRS. RIGGS* RROTHER
HONORED ISY REPFMEIC
Frederick R. Couderf. a
brother of Mrs. Tims. Riggs.
.Jr., and a member of the old
established New York and Pa
ris law firm of Condert Pros.,
has been presented by the Re
public of France with the Cross
of the Legion of Honor, the
highest tribute accorded a civi
lian by that country. The
presentation was in recogni
tion of Mr. Coudert’s activities
in relief work among the child
ren of Northern France and
Relgium. Mr. Condert was in
France when the war started
and was one of the first to
recognize the need of and to
start the work of providing re
lief for the little war suffer
ers. He has been in France
once a year since that time and
on the occasion of his last visit
Mr. Courdet viewed the fighting
at perilously close range, hav
ing actually visited the firing
line, accompanied by his wife.
The firm of Condert is act
ing as counsel in the United
; States for the French, Ilritish
and Russian governments.
LUMBER TRUSTS
ARE THREATENED
BY GOV. LISTER
Olympia—< Jovernor Lister
lias announced that unless tin
lumber mill strike is settled b\
Saturday night, he will ask the
president of the United States
to name a special commissi or.
to co-operate with a state com
mission in the investigation ol
the lumber situation in th
Northwest. The trust has refits
ed to grant the demand for ai
eight hour day. as urged by tin
jgovernor in his proclamation
issued this week, and the in
| dications now are that tin
j strike is as far from settlement
i as ever.
London—The waT office an
nonnees today that tin* Ger
mans are making desperate ef
forts to recover the ground lost
by them to the l’ritish and
French during the past several
days. The enemy scored a tern
i porarv success this morning
near Loos, but they were fore
ed hack Liter in the day by tin
l’ritish, and ihe lines re-estab
lionu*—The Imperial Ger
man tiovernment hits assurei
the pope of the moral adln*siot
of that country to the peaci
plan |»ut forward by his lloli
n(*ss. It is reported here»lhai
I Austria is also disposed to sup
I port the plan.
WHITE HOUSE < ors
TO STOP DISORDER
Washington—The Whit*
House police have been instruc
ted to put a stop to the dis
orders resulting from the ar
tivities of militant suffragists
Further picketing of the Whitt
House will be prohibited am!
the display of unpatriotic ban
tiers will be followed by the ar
rest of the. offenders.
.MACHINISTS MAKE
TIIIIEAT OF STHIKF
New Yolk—The Interna
tional Association of Machin
ists is demanding tin* consid
eration of a new agreement,
officials of the organization
declared today that unless tin
demands of the men are grant
ed witin a few days, a general
strike will be called through
out the country. A strike would
result in suspending the work
in most of the steel ship build
ing plants in the United States.
SPOKANE FARMERS
HAVE ROPE READY
S p< >kan e—Farmers through
out the Snake river valley are
organizing a Vigilante Com
mittee to deal with the Indust
rial situation. Guards are be
ing stationed and every pre
caution taken to prevent dep
redations on the part of the I.
W. W. It is feared that an at
tempt will be made to set fire
to the grain fields.
The A. Y. X. messhouse at
St. Michael was destroyed by
fire early in July.
1
The water difficulties along
ithe right of wav, south of Ne
uana. resulting from tin.* shift
ing channel of the Nomina at
Lost slough. have lteen practi
joallv overcome. according to
< 'ommissioner Higgs, who was
on tlie ground several days
! during the week. At any rate,
Mr. Higgs says, the water had
started moving in another di
rection at the time lie left, on
|Thursday, and he believes the
troublesome channel has been
permanently diverted.
The first attempt to turn
the current away from Lost
slough having failed, tin* at
tacking forces were shifted to
a point it mile anil a half up
stream from the slough, where
a second and what appears to
! be a successful attempt w as
; made to divert the water. At
the time Mr. Higgs started
i for town the water was moving
back into the main stream
rapidly, with a consetpient low
ering of the water in Lost
slough. lly tomorrow, it is
thought, the water at that
point will lx* sulticiently low
ered to enable livestock to
cross without danger. Among
the lirst horses to cross very
likely will be ten head for the
grading camp of Herb Wilson.
Travel between the end of
!<he rna«l end the more remote
camps has been resumed, boats
having been provided at the
places where it is necessar\ to
cross tin* streams. New bridg
es, to replace those wrecked
by the high water, w ill be built
as rapidly as conditions will
permit, and it is expected that
all the damage will have been
repaired within a short time.
The grading south of Nena
na is now practically complete
as far as Thirtyfive mile and
the stationmen beyond that
point are reported as making
rapid progress with their work.
NEW PASTOR HERE
10 TAKE UP WORK
Among tin* passing'*!-* arriv
ing <>n the steamer Alaska
early this morning were Rev.
ami Mrs. Hubert Devi, ac
companied by their son. ami
Rev -J. II. (’ondil, !>. I). l)r.
Di\on has come to tiik * ehaige
of flic Presbyterian chtiteii
\ ork in Neuana, which was
started^ early last moiitn !»\
Rev. F. L. Forbes. i> I
I >:•. Forbes part li.tsi b a sip
some time ago foe the new
church and cleared the groitml
ready foi the comme ic em. e t
of luildiug. lie j|s» m >< se
cured a very substantial sum
of money, contributed be Ra
pe pie of Xenana. which will
o long way toward defray
,ing the cost of the new struct
11 re.
! Dr. Fornlit is no a stranger
in this part "f Alaska, iie hav
jing lived for a nun-' ev .if
|years in Fairbanks whet- • h
' was pastor of the Presbyter
ian church in that town. Since
leav'ng the Interior he has
ban given entire charge ..f
:iie church work iu Alaska,
and be is here now for the
purpesr- of assisting in getting
the new church started., and
to make a general sum y of
the interior country.
As has already be-ai stated
in these columns. Dr. Devin
j hits spent a number of years
in church work on the < oast
of Alaska and eoui>*s to .\V
!nana prepared to make his
|(w-rmanent home her*.