The Nenana daily news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1918-1921, 1918-04-18
MINING MAN IS
BACK FROM LONG
VISIT ON COAST
Met Many Alaskans in San Francisco
and Seattle, and Reports
All Prospecting.

banks and other Interior Alaska
towns, arrived in Nenana yesterday
on his way to Ruby. Mr.. Jepson
is straight from San Francisco and
left this morning for his home in
the lower Yukon country.
In speaking of conditions on the
coast and especially in San Fran
cisco, Mr.. Jepson stated that Frisco
was experiencing the same war boom
that has made Seattle such a thriv-
ing town these days. The ship
building is carried on extensively in
California, he stated, but Seattle il
still long ways in the lead. In
Frisco, as we'll as in Seattle, there
appears to be an excess of common
labor, which is drug on II e mar
ket, and has a tendency to Keep
wages lover than they would other
wise be. Many have come vest,
says Mr.. Jepson, with the idea that
they can better their condition IN
the shipyards and other war in
dustries in and around San Fran
CISCO
While in California, Mr.. Jepson
visited Camp Fremont, just south
of San Francisco, and saw 100000
American soldiers on parade. This
camp, which has recently been es-
tablished by the government, is to
accommodate a quota of 100000
men and will be a concentration
camp for all coast volunteers. Mr..
Jepson stated that the camp was
an ideal place, and the climate fine.
Volunteers are responding at a good
rate, and it is his opinion that as
soon as the real need for men is
felt by the people, that there will
be more men than the government
can handle readily At the present
time, he says, they are enlisting in
California faster than they can be
rugged out by the enlistment bureau.
The Red Cross work in Frisco re-
ceives the best support that it can
be afforded, he stated. In one week
an attempt was made by the Red
Cross authorities to raise $4,000
j in seven days. The parades and
/ demonstrations were held and in
three days the funds subscribed
amounted to 100000. Not only
once or twice in long period, but
/ the Red Cross drives are carried o.
every week or so, says Mr.. Jepson.
While in San Diego, Mr.. Jepson
spent several days at Camp Kearney
where the aeroplane squadrons are
in training and saw the review of
aviators and foot soldiers, in COM
pany with the marines. He says
that the aviation fields there are
wonderful and some of the best
flyers in the world are there in
structing the numerous students.
Mr.. Jepson had trouble getting
around Frisco. Nearly everywhere
you go, he says, it is necessary to
have a pass from the authorities.
In order to even get near a dock
it is the common order of things
to produce a pass with two copies
of your picture on it. Even the
captain of a steamer was unable TO
get back to his boat without his
pass.
frank Manley was also in San
Francisco and was heavily interested
in the oil business.
Frank Berry and two brothers are
spending the winter at their home
in California and are perfectly sat
isfied, having no wish to return to
Alaska.
In Seattle, Mr.. Jepson saw Alex
Capewell, who is in the restaurant
business. Capewell is doing a thriv-
ing business, having big trade from
the laborers and longshormen. He
has his place in the New England
. block on First avenue. He told Mr.
Jepson that he was averaging $3.50
! a day while business was on the
; boom.
While in Seattle, Mr.. Jepson saw
: Bill McPhee, Bill was holding the
pavement. down, doing very little