THE KUSKO TIMES
TAKOTNA. ALASKA, MAY 7. 1937
YOL. 1. NC* 14.
PRICE, 28 CHKTS
OPHIR CITIZENS
ftSK COMMISSION
TO IMPROVE FIELD
(By Special Correspondenth
During the past few days a peti
tion addressed to the Alaska Road
Commission, in support of a petition
already on file with the Commission.,
asking for some very much needed
improvements to the Ophir airplane. >
field, has been circulated in Op sir
The petition has already been signed
by everybody who could reach town
during the week. It was circulate
when Ophir citizens IVarned recently
that funds have been allotted for the
improvements to the fields at Mc
Grath and Takotira. but nothing for
the field at Ophir.
This is not surprising to resi
dents of Ophir, of course, as the
same thing has occurred through
the past years whenever appropri
ations have been made in this area.
Praises Anchorage
Hospital Staff For
Friendly Treatment
i By Special Correspondent i
Or. Tuesday of last week..Ralph' Sa
vory, piloting n Star p.ane. brought
Mrs. Arne Anderson and Grover
Curtlcr as passengers from Anchor
age.
Mrs. Andersen, who for more than
two weeks ago was taken stiddenlyr
ill and sent to the hospital at An>
onorage, returned in good health af
ter 16 days in. the hospital.
She speaks very highly of the fine
os re and treatment received at the
hospital.
Mr. Gnrtler. after spending the
winter in Seattle, has, after spend
ing a couple of days in Ophir, gone
hy plane to Spaulding Creek, wfcere
he will be engaged in operating th<r
drag’ins scraper for Vibe & Schwals
uall. Mr. Gurtler was engaged in tiiw
same capacity last summer fee tfe
seme mining firm..
NEWS NOTES FROM
THE NIXON MINES
BT MBS. R. A. MrSl'ELT
(Special Correspondent)
Mine Now Optratiiir—
The Nixon Mine is again: in oper
aiicn with a trew of. five men unds r
giound, but will start miH'.nir as soon,
as the water run1;. V» ith. the heavy
snowfall of this wtriher, a Ions n>ilL
ran is expected!
Jack Nixon Returns-—
Jack Nixon, an oldtimee in tbe
country, has returned, from the Out
side this week. Mr. Nix, n has been
Outside for sometime^ making his
heme in Seattle- and aiming at Dun
can. B_ C.
John Strand Arrives—
-ohn Stn.nu u: rved recently from
the Outside.
Sieve To Lower Oath it—
Ed Whelan and s«n> Jerry, have:
moved to their lower cahirr on Hof
mes Gulch for their simmer's placer
ope ratio ns.
Eellin Back From Trip East—
Matt Beilin arrived in camp from
s winter's visit in the States, going:
far East as Wisconsin
Makes Hurried Trip—
Chas. Mespelt made a hurried bus
iness trip to McGrath recently.
Getting In Mood Supply—
Rtd Richardson is getting in a
supply of wood for tfte summer, while
writing for the water to ran, when
hi will start sluicing ore upper Ruby
C reek.
To F.arie Creek—
■ ack E unn moved out on Eagle
C *k to 5»tepare for hi* summer's
v rk.
\\ nans Buys Berry's Store—
Cl nt Wii.ans has purchased the
P. rry Trad’ng Post nod roadhouse at
Siedf- a. Clint is at present moving
• f m Hidden Creek to his new hunru
•n the river.
F*.RMER LOSES ON BIG EGGS
'SI.AND FALLS, ME —Carl Ed
v is plenty |rev* d at his hena.
1 iit-y’ve been laying tljee > . ‘k • pg.
f- inear.U'Ka, h|r i » iwto'S
ti title is, eggs, .ill d bv the dor.
, r r„t the pound iu. Y-aA
WINANS PURCHASES
STORE AT MEDFRA
B? FRANK S. GTSKEY
.4 deal of great importance was'
consummated several days ago when
A. W. Berry sold oat hi* entire bus-t
iness at Medfra, A lash*, to C- M.
Winans. Mr. Beery established a
trading post about twelve years ago.
and later strengthened h by aco.uir
rag the business ofc F.. C. H. Spencer
The merger thus effected, ’was the
beginning of a thriving mercantile
business on the upper Kusketwim.
Starts Minis Farm
Mr, Berry then, eniaaged his plans,
caught a few mint himself and start
ed a mink farm that since has net
ted him good returns, upon his in
vestment and efforts, as he started
in on the ground floor and had a
chance to seH breeders when the
mink raising fad remUy hit the eoun
try.
•Cnee that time it has been a grad
ual climb up the laddea both from a
commercial and experimental stand
point. After much thought, he finally
derided that a change of locality
would be of more and fasting benefit
to Sim if he wished to continue in
the fur. farming business, so after
looking conditions over in other
places, he fiftally decided that he
should sell out and move. With this
idea uppermost in his mind, he load
ed up the last of his breeding- stock
of mink. 86' in all, in Barnhill's Stin
son, and flew to Anchorage, enioute
to his new home at Homeir, Alaska,
near the vicinity «f Seldovia Me.
states that the facilities there f«rj
raising mink are nearly as ideal as;
it is possible to find them in the Ter
ritory due to the fact that there is
a plentiful supply of fish at all times,
freieht is. much cheaper and more
reliable anti he will have a readier
market for his fur. which, by the
way, is ol a very high standard. j
Buys Sew Plane
He has purchased a new plane that
he intends to use in connection with i
his business. It is a two-place “Rear
win," 8S'- horsepower, and eau be op-,
erated very cheaply and safely, ac-j
cording to all reports.
Th? Berry family state that they!
are very ar,.ious to get settled in.
their nett home, wfim-e they intend
to combine busin.ss and. pleasure far]
from their oH haunts in the Kusko-j
tw in. W« all hope that they may]
realize to the fu Test their hopes for
a bet er t*sd fuller share of the]
things that g- <v make life pleasant.)
Wei! fvnewn Minis? Man
It fs needless to say that their)
successor, Mr. C. M. WI nans has the
s Tit-ere good wishes of ftTs many j
friends in his new venture. He ha-1
been in the Kuskokwfm watershed
for many years and has generally
fi ,’jwed mining as a profession. Mr.
Vi ro ns inten s to hydraulic his
round cn Hidden reek this summer,
h? ground already being prepared
end stripped for work'ng into the'
sluice boxes. During intervals this]
summer when wuler tr ay be scar :
>•» fia- plenty of wnrf cut out forj
h rnseff. He plan- to move jdl the'
store buildings and war. house* to e
more- compact position and higher up
from the river bank as- fi has been
BUREAU SHARPLY CRITICISE » d*
POUSSES DEALING WITH NATIVES
Startling- adlesrations shawirtr woe
ful neglect, callous indifference on the
part of tbe Bureau of Indian Affairs
male by Father Francis Frange, sup
ervisor at Holy Cross and the gieat
owtr river country of ths- Interkir.
e ea i. g death, and suffering- while
u&eiah unwind skeins of red tape,
j outlay a.tthcriratfon for expanse,
and lavmg emegtity transp<rta
« i npaid, were published in a
iscte of the Seward Gateway.
The article by Father Prange fol
uWs:
V. e art- told ’.hat fa t is s.ranger
than fiction. Yet, wh.n exampl.s to
'lustrate he di turn are ca"ed for,
-e ji-pon e is not quite so certa:n.
, : <.se f •'iv-in-? ~o Al
ka h. t i edit, and the honor cf
rtiv >ig »tVio its forders rn sll-time
i tsample of fhe truth of the
; ctDm that the followin'.- is written,
ij u ntally t puin a moral.
P< n »■ .dent Bureaa
‘•The T rri'ory. hors's 'f a r ed'-at
divi-iot) of tie- Bureau of Ind-an Af
fansi with, htadqpaiters in its capi
j cutting away at an alarming rate
for the last "few years.
Meets Oldtimers
While at Medfra the writer met
up with a few of the oldtimers. Jack
Nixon just returned from a trip to
; ne States and to his old home in
Ntw Zealand. He states that he is
feeling fine and intends to go to
work in the quartz mill this spring
far Mespelt & Company.
Jack Dunn is just as hale and
hearty as ever and seems to feel
that everything is as it should be as
he had a good catch of fur this win
ter and expects to take out a little
money on his “diggins" on Cleary
Creek this summer. He claims that
that sort of life agrees with him
and 1 think that it does as he seems
, to be living the life of “Reilly.”
Sorry that I did not have a chance
to meet up with Joe Sherwood who
just left for the mines before I ar
rived on the PAA “Pilgrim." Joe
has been at Medfra all winter, just
enjoying a change of pasture.
Mrs. Mespeh Drives Own Team
The writer had the pleasure of meet
ing Mrs. R. A. (Margaret) Mespelt,
the Special Correspondent of The
Knsko Times. She made a trip to
Medfra driving her own dog team. She
was accompanied by another team
driven by Jerry Whalen, son of E. M.
Whalen, another oldtimer of the
quartz district, who is now prospect
ing the ground that he was one of the
original discoverers of Life seemed
to agree with Mrs. Mespelt as she has
acquired a very healthy tan from life
out in the open trapping ard wrang
!:np dogs during the winter and
spring. ,
1 was indeed so’ ry that I did not
have the opportunity of vis't'ng the
mines and exchange greetings with
a’l the rest of the oldtimers there.
However, frowi all reports everything
seems to be Okay wi h them. I did
talk with Leo Rodrigue brer the
'phrne while at Medfra, nd if toe can
'udgf by efte tone of vo'ce, Leo must
be feeling at peace with the w.irld
and in > c-.>d health to say the least. ;
Red Richardson had a "touch of the
“flu” ct at camp so he ebos • 11 mb r
nate h his cabin and keep himself un
der quarantine so to speak, in order
o sa- he rest from falling heir to
he malady.
Ch'.rley and Dolf Mespelt are re
. -f.r :-l a- in good k 81 h r ore- Matt
' 'll'r. and the rest of tb. b vs and I
n’y h pe that next Fall wh n I go up
hi t way, I shall haw * - ••p •<> y- r.v
j. o see —ervone in person. In conrlu
—'on. r e writer wishes *'■ bank th •
W'naa-’ and Bob Durn f r 'h-. kinl
i rd e u» ous Atatn'^m accorded b‘m
'ui lrg hi short sojourn at Medfra
ma fc p s that he will be in a po . on
to return “he favor at some date in
'.e eir future.
j Mr- *:• hue- Visit Here—
; hew ’ r ka and M:ss M. Oelrich,
ch'v it ■& h r at V t ath. we w e,.
l nd . is or n Takot a, a r .’ig w
lot Savory Sunday and tetuming
Lante Mondev. Miss Oelneh’s senoo.
is out and she is planning a trip to
her h’Bv. in Nome this sumv.er.
a], nvo v.d.ng stationery and travel
ing nurses. doctors and hospitals at
. tr&Wgic points, for the sole benefit
£ he p or natives.
‘Parents from outlying districts
: ere trrn.forted with bureau aid to
he hospitals and after recovery, re
turned to the r ijs,,. jve hon.«s
wnh the same bureau aid. . :ius, th
..ck, njuted and d sense native
iven eve y blessing . o-.-.b e fc
ami y k. pt intact by cheatin d ath
jni fcj g-i.eral halo ■ n o
he native populat.on steadily ;mpr v
Z. .. v rds of the g v rn •_ it.
r be lie’.;, injured and cistuse. n ,.iv -s
b long .0 the bureau and r/t /
ou fl.’c s being done for hem, as
he ana ai fiscal s at, m cut of the
head off. ? proves.
*-■'Jr* > the rlination as nerally
vnet'vtd by the patient he* rer or
reeder. Unfortunately fer :ht na
tive and all others coat- i»ad dirt-'t
:y w:th the situation, all tli's is pure
fiction, good as it may sound, with
he frets pointing in qui e another
c:r. t ‘on. What are the facts behind
this fiction 7
Mrs. Libby Recovers
From Blood Poison;
Back From Hospital
Mrs. Dan Libby returns! from An
chorage i uesday with Ralph Savory
where she ha.- been for the past two
weeks undergoing medical treatment
lor blood poisoning.
The infection started from a bruise
above tlu ankle after lancing with a
razor blade. After setting up for two
I days and nights applying hot poultices
her condition growing steadily worse,
.Mr. Libby realized the necessity of im
mediate medical attention and called
a plane.
Pilot Savory answered the call, but
was unable to get through the pass on
account of weather conditions and was
i forced to return. The weather cleared
the following morning, permitting the
I patient to be rushed through to the
l A; chorage hospital.
The doctor nfiumed Mrs. Libby that
-he had arrived just in time. The in
! faction had traveled up above the
knee with a red streak extending to
the groin and the pattern was in a
vert- criti'-al condition. Immediate at
tention was given the case and the
rapidly spreading infection was
checked.
Mrs. Libby speedily recovered un
der the ?!’;,1ed and efficient medical
care given her during the ten days
spent in *he hospital.
We are glad to see her back, safe
and well, spreading a few laughs and
sunshine among her many friends in
Takotna.
Flat Operators Are
Having Difficulties
Freighting To Creeks
Gus Uo* 11a nd Fritz M. Awe
stopped over in Takotna for a few
minutes Tuesday night. They were
-"-o-'e Onhir with Pilot Savory.
After attending to some business in
Cphir, they returned to Flat Wed
nesday r.icrnirg.
Messrs. UotiFa and Awe sta* d
that "hey have been having a ‘tough
*:ne’ moving a dragl’ne from Fiat
: ut *o Moore Creek. They have the
eot-ipmen'* with n three miles of its
destination, “but it's a hard three
m'les." Vo*illa ?a:d. “Thor? is lots
of deep snow on Moore Creek." In
fact, we broke trail in moving the
Iraglinc. hrough seven feet of snow
an^i that wasn’t drifts, either. Other
••la os • had drifted in ten and
■ v.-; feet deep,’ the mining man
asserted.
"Tr '."ding fi d in Flat is entire
v gone and considerable overflow
. *••>(. j... at Idit*r«d at which
"k !r *rr • Ire; s f r Flat are forced
‘o 1-nd The landing field ai Moore
Creek will b go..d for another week
least.
T.'KCTNA SUNDAY SCHOOL
Mer oiy ' e sc—“l>»ve One Another
1 i<> e ; o*l” Tohn 15:12.
Th's week's fenday .school lesson
-• '' fc nk . t Jac- b & Esau. Gen.
■ 1“ *e 34
'’he Siinda;. School class, con
ducted by Mis? Ethyl Pease--od. :
•ek. in he Schoolfcous*- 11 p.m. .very
Scodsy. Everybody welcome.
Sav:np Money
"All pat in <• are NOi acceptable
ai a bureau hospital. 1 ubercular na
t-~ . re ivi n iclosed admission,
a s .iiiii: : ig -o.onged hospital
ji.-Ir.n a: . , v.-.'to. -f anti ait re
l tuned -o their h .os as so n a- pos
.1 e ; t bo h the tri able of
'•aring for thin: an„ tl-*e xp.nse. Ad
it i 1^1 me ji Jicy of hav.ng
. n tit.- . a h_. tiu.fl n th
. pi^a., s n t a ho.oi si ueath Send;
j we- i - -Jici-n y standard o.'
ho . i.i*l • -ah'. il* pr.nciple is:
save -he eoverr.nr.cnt n.oney,*- no.
ht s’ k native.
hat he 1 .rtau furnishes ■ rans
. r on f.r sick, injured or ti s?as
' J ni..i' 3 ' liosr ta!:, '? ant hr
p'-ar: oi ian. y hcti'n. ofl>vt by th-.
s meting fret?. Natives are HOT
furnished :c anl f oa government
hospital?. Authority for th: state
ment are the written words of Dr.
Van Ai kertn of Juneau, and Dr.
Corthell of Mt. Village. This can bs
verified in the offices of The Star Air
ways of Anchorage and of the P.A.A.
(C nunuetl to page 5)
ALLOT $30,000
FORTAKOTNA
NIXON HIGHWAY
Funds the building of the Nix
on Foiks road to deep water from
Takotna. and for improving the land
ing fields at Takotna, McGrath and
Bethel were appropriated from gov
ernment relief funds instead of from
Territorial funds as was stated last
week.
The amounts appropriated were:
£5,000 for the Takotna airfield: $10,
000 for the McGrath field; $50,000
for the building of a field at Bethel;
and $30,000 for the n ad from Ta
kntna to deep water.
The Road Commission will start a
small crew to work Monday doing
general clean-up work in preparation
for the spring rush.
E. A. Adams will start work with
a crew of six men and expects to
work up to a 15-man camp when the
season opens fuli blast. With the ar
rival of the first boat with needed
road equipment, the work will be
pushed with all possible speed.
HEIRS REIMBt RSEI)
MADISON. Wis. — Explained as
semblyman John T. Kostuck, offer
ing a bill to reimburse the heirs of
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Herman. The
state furnished grasshoppers poison,
the grasshoppers ate it. chickens ate
the grasshoppers, and the Peter Her
mans ate the chickens.
A MAIDENS PLAINT
Ankow, ’jh too uneek abklin
(Chief, my heart is sad and wan)
Ka bloc- na knw kow pe luk
(All the white man’s grub is gone).
Guskey Returns From Medfra—
Frank Guskey returned from Med
fra Monday with Pilot Barnhill. Mr.
Guskey was called to Medfra last
week to straighten out and line up
a set of books for C. M. Winans who
recently purchased A. W. Berry's
trading post and general store at
that place.
HOLY CROSS
HAPPENINGS
BY MISSES ANl'TKA and ANGELA
DEMIENTIEFF
(Special Corresp indents)
Leaves For Holicachuck—
April 32—Frank Walker bearded
the mail plane today which t: ok him
t Holicachuck where he is to spend
the .= n.tr work up for Mr. W< ods.
oe To Anchorage—
Mr. Hitt of Stuyahuk arrived here
with Pilot Dan YTct.jr and continued
cn hi- way to Ar..h -rape. Mr. ilitt
states he will be back in the spring.
Rc'urn To Jobs—
April IS—Michael an! G-raid
Dcn ien i ff left fodi y bv dec t.-am
fo1 luitarod where th y arc both ro
ployed by the Day Navigation Co.
Nick Demientieff took the boys over.
Mrs. Johnson Visits—
April 15—A visitor arrived in
Holy Cr ss in the person of Mrs.
Johnson from Marshall. Mrs. John
son trade the 125 mile trip in v.o
days by dop team. Joe T> kchu k of
Marshall acted as puidc. Mrs. J hn
son has s daughter employed ir. a
fir -hop n Sc-a'tle an: a son wo k
ing in Juneau while a younp.r ch Id
attends school in Eklutna. Two
youngsters are home. Mr. John on
was formerly the U. S. Marshall at
Marshall. While at Holy Cress, lire.
John-on was the guest of M s. Lucy
Whitley.
Law rence W alker To Flat—
April 23 At 0 a.m. ; day Jimmie
and Ralph Walker k-ft hv dop '*: m
tailing Lawrence Walker to Flat.
The :av,ter has been en.p.oyed io. —ie
last four or five yeais by Pete Kis
covich.
First Ducks Sighted—
Aoril 22 il*. ii-st ducl.s of -he
season were sighted today by Jimmie
Sims on the river seven miles b?l -tv
Holy Cross.
Makes Trip Ip River—
April 25—Rev. Fr. Endal, tv J.,
with Albert Edwards a- guide merle
a miss unary trip to Btnaieia, a
small village 25 miles above Rt>*y
Cross. The trip was made by deg
Imibi