Buy Your Outfit in Nenana--Save Time, Money, Trouble
THE NENANANEWS
VOLUME IV
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
NENANA, ALASKA, THURSDAY, FEB. 8, 1923.
NUMBER 411
TURKS SEND ULTIMATUM TO THE ALLIES
ORDER SHIPS OF WAR REMOVED FROM SMYRNA
MEARS EXPLAINS PLAN FOR HANDLING RIVER TRAFFIC
MEARS ENROUTE TO ALASKA
TALKS TRAFFIC AGREEMENT
SEATTLE, Feb. 8—Col. F. Mears
chairman and chief engineer of the
Alaskan Engineering Commission,
who has been in Washington in con
nection with the annual railroad ap
propriation, arrived from the Easl
this week and will sail for the
North on the steamer Alameda on
February 24.
The colonel reports that plans for
the opening of a vast area in the
Interior for connection with the Al
aska Railroad are being evolved;
that the steamers General Jacobs
and General Davis, will operate
■next summer between Nenana and
St- Michael, beginning between the
middle of May and the first of
June. The boats have been turned o
ver to the railroad by the war de
partment, and it is the intention
to make a traffic agreement with
the White Pass and Yukon Route
for service on the upper Yukon.
While in Washington, the colonel
gave the following explanation at a
committee hearing, in connection
with his request for funds for the
operation of steamers in connec
tion with the railroad.
“I had a conference with the
White Pass people when I passed
through Seattle. We have long seen
that the natural outlet for this coun
try is through the railroad instead
of the river, for this reason: The
ice goes out of the Tanana River
about the 1st of May—from the 1st
to the 12th of May—and a very- few
days after that the river steamers
can navigate the Tanana and navi
gate the Yukon. In other words,
early in June any of these towns
along the Yukon river can be served
from a base at Nenana. The ice
comes down the Yukon, and there is
quite an ice jam near the mouth. It
is an earlier operation from this
point on the railroad at Nenana
than it is from St. Michael or
Whitehorse.
"There is not a gTeat deal of
commercial tonnage up river on the
Yukon above the confluence with
the Tanana. These little towns do
hot call for much tonnage; but there
is considerable tonnage at places
like Ruby and Nuiato. At the latter
point smaller boats take the freight
and carry it up the Kovukuk River
Down at Holy Cross they transfer
it into smaller boats which deliver
ft into this mining district near
Iditarod.
“WTe have some statistics which
show the total freight tonnage for
this section that I have described,
which amounts to about 3,500 tons
for the season, and with the ar
rangement which we hope to make
with the 'White Pass & Yukon peo
ple I am confident that this tonnage
will be routed over the railroad in
the future instead of up from St.
Michaels, from which we will get
the benefit of a freight haul in ad
dition to the revenue from the boats
on the river. There is also in pros
pect some more tonnage from these
big silver and lead mines on the
Stewart river near the new mining
district up-stream from Dawson a
bout 200 miles. They have been
taking that tonnage as I say, by
barge and river steamer 2.000 miles
and delivering it to ocean carriers
who take it to the smelters at
Tacoma. We have practically agreed
iwith the White Pass people, pend
/
ing the approval of the sec-ertary
t and the result of these hearings here
!to take this tonnage into Xenana,
i which would give us 8,000 tons of
I ore for the 1923 season. This would
! be routed out over the railroad and
j delivered to the ocean carriers at
! Anchorage; that would do away
j with that tremendously long river
j haul that they are now carrying on.
j “If that arrangement goes thru
jwe would let the White Pass Com
] any operate boats from Stewart
: River to Xenana getting what small
commercial business there is in this
district, and we would operate cur
boats from Xenana down river to
; Holy Cross and St. Michael, in so
! far as is necessary for the service
: of that country. The big tonnage
j for our line would be between Holy
i Cross and Xenana.”
AGREEMENT STANDS
l WASHINGTON, D. C. Feb. 8—
The American Debt Commission
does not desire to make more fa
jvoruble terms with debtor nations
; than those embodied in the settle
ment agreement reached with the
: British, according to a statement
made today by Representative Bur
jton. Republican, of Ohio, appearing
before the house ways and means
: committee.
COSTA RICA SIGNS PACT
WASHINGTON, D. C. Feb. 8—
A protocol has been signed by the
; United States and Costa Rica el
| iminating difficulties dating back
many years and affecting possible
! future developments in connection
with the Nicaraguan canal route
! across the isthmus.
RETAIL MERCHANTS GATHER
CHICAGO. FEB. 8,—Nearly ev
ery state in the Union has sent del
, egates to the third annual conven
tion of the Interstate Mereants'
j Council which opened here yester
! day. The organization has 1,000
; members in 33 states. Business
! building plans and ideas for the
retailer will be talked of by per
sons of national prominence.
The Interstate Mereants’ Council
organized two years ago by the
Chicago Association of Commerce
is strictly a retail association and
in this way represents conditions
close to the consuming public.
NEW RECORDING OFFICE
A recording office has been cre
ated at Wasilla for the Willow
Creek section, the lower Susitna
and the upper Cook Inlet district,
j Frank B. Cannon, old-timer and
former member of the Territorial
Legislature, has been appointed
Commissioner, with headquarters at
W asilla.
i Frank Dufresne, for many months
i a deputy marshal at Nome, has re
j signed his position and taken the po
sition of fur inspector.
About 20 men are in the Inma
ehuk district this winter prospect
j ing and making preparations for
next summer’s operations.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Eeb, X—
The Turkish commander at Smyrna
t
yesterday informed the commander
of the Allied warships that be
had received orders to in
force their withdrawal if they re
fused to comply with the Turkish
order to leave Smyrna.
British Not Worrying
j LONDON, Feb. 8—The British
! government will not pay any at
tention to the Turkish ultimatum,
according to official announcement
made yesterday afternoon. The gov
ernment takes the stand that there
is nothing in the armistice agree
ment prohibiting the presence of
warships at Smyrna.
America. Not In It
WASHINGTON, D. C. Feb. 8—
: Naval officers state that the Turkish
. ultimatum ordering Allied warships
(to leave Smyrna has no application
| to the American destroyer Edsall
which is not at Smyrna. The Ldsail
is under the 1,000-ton limit fixed
by the Turks, and is not an Allied
vessel.
Time Extended
CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 8—
The governor of Smyrna has in
formed the French consul that he
has extended the time 24 hours the
time in which the Allied vessels are
to leave the harbor. The time limit
had been expended, he explained
in order to give him time to hear
from the Angora government.
Situation Easier
LONDON, Feb. 8—The Smyrna
situation is considerable easier to
day, according to information given
out by British officials, Who now
express the belief that there will
be no fight at Smyrna, as it is
believed the ultimatum will be with
drawn.
SOVIET LEADERS DECIDE
TO KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE
MOSCOW. Feb. 8—Soviet leaden
in a series of conferences, have
definitely decided against Russian
participation in any European or
Near Eastern war which may de
velop from tine Ruhr or Lausanne
situation. The Soviet government
will defend itself if attacked* but
will take no active part in any con
flict outside of her own territory,
even to aid German workers in the
event of the development of a re
' volution in Germany.
TEXAS FIRE FATAL
EL PASO, Feb. 8—Two men and
one woman lost their lives in a fire
which destroyed the St. Charles
hotel here this week. Five were in
jured.
STEAMERS COLLIDE
• SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. S—The
passenger liner Wilhelmina and the
wooden motor ship Sierra collided
yesterday 20 miles out from Gol
den Gate. The motorship was taken
in tow by tugs which rushed to
the rescue but the liner apparently
was little damaged.
DRILLERS TAKE OPTIONS
Drillers connected with the Stand
ard and other big companies now
drilling at Coal Bay, are deserting
to promote independent companies
according to late reports from Kan
atak says the Valdez Miner. On a
recent steamer from the westward
were two former Standard Oil men
hurring to New York with options
on Cold Bay claims. They said the
feeling prevails among thlm the
drillers that oil pools of great value
will be tapped by the drillers now at
i Cold Bay. Both men rushing east
held options on five claims each, the
limit allowed in one holding. These
claims had been located, surveyed
and permits issued, and they hope to
secure funds with which to pay for
the options. The latest word from
Ranatak indicates that the drilling
outfits are ready to start, if they
[have not already begun operations.
CUNO SAYS GERMANS ARE
DETERMINED AS EVER
BERLIN. Feb. 8—Chancellor Cu
no, who has “jus: returned to Berlin
after a tour of the occupied area,
issued a statement in which he said
he was convinced the determination
of the population to resist French
coercive measures is just as strong
as when the occupation began
Occupy New Town»
ESSEN, Feb. 8—The German in
formation bureau has announced
that the French have occupied Len- ]
nep, the Rhenish textile city of
Wells and two smaller towns near
1TALY DISCOVERS PLOT
ROME, Feb. 8—As the result !
j of numerous arrests of communist;
agitators in various parts of Italy
the police claim to have obtained
positive evidence of a vast plot 1
to overthrow the Fascist) govern- j
ment.
__
.
OPH1R OFFICIAL QUITS
B. B. Smith, after a long term as
commissioner of the Ophir precinct,
: resigned that office recently, his
resignation taking effect on Decem
ber 30, says the Kusko Ttmes. He
' is now on his way to the Outside,
i where he will visit with relatives in
! California. Regarding his plans, Mr.
Smith says there is nothing defin
i ite, but the probabilities are that
he will return to the Qphir section
after a few months on the Outside.
! Chris Bolgen. well known oldtimer,
succeeds Mr. Smith as Ophir com
missioner, his appointment dating,
from January 1. The appointment!
is a popular one, says the Jimes, I
Mr. Bolgen having had the hearty [
' indorsement of the Ohir Igloo of
Pioneers.
The American Mining and Milling
Company at Hyder was the first
company to ship over the new dock
! 22 tons of ore worth $200 per ton
being sent to the smelter in Tacoma
PRESIDENT URGES CONGRESS
TO APPROVE DEBT FUNDING
WASHINGTON', D. C. Feb. 8— j
President Harding, in a personally!
delivered message, delivered at a :
joint session of Congress yesterday
asked congressional approval of the
war debt funding agreement neg
otiated with Great Britain, as a
“recommitment of the English spea- j
king wold to the validity of the j
contract.” Coupled with this appro
val the President requested the en
actment of the administration ship!
subsidy bill because “it is as im- j
portant to avoid losses as it is to
secure funds on debts."
The President pointed out that
ample time remains for action on
both measures before adjournment
of Congress on March 4.
Alluding indirectly to proposals to j
attach to congressional approval of
the debt funding measure a soldier
bonus bill, the President reminded
the lawmakers that wartime author- j
ization of the loans contained in
itself a stipulation chat when the!
money is repaid to be applied on the !
repayment of Liberty bonds and
other Government issues.
The President read the report of '
the American Debt Funding com- >
mission describing the settlement i
as “fair and just to both govern
ments” and predicting that it '
“would make a most important j <
contribution to international stab- :
ility.” 11
His appeal for aAion on the 1
shipping bill, the President said, i i
was prompted by suggestion that !
its opponents would seek to prevent ;
a roll call before the end of tihe j1
session. "I lead for a decision,” the ’
President said. “If there is a fa-11
i
vorable . majority, the bill should j <
be accepted. If the majority is op- ! 1
posed defeat will be decisive.”
; t
President Criticised
Commenting on the message de-! ^
livered by President Harding Sen-1^
ator Harrison, of Mississippi, criti-1 ^
cized the executive today for coup- ^
ling the ship subsidy with the debt ■ ^
funding report. The senator told
the senate the President had “de- ^
cended from his high pedestal and, c
insulted the senate.” ! t
Jones Boosts Bill
Senator W'estley Jones, of WTash-i'
ington, addressing a convention of; *■
the National Marine association yes-; c
terday, declared that the farmers. !r
more than any group in the country J
would benefit bv the immediate pas- L
:}.
sage of the shipping bill. He assert
ed that it will giv# the farmer j r
cheaper transportation for his pro- j •
ducts in American bottoms.
MAKES LONG FLIGHT
RIO JANEIRO. Feb. 8—Lieut.
Wralter Hinton, American aviator,
arived here this morning complet
ing a seaplane flight from New
York.
Robert Beggs came in from Healyjh
yesterday. a
/ETERANS REACH AMERICA
FROM RHINE OCCUPATION
SAVANNAH, Feb. 8—The trans
mit St. Mihiel, with 908 officers
md men, comprised the last of the
American forces of occupation, ar
rived at Tybee bar yesterday noon
md proceeded immediately to quar
mtine, convoyed by the cutter Ya
nacraw and tug McCauley.
For many of the soldiers aboard
t was their first sight of American
soil in more than five years. They
vere greeted by an enthusiastic
welcome by the thousands on the
iock, and the cheering on shore was
inswered yell for yell by the vet
?rans, who danced frantically about
he deck and there hats in the air.
rhe wives and children of 24 of the
,-eterans clung to the rail and gazed
it the land which will be their
ruture home.
Land At Charleston
CHARLESTON, Feb. 8—The
St. Mihiel arived here this morning
md the men on board were disem
barked during the day, without
•eremony. The transport will sail
"or New York tonight.
SPECIAL DEPARTMENT AGENT
IS CALLED TO WASHINGTON
L'nder telegraphic instructions
From Seeertary Fall, George I..
3oy!e, inspector for the Interior
Department, who has been in Ala*
ta during the last several months
eft Juneau recently for a confer
■nce with the Secretary. A state
nent to this effect was made b\
lim to the Empire.
While he declined to comment on
he matter, it is believed that the
onference will be on the Alaskan
ituation and may involve future po~
icies of the Interior Department in
hh Territory. This is indicated by
he nature of the work Mr. Boyle
tas been doing since coming to Al
iska last October. This has carried
dm into Interior districts, over
irtually all of the Alaska railroad
listricts through the major portion
T Southeastern Alaska, to nearby
Jritish Columbia points.
Although he has not complete!
he program set for himself, which
nciuded visits to every judicial di
ision, it is believed that the Secrc
ary desires to discuss the situation
rith him, as far as he has been able
0 study it this far, before retiring
rom office on March 4th, next,
is far as can be learned, Mr. Boyle
as not attempted to make any
tudy of the various bureaus or get
heir viewpoints, but has met and
alked with men engaged in virtua
f all lines of endeavor, mining men
oth operators and miners, cannery
perators and independent fishe’
len. sawmill operators, timbermen
nd loggers, merchants, bankers and
thers. FYom these he apparently,
as attempted to get the views of
esident Alaskans as to department
olicies end Alaskan problems in
■hich the Department of Interior
1 interested. He expects to return
i Alaska in the near future to
omplete his work.
Charles Hawkins, employed as a
rakeman on the Chitina-Kennecotr
jn got his fingers caught in the
umpers between cars last week and
ad one so badly mashed it was
mputated at the first joint.