LOCAL COAL DEVELOPMENT IS
URGED AT CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE MEETING
The need for cheaper fuel and th*
of high grade coal in the Cape Lis
burne region were the chief themes
speakers that a large number of peo
ple who leave for the States in the
fall would remain here to prospect
for gold deposits if the present price
of fuel was not prohibitive. Others.
1t was said, would be only too willing
to remain and exploit the widespread
low grade deposits if coal was at a
price which would permit a margin
of profit to the operator.
The meeting was held in the din
ing room of the Rahlke Cafe and
was preceded by a dinner in which
a number of non-members were in
vited to participate. Following the
repast, the meeting was called to
order by President Thorulf Leh
mann. The reports of Secretary A.
Pnlet and Treasurer O. S. Weaver
were then presented and read. The
secretary's report proved to be a
most illuminating and decidedly in
teresting document covering the
wide range of Chamber activities
during the past year and pointing
out the numerous unselfish and
highly valuable services rendered
the community and district in that
period. The report described the
Chamber of Commerce as “the steer
ing wheel of every effort that has
been made." to further the com
munal welfare and prosperit> The
Chamber’s efforts in behalf of the
gold bonus bill; the attempt to se
cure a power boat for the use of
the Nome Coast Guard in its life
saving work: the prompt action tak
en to suppress the ill advised
SEIDENVJM
Where Quality Reigns
Complete Outfitters
for Ladies, Men’s and
Children’s in ready
to-wear or yard goods
Out of town buyers
will kindly drop us a
line and your needs
will be attended to
promptly
SHEAP JOHN STORE
WHOLESALE & RETAIL
[ knocking” of Nome by outside
Curry Hill; the excellent results
achieved in the matter of securing
road- for the district and the suc
cessful effort io secure an appropria
tion for the purchase of the Nome
Kougarok railroad as the Initial unit
with numerous other activities, such
as the change secured in the time
of allotment of territorial road
funds; the attempt to organize a
community lighterage plant and se
cure a stable source of coal supply,
the efforts to secure lower freight
and lighterage rates, and fuel oil.
were touched upon in the report and
disclosed a much wider range of ser
vice to the community than the aver
age person Is even remotely aware
of. Mr. Polet also stated that ef
forts ure now under way to secure
more adequate coastwise mail ser
vice; lower traffic charges between
Nome and Seattle, and resumption
of weekly mail service to the outly
ing districts In conclusion he
referred to the completion of the
Snake River harbor, the excellent
publicity work of the Chamber, the
establishment of radio communica
tion between Nome and Anadyr. Si
beria. and also asserted that the
coining season will witness a reduc
tion in steamship rates, and in all
probability a lessening of lighterage
charges, with resultant decreases in
the prices of supplies. He also
complimented the Nome Nugget for
what was termed its “ever ready as
sistance" in furthering the work of
the Chamber by publicity means and
declared such services to have been
of immeasurable value to the Cham
ber of Commerce and the industrial
development of this section.
al elections followed the
reading of the report and resulted
President.. Ralph Lomen
Vice Pres. .4J B Jailiaij
Secretary..Polet
Treasurer. .. O S. Weaver
Board of Directors.J. J. Keen
an. W. J. Rowe. John Hegness, Win
Webb. Th. Lehmann.
National Counselor.
. Geo r». Schofield
The newly elected officers briefly
addressed the Katherine announcing
their intention to work for the best
interests of the community and the
G. R. Jackson next addressed the
gathering on the coal situation and
starter! a train of thought in the
direction of securing cheaper fuel
that was reflected in practically all
the subsequent speeches d iring the
| evening Approximately $230.in *
| was paid out here for labor bv differ
| ent employers last fall. Mr. Jackson
I said. Most of it would have staid
in the community and been devoted
! to prospecting and mining if cheap
1 er coal had been obtainab’e. he as
serted, but as a result of the pre
vailing high price for that commod
ity most of the wage earner* pr*Vr
red to go outside rather than remain
idle here. Referring to the out
look for obtaining local coal, he
said that although it appeared difll
i cult to utilize the vast deposit at
Lisburne. in reality the coal of that
district could be easily brought to
the local market and an effort ?hou!d
be made in that direction. The ef
fect of the present high price of copI
was to drive people out of the eou .
try. he declared, hut by making use
of the local product they would not
only remain here but others would
come, with resultant increases ot in
dustry in various field.-. He ♦hen
pointed out that inasmuch as under
present conditions the community
puts up the money for outside coal,
he could see no reason why the peo
ple of the district should not co
operate in a plan to secure Lisburt**
coal for the local market instead of
sending the money away. The Lis
burne product is the only really
good coal available, he said and if
mined and placed on the market, the
miners would be able to stay here
and develop the country “Cheap
fuel," he declared "is the key to
development. ”
Following Mr. Jackson’s address.
President Lomen spoke to the «m°
effect and called attention to the fact
that the whalers and revenue cutters
had coaled at Llsbnrne for years
The problem of cheaper fuel, he said,
Bummed down to little more than
a question of securing proper trans
portation means to bring the coal to
market.
Ira Rank told the gathering that
he knew of an instance in which ono
of the missionary societies repre
sented at Point Hope had shipped in
ir> tons of outside coal at a cost of
$75 per ton. when it could have
hired a few natives and obtained all j
the coal desired from Lisburne. 15
or 20 miles away, for a cost of about
$10 per ton or less.
Postmaster John Hegness suggest- j
ed that as the Liebes Company trad
er Herman comes bore from the
North twice a year with a compara-1
tively empty hold, that vessel might,
possibly be secured t6 transport coal .
from Lisburne to Nome. Ho su'd :
he was informed the coal could he j
mined, sacked, and placed on the
beach ready for shipment for about j
Fred Deimer of the Nome Lighter- j
age Company spoke on transporta
tion. asserting that the Alaska S P.
Company is figuring on reduciug
rates to Nome next summer and that
his company was also con tern pin ing
a reduction in lighterage charges
Supt. Chas. Jones of the local
branch of the Alaska Road Commis
sion said he was advised that both
the federal and territorial road
boards had reported favorably on
the purchase of the Nome-Kougarok
railroad and the only present ob
stacle to the purchase was that the
Pioneer Mining Company wants th©|
Whole $30,000 appropriated by the
legislature for purchase and rehabil-(
itation. while the commissioners con
sider $20,000 a fair price for the
system. The speaker said he un
derstood that the Alaska Road
Commission is ready to spend $50,
000 to rehabilitate the road, convert
it into a motor or tram line and
construct a road extension from the
end of the railroad to Candle. The
Commission also intends to push
construction on the Nome-Council
road, opening a route for auto travel
between the two points. In con
clusion Mr. Jones said that Col.
Steese. -Major Gotwals and Surveyor
Geueral Karl Thiele, after looking
over the various districts last sum
mer. were convinced of the impera
tive need for more roads and will
assist in every way possible to give
us what wo need in that line. Re
ferring to the fuel problem, the
speaker endorsed the views of Mr.
Jackson and said he was informed
that the citizens of the Kotzebue
section had pledged themselves to
purchase 1000 tons of Lisburne coal
from Messrs. Stringer and McIntosh,
who are attempting to promote a
company to exploit the Lisburne
mines owned by McIntosh, and sug
gested that the Chamber of Com
merce would do well to communicate
with them and aid their efforts if
possible.
Geo. S. Maynard outlined the
Strlnger-Mclntosh project, stating
that the two men are attempting to
float a company outside and suggest
ed that the Chamber of Commerce
should communicate with them by
telegraph as to the progress they are
tmamc
that after twenty years of residence,
many of us must leave merely be
cause of the lack of cheap fuel when
vast quantities of excellent coal are
available in the district. He did
not believe, however, that any of the
local boats were suitable for bring
ing coal from Lisburne and also ven
tured the opinion that the coal could
not be brought here and sold for
less than $20 a ton. But even that
price, he said, would be satisfactory
and enable a great increase in min
ing activity. Referring to business
and industrial conditions during the
past year, Mr. Reed said it was a
very satisfactory year in all lines.
Mining operations were more exten
sive and more gold was produced
than for several years past. The
fishing business had shown consid
erable improvement and the fisher- j
men were unable to secure enough j
herring to fill their orders. He;
said he fully expected next year’s
herring pack to total approximately
3,000 barrels. More dredges will
operate next summer than in several
years, and he was also informed that
transportation costs would be re
duced, this year, with resultant les
sening in the price of fuel and other
commodities. Mr. Reed said there
should be a boom in oil and inform
ed the gathering that 70 oil land
claims were ptaked in the Pt. Barrow
district. 30 in the Shiamareff section
and others near Teller and Nome
during the past open season. Sev
eral outfits were coming to drill for
oil that he knew of and others could
probably be expected.
J. J. Keenan, winter manager of
the Alaska Mines Corporation, said
his company was planning on doing
big things in this section and if the
projects on which General Manager
Stines is engaged Outside this winter
were put through there would be a
great increase In local industry and
NOME—KOl'GAROK RAILROAD CROSSING NOME RIVER
production.
A. G. Blake detailed his observa
tions during his survey o fthe rail
road and the wagon road route to
Candle for the Alaska Koad Com
mission last summer and told the
assemblage it would require close to
9no.000 to place the railroad line
in proper state for travel. Three
large bridges must be repaired, he
said, and this alone would require
a considearble sum. Mr. Blake
said he thought a road suitable for
light traffic could be built from
the end of the railroad to Candle at
small cost, as the country to be trav
ersed is generally flat, with shallow
streams and no heavy grades.
District Attorney Fred Harrison
urged cooperation in local develop
ment and commended the dinner
meeting plan inaugurated by the
Chamber.
Judge G. J. Lomen, retiring chair
man of the Board of Directors also
praised the dinner meeting*plan and
after discussing the coal question a*
some length said the Chamber of
Comimerce coal committee should
take up the Lisburne coal matter at
G. A. Adams. Alfred J. Lomen, W.
J. Keene. Geo. Hilfrich. Mitchell
Weinberg. F. M. Kiesele. J. E. Stan
groom and E. L. Holt also address
ed the meeting on various topics,
afTering in some instances valuable
suggestions or information relative
to the activities and problems of the
listrict.
LOWER YUKON TRAFFIC
TIE-UP IN PROSPECT
That the White Pass Company
will not maintain its steamboat ser
vice on the lower Yukon during the
coming summer and that there will
probably be no river transportation
service below Dawson unless the
government establishes a line of
boats between St. Michael and upper
river points, is the disquieting inti
mation conveyed in a letter to the
Nugget from G. A. Anderson, the
widely known Juneau music dealer
and piano man, whose piano repair
ing tours of the Territory have made
him acquainted with every import
ant town in the territory.
Writing under date of November
7th, Mr. Anderson says:
“Sorry I could not visit your city
this past summer. Transportation
was very uncertain and the White
Pass boats, although running, were
very uncertain as to service. Next
summer ! may secure a small launch
of my own and in that way not have
to depend on the steamship service
on the river.
“I understand that the White Pass
Company will not accept any passen
ger transportation below Dawson
during the coming year and I pre
sume that the U. S. government will
have to do something for the lower
river country in the transportation
line, or the people will be up against
the transportation problem worse
than they ever were.
“In order that Nome and other
points in that section may derive
some benefit from the new govern
ment railroad line, a line of boats
will 'have to be maintained on the
lower river by the government and
it seems to me that the sooner your
community begins to ‘kick’, the
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
In conformity with the usual cus
tom. the Nome Lodge of Odd Fel
lows, on Friday evening held the!*
annual installation of officers. The
following is the order of the new
nresiding officers:
Wm. Sin hold
Frank Dufreane .
James Bogan. . .
Earl Modtni. . . .
A. A. Shannon..
F. J. Bourdon.
Thos. Kohanic. .
Fred Mebea.
Victor Anderson
Chas. Johnson .
Floyd Wheeler .
Carl Johnson . .
Albin Poison . . .
Gust Johnson. . .
. Secretary
.Treaaurer
. Conductor
. . Chaplain
WEATHER REFORT
Lowest temperature recorded up to
' f» a. m. at U. S. Weather Bureau.
( By L. R. Morris )
Date Temp. Barom. Wind
JOINT INSTALLATION OF
PIONEERS OF ALASKA
ANI> WOMEN PIONEERS
On .Saturday evening the two
branches of the Pioneers of Alaska
held their annual installation of of
ficers in Pioneer Igloo. After the
regular ritual form of the installa
tions had been concluded. Judge G.
J. Lomen. with a pertinent and well
selected address. presented Past
President emblems to past presi
dents. A. Poiet and C. F Rice. The
business of the two organizations
being concluded the hall was thrown
open to the public as invited guests
of the Pioneers and dancing was en
joyed until a late hour. The Pio
neers are well known hosts and this
evening’s entertainment was in
keeping with former functions. A
dainty lunch was served in the din
ing room of the Igloo, to which all
were welcome.
Music was furnished by the Moose.
Orchestra assisted by Ira Rank and
Sam Anderson.
The following officers were in
Igloo No. I, Pioneers of Alaska
Robert James .
John A. Wilson
Barney Lande
E. Griium....
Elmer Reed. . .
Chas. Leacher
Ivan Schelke .
Peter McIntosh.
Jask Starr
Howard Shade.
Past President
.... President
.Secretary
.Treasurer
.Chaplain
.Historian
.Sgt. at Arms
.Door Keeper
.Librarian
(3 yr. term) Trustee
Igloo No.1 Pioneer Women of Alaska
Mrs. C. Leecher . . . Past President
Mrs. R.W.J. Reed. President
Mrs. T. Lyle .Vice. Pres.
Mrs. C. C. Crooks. . . .Sec. Vice Pres.
Mrs. Adelaide Monahan. .Treasurer
Mrs. Andy Anderson .Chaplain
Mrs. Louis Stefansson.... Historian
Mrs. O. H. Flowers.Marshal
Mrs. Louise Rauma. . . Inside Guard
Mrs. Nels Swanberg. Mrs. O. S
Weaver, and Mrs. Jennie Tiffany
were elected as trustees.
COUNCIL MEETING
The bi-monthly meeting of the
Nome City Council was held Monday
evening. Jan. !>th, with all members
present except Mayor Rice. The
Mayor is confined to his residence
with an injured arm and Councilman
Maynard presided as acting mayor
during the meeting.
A warrant for was
drawn from the general fund and
placed in the School fund, after
which *3.300. Oft was transferred
from the School Fund to School
Treasurer Nels Swanberg for school
purposes. The Territorial Treas
urer recently remitted $2300.00 for
the School Fund so of the $3300.00
only $1000.00 was taken from the
revenues of the city for the main
tenance of the school.
At the conclusion of the regular
routine business of the meeting,
visitors were given the opportunity
to address the city council. One or
two business men took exception to
a matter that had never been acted
upon by the Council, namely, the
financing of the removal of snow
from Front street. It developed
I that instead of the city financing the
j project it was being done by the
i wide awake business men of the cen
tral portion of the business district.
It was succinctly suggested that
other citizens could get Bimiliar re
sults by pursuing the same policy.
KOUGAROK NEWS NOTES
The Kougarok mail arrived Wed
nesday In charge of Carrier Charles
Carr, who made the round trip from
Nome to Taylor and return in the
record time of seven days.
Carr reported that supplies are
being hauled to the camps of the
Kelliher and the Bering Dredging
Companies dredges for use next
summer and some mining activities
are in progress along the Kougarok.
Wells brothers. located on the
Kougarok near Taylor Creek, are
taking out a dump, with prospects
of a good cleanup in the spring.
Paul Kruger is prospecting on
Coarse Gold creek. Carr also re
ported that Martin Robinson is en
gaged in trapping on Coarse Gold.
Isador Fix is at Shelton awaiting
favorable weather to start on a trap
ping expedition.
j About fifty persons are located at
[ the Kruzagamapa Hot Springs this
I winter. Carr said, and everything
j was in good shape. He was inform
i ed that a number of Nomeites are
! expected to visit the Springs in the
(near future. There are lots of
; ptarmigan and rabbits in the inter
I ior, he said, but only one fox was
1
Carr will return to the Kougarok
with the next mall for the interior
February 1st.
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