THE KUSKO TIMES
VOL. 1. NO. 19
TAKOTNA. ALASKA FRIDAY. JUNE"IV1937
PRICK? *5
FLAT OPERATOB
BUYS PUNTILLA
DREDGE, GAMES
Philip MacDonald, U. ■£ Deputy
Marshal, with headquarters rat Mc
Giathu, arrived in Takotna Wednes
day with Pilot Ralph Savory. Mr.
MacDonald made a trjp out -to Ganes
Creek where he conducted a Mar
shall's Sale of the dredge iswndd by
Waino Puntilla, at 2 o’clock this af
- ternoon.
Pat Savage, high bidder, -oought
the Puntilla dredge or .Cares for
$4,000 cash at the auction sale this
afternoon. Only two bidders __ com
peted for the dredge. B£il Krdhtn
made the first bid at S3SOO. Savage
came back with a raise of'$200. Re
ceiving no further bids the dredge
is now the property of Mr. Savage.
The new owner did not disclose
his plans in regard to the dredge. At
the time the paper went to press.-he
had not, returned to Tekoraa.
Mr. MacDonald originally hails
from Colorado. He has been residing
in Fair, arks for the. last year, ipre
viov. to his recent appointment as
Deputy Marshal of this district. He
succeeded Bird E. Berry, a popular
official, who resigned to go prospect
ing in the Goodnews country. The
big, red-headed Scotchman has marie
a good impression on the residents
of this district and has made mary
friends in the short time herhas been
here by bis friendly, straight-forward
manner.
We hope to se him remain here in
his official capacity preservrr g n i<x
.and order in the communities he rep
resents for ai, indefinite period.
Oates Kept Busj
Freighting Out To
Various Creeks
Joe Oates has -been" bug. this "past
wreek making trips to Ophir and out
- t' the various creeks’with freight.
With the opening of the: r*.»j,.he ex
pects to be on .the go steadily
throughout the sutxrw r.
tie made ^ tt i*• out‘to >p ill1 di ig
Creek Sunday with the caterpillar
and trailer loaded with groceries for
Vibe & Schwalsdall. returning that
■night.
TUESDAY—Oates' ' “cat" loaded
with freight for Hard & Uotilla arid
oil .and grub for Felder & Gale <w,
Yankee, pulling wo trailer wagons,
made a ror.tmd trjp to Tiphir.
WEDNESDAY—The “cat,'" .-pulling
two trailer wagons loaded with
supplies Tor the Gangs Tre ei
dreage and a passenger. J. J. Bach,
accountant for the company. Joe
Oetts, Jr., made a round trip to
Cm ir'ving all night and day with
out sleep. He ieft Tfakotria late Wed
m day evening aife. .arrived back
Thursday afternoon.
THURSDAY—Freddie Oates made
two trips to Ophir with his car aria
pasen.ers; also a load of supplies
far Uo::!la & Hard.
Joe Oates also -waet a trip tc
"Ophir with a l ad of supplies making
a total of three trips in the one day.
With the "cat" pulling two trailer
wagons loaded with oU for Felder 'fc
Gale cm Yankee and Vibe & Schwals
daT: on Spaulding, Joe Oates left
tnwn early this meriting.
MEDFRA MAN PATS FINE
FOR GAM (CLAW VIOLATION
Herman Hanson, of Uedfra. was
arrested and fined Srio f r violatiot
of the Alaska Game Laws last week
when he was brr aghi before U. S.
Commissioner \V. J. Widman.
Deputy Game Warden Gene Tibbs
mad :- a trip to Medfre ast Sunday by
serve the parers.'iut Hans t. was «lt
on a trap line and'the Warden was
unable to reach him. Warder Tibbs
made a trip o Medirs last Sunday by
boat and brought the -accused baik
with him. The defendant pleaded
guilty 2nd was released <* payment
of the fine
POTATO KING SOMEWHAT
UNCERTAIN ABOUT MELON'S
Martin Clancy is very basy plant
ing his water-melons (or maybe it’s
hoeing them). He expects a fine crap
sometime this season or the next,
not being quite sure when cm account
of the- late spring. What with rais
ing of water-melons in Alaska and
the taking care of OUR pussy and
kittens, C ancey is going to be the
busiest max in lakotna this summer
Local Freighter
Kept On Jump As
The Rush Begins
Warner Alford made the first trip
of the season to Ganes Creok with
a truck Thursday, taking the mar
shal, Philip MacDonald, as passenger
to the grounds to conduct the sale
of the Puntfila dredge this afternoon.
Alford said the road was good
considering the late spring and deep
snow. He left this morning with a
load of freight for the Ganes Creek
Mining Company. Alford has a con
tract for the hauling of 600 drums o'f
oil for this company along with oth
er freight.
Alford also took out supplies to
John Peterson’s ground on Yankee
Creek Thursday for Bob Winbauer
and Billy Bruce. The latter men
have secured options on this ground
and: plan to do considerable develop
ment there this season. Leroy Craw
ford left this week to 'work at that
place.
The freighter also reports that the
Ganes Creek dredge is expected to
begin ^operations today.
Alford has been very busy for the
past twoweeks •unloading freight
from the boats and making trips
out to the various creeks. Since the
opening of the road to Ophir he has
been keeping it warm hauling back
and fortn. With the arrival *«f the
first boat in McGrath last month.the
busy season for freighters as weii
as those following the mining game,
will be in full swing without letup
until the river and roa'ds • are closed
by ice and ;snow next fall.
. Although Alford did most of the
longshortng on the river boats here,
he has no definite agreement with
the river freighters on this work, he
said. This work is done under agree
ments with the dredge operators.
TL1ES TO FOLGES
(Charlie Konig was a visitor in Ta
to'tna for. a week awaiting the arrival
of a plane £er Folger .where bt will
be employed during the summer by
Strandberg. He finally made it out
Monday wih Don Goodman '.Charlie
works for the P.A.A. on the mail
route during the winter months.
Sobseribe far The Ktteko Times.
ANNUAL SCHOOL PICNIC
AT FLAT IS BIG SUCCESS
BY MISS M AXINE KELLER
Mr. Frank Anderson, caretaker for
Pave Strandberg, acted as host to the
school teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Harden
; Stiffler, the pupils, and their guests,
at a picnic held at Strandberg's rr.ess
I house on Thursday, May 20. 1937.
1 We all vote him a wonderful host,
and appreciate his hospitality very
j much.
The weather was perfect picnicing
weather—scattered clouds, with a
I nice breeze blowing up the valley
which teased the clouds into spilling
1 a few raindrops. But up n seeing
; that no one cared, it decided that it
might as well behave itself.
Four trucks and three private
automobiles left town at 10:30 a. m.
with nearly 70 passengers.
A fire was built on the sand and
weiners were roasted and served with
buns, pickles and mustard. Marsh
mallows were a!=o toasted rr.hile cake
and seven gallons of ice cream
brought the lunch to a grand climax.
Many games were played during
which six arid .sixty-year-olds played
side by side, much to the -amusement
of the audience, as well as themselves.
Among the feature attractions -was
some fancy rope work by Joe Stuvor,
of Montana, who is also a keen horse- •
shoe player.
Foot rates were held, and the Tur -
ners are as follows:
MEN’S—H. Rude, Maiden Stiffler,
and Andrew Miscovich.
BIG BOYS—Johnnie Anderson, Hen
ry Jensen and Paul Keller.
GIRLS—Maxine Keller, Elizabeth
Nielsen and Clara Jensen.
SMALL BOYS—Frankie Turner,
Fredie Turner and Alfred Miller.
The school wishes to express it*
thanks to the donators, Mrs. Fred
Paderson and Awe and Company
whose kind generosity and co-opera
tion helped to make the picnic the
grand success it was.
And so. with a barking farewell
(why not.—after so many “hot
dogs ?) we will bid our readers ("if
we are lucky enough to have any such
interesting characters good-bye, un
til next year.
NEWS FROM GDODN2WS
(By Special Correspondent)
PLATINUM. MAY 24
Mining Season Retarded—
The mining season here has been
retarded about one month. Snow
storms and generally stonrnry weath
er and rather severe cold spells is
he cause.
(•round Staked For Miles—
Mining ground has been staked for
nines around Platinum. Prospectors
are going wife, airplanes, trac
.ors, dog teams and some with
'-.-drolls and provisions on their
backs. They come back in with
whiskers like Robinson Crusoe.
They bring back tales of hidden va:
'eys and generally unknown country-.
There are some prospectors that are
starting to drill.near Red Mountain.
MININS ASSOCIATION IS
FOAMED AT FAIRBANKS
(Special to The Kusko Times)
FAIRBANKS, Ms>- 15—A group of
men-prominently identified with min
ng in the Fairbanks district have re
cently formed the Alaska Mining As
sociation for the purpose of promot
ing the-welfare of that industry m
Alaska.
All ,person- engaged in, dr directly
interested in, the mining -industry in
Alaska, are eligible to membership.
The mining men of Alaska have
many problems in common and much
tangible benefit can come from any
■rganization wherein they can pool
their interests rand some of their
problems. As stated in its organiza
1 tion papers the objects of the 'Asso
ciation are social, educational and
scientific, and it is intended to spread
information'beneficial to the industry
h'-oughout the Territory.
During the summer months, the
miners of Interior Alaska are too
widely scattered for common meet
ngs, but during w-inter months it is
proposed to hold dinners at which
he-e will be talks and discussions of
rroblems arising in the field, and pos
sibly the showing of motion pictures
of actual field operations.
The Asso-iation proposes to ho’d en
o-ual p'eneral meeting in "a differ«»t
city "each year, immediately following
the close of the mining season.
It has been suggested that the As
sociation offer a suitable prize to tnt
mining student at the University of
Alaska presenting the'best paper Jur
ng the year, which will be read at
the annual meeting. The constitution
:j.nd by-laws of the asociation are
largely patterned after the ‘American
"’’stitute of Mining and Metallurgical
Enc-neers.
While originating in Fai’banks, its
officers'hope that the movement may
~pread throughout the Territory and
he’p 11 accelerate the economic de
elopn-ent of the mineral resources
f Alaska.
The officers and directors for the
'rst yt ar ar‘
Ernest N. Patty. President and .Di
rector.
Joseph E. Crosstm and Luther C.
Ilcss. Vice-Presidents and "Directors.
Don Adler, Roy W. Ferguson, An
drew O. Olson. A. A. Zimmerman.
Directors.
Frank O'Farrell, Secretary 'and
Treasurer.
This group of mining men art well
known throughout the Territory.
The President. Mr. Patty, who wa?
formerly Dear, of the Alaska Agri
cultural College and School of M he ,
is now President of the Alluvial
Golds. Incorporated, as well as Vice
President and Manager of Geld Plac
ers. Incorporated.
Mr. Croson. in addition to being a
world figure in aviation, is also man
ager of the Pacific Alaska Airways,
the Hi Yu "Mine and the Mastodon
Mining Company.
Mr. Hess, as every one knows, is
heavily interested in mining through
out the Territory, as vr ’1 as being
Vice-President amd "a Director of the
First National Bank of Fcirhanks.
"Mr. AtBer. manager jf the Empress
Theatre in Fairbanks, is also a Direc
tor of the Heafy "River Coal Torpor
ation, and. in addition, is heavily in
terested in a successful quartz prop
osition on Ester Dome.
Mr. Ferguson’s activities consist of
managing the Indetenden* t u—ber
Company of Fairbrr.ks, < f which he
is part rwner, as well as" bting a Di
rector of the American Creek Dred
ging Company.
Mr. Olson, a member of the firm
of Olson Bros., Lind strom. and Pe m
gren, has extensive interests m dred
ges and draglines through‘Ut the
Territory, besides being large pro
ducers of platinum.
Mr. Zimmerman, who has betn ti
the mining game "f r year- is now
conducting four hydraii” operatipf's
in the Fairbanks and Circle m:n ng
districts.
Mr. O’Farrell has been as«..rated
with the Gustafson Brothers ferr a
number of years as chief acoun'ant
for C’eary Hill Mines Company and
their 'numerous other activities. "His
.addre - s is Fairbanks, Alaska.
Discoverers Start' l»rTlhttg—
VTckland. Haroldson and Berness,
are starting to dril1 their ground
near "Red Mountain. They were the
original discoverers of the prospect
found on the west side of Red
Mountain. Del'Raj and Walter Cul
ver are also starting to dnll some
ground they have leased near Dis
covery .
New Hotel And Restaurant—
The new hotel and restaurant is ’
now completed and is doing a good
business. The manager, A1 Berg, is
all smiles.
Another' Restanratn Soon—
Willian Hearst is constructing a
good sized building for a short or
der restaurant. Two new stores are
to build here this summer, it is said.
Ger e Migrating North—
The geese have been migrating
by the thousands. There have beer,
a large number of seals in the bay
the last few days. Some times one ••
"an get within a few feet of them,
when they are ashore. There are
ducks here the year around; and sea
gulls of different species by the
thousands.
M. S. Fern Arrives—
The motor ship Fern’was certainly
a welcome sight for those veto have
stayed here the whole winter. The
vessel brought fresh fruits and'tege
tables and general groceries that
the town was short of for many
weeks. Airplanes were bringing in
groceries and other commodities
from Bethel and elsewhere. The
people are looking forward to the
arrival of rhe Tuppcr and the "next
trip of the Fern. The latter vessel
left to make a trip to Anchorage and
is expected to be here about the
same time as the Tapper.
Gabrielstm Building Boat—
Albert Gabriel son is building a
boat to navigate the Goodnews River.'
The boat is 40 feet long and Twin 1
Clift motors have been installed. He
PIONEER OPHIR
BUSINESS MAN
PASSES IN EAST
{By- Special Correspondent
From letter* addressed to Mrs
Hard and Alf Greenberg, it was
learned tha P. W Gar)son. a prr neer
of Ophir and for mam years in bus
iness here, passed away nn April -6.
past, at Batyirt. Long Island, X. Y,
His remains have already been
shipped to his old home in Sweden
For burial aware his ancestors
In his younger days he sailed in
the big sailing ships of that time, or.
all the oceans of the world. In the
late eighties, he landed ir San Fran
cisco, from which port and Victoria,
B. U., he spent some years hunting
fur seals in the Bering Sea, together
with his life-long pamer, Sarr Hou
nam. 'While tn Victoria. B €, he
heard of the 'Klondike grid strike
and set off for Belgium, where he
beught about SO dogs for the travel
tn Dawson over what was known as
“The all Canadian Trail.’’ It took al
most two years to reach Dawson
oveT that route, and the dogs, al
though big and strong, did not prove
a success on the trails of the North,
having been used to haul light wagons
over the good roads and cobble
stoned streets in a*d agon: Ant
werp.
In 1908 Carlson and his partner
started a cigar store at Ophir; later
buying the general merchandise bus
iness from Dave Edwards, which
they conducted under the firm name
of Carlson & Hounam until Houn
am’s death, when Carlson ran the
store in his name for a number of
years until he disposed of all his in
terests to Repo & Myntti.
Carlson and Hounam also for
some time were engaged in mining
on Ganes Creek, where they operated
wih a slip scraper, on No. 1<> Above
Discovery.
-After leaving Ophir, he made a
short trip to his old home in Swe
den, returning to Babylon, N. Y-,
whs re he has -been staying with
friends up to the time of his death.
BUSY INSTALLING NEW
water system here
C. A. Fowler and John P.ieck have
been busy installing a new city water
system this week.
They installed a Ram tn the creek
above town and laid a pipe line o
A.~H. Twitcheil’s store where the wa
ter is pumped into a gasoline drum
A pipe line runs from the drum te
Rieck’s and O’Halloran's roadhouses.
A continual stream of water ruts
and the residents of Takotna can aip
water from the barrel in front of Mr.
Twitchell’s place, thus saving a long
walk to good water
BACHELORS ENTERTAINED
AT F A R E W E L I. DIXN FA
Miss Ethyl Peasgood entertained
several bachelors of Takotna with a
farewell dinner at the school-house
last Sunday.
Those bachelors who enjoyed the
dinner prepared by Miss Pea good
and The Wandering Reporter, were:
A. H. Twitchell, C. A. Fowler ana
T.-S. McAdams.
expects to carry passengers rnd
freight for hire. There are quit; a
number of boats powered with out
brarci n* tors. Platinum is well ot
the rwad a a thriving city.
Snfcscripticsn Blank
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JHh iKUSKO TIMES,
Takotna. Alaska
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