THE KUSKO TIMES
VOL. 1. XO. 20.
TAKOTNA, ALASKA, FRIDAY. JUNE 18. 1937
TRICE, 25 CENTS
WORK BEGUN ON ROAD TO DEEP WATER
! NEWS FROM POORMAN, LONG CREEK, RUBY |
By Mrs. Elsie Zaiser—(Special Correspondent)
Mining Practically At Standstill—
Mining is practically at a stand
still at present as the creeks have all
dried up. The only one with suffi
cient water to sluice the dump is the,
Gragen Mining Company on lower
Poorman. Billy Vuicich and L'. E.
Torrence, of Flat Creek have cleaned)
up their dump bottoms and plan
starting another dump.
Use Horses To Scrape- Tailings—
Calvin Anderson and Jack Shrop
shire, of the Wildcat Mining Go. cf
upper Poorman, have added two hord
es to their already large crec. They :
plat: on scraping the tailings' vjtU
the ti-sm.
Having Difficulty With Shaff —
Baldo Fomo is having difficulty
holding his shaft in shape. The
squeezing ground breaks timbers
measuring 2ht feet through. Baldo
says they snap like matches. So far
he has been able to handle the water
in the drift and hopes to be able to
continue through the summer.
Will Make Cleanup Soon—
Joe ’Farris, mining on Solomon j
Creek, is reported well on; his way tcJ
a clean up.
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LONG CREEK SEWS BRIEFS
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Dragline Being Assembled—
Dan McGinty, formerly of Poor
man, is now a member of Hans Tille
=on's crew. Mr. Tilleson is manager
of the dragline which is being assem
bled here. They had part of the drag
line up on top of the hill on June 14.
rhey plan on having it all up there
within a few days.
Sow Boast of Lady Barber—
Long Creek can now boast of a
lady barber. The old-timers around
:here. who. haven’t shaved or had a
hair cut for 20 years are getting all
slicked up and are smelling- of hair
oil. I wasn't able to pet the lady's
name correctly from an excited old
timer, and am sorry to have to leave
it out.
t_*_•_*_ t t _*_*_*_t
NEWS NUGGETS FROM RUBY
t_*_•_*_ t t _*_• '_t
Highest Mater in Years—
Ruby had the highest water seen
there in a number of years, this
spring. A few buildings were taken
out Red Allen's fish camp above Ruby
was entirely washed away.
Road Work Is Begun—
Work has started for the season on
the Poorman-Ruby road by the Al
aska Road Commission. From Poor
man to Sulatna, the road is in very
bad condition. A crew has also start
ed work improving the landing field
at Ruby.
i NEWS EVENTS OF TAKOTNA IN BRIEF FORM
By The-Wandering Reporter
Twitchell Brings Freight—
A. H. Twitchell made a trip to Mc
Grath by boat for a load of freight
last Monday, arriving back yesterday
afternoon.
Crew Working on Meier Bench
Frank Meier, Tom Shaver,. George
Kangas, and Tivo Rosander are work
ing on the Meier Bench on Ophir
Greek, for flotilla & Hark Meier
sold this ground to Uotilla & Hard
last spring.
New N. C. Co. Manager Arrives—
Jack Ferguson turned the Takotna
N. C. store over to his successor, W.
J. Kokko, and left for McGrath Mon
day where he relieved Lew La ska
who left for Anchorage en route to
the States on his long planned vaca
tion.
Manager Comes From Eagle—
The new manager of the local N.
C. store, W. J. Kokko. arrived last
week-end to relieve Jack Ferguson
who was here in a' temporary capa
city. Mr. Kokko has been working in
the N. C. store at Eagle for the past
year. His home is in Washington.
Making Business Trip—
Eric Hard, of Uotilla & Hard,
Ophir left from Takotna for Flat
with Pilot Don Goodman Wednesday
to confer with his partner, Gus Uotil
la. After attending to business mat
ters at that point, he will return to
Ophir.
Dredge Boyer Returns to Flat—
Pat Savage, who just recently pur
chased the Pumilla' dredge on Ganes
Creek, left for El si last Sunday. As
soon as the water lowers. Savage
plans on putting a crew of men to
work pumping out anc repairing the
dredge. He will go ahead making
preparations and obtaining the ne
cessary ground on which to use the
dredge.
Twelve Men Go To Work—
Twelve men were given employ
ment by the ARC yesterday morning.
Part of the new crew were taken
down the river to the mouth of Shorty
Creek where they will prepare the
main camp on the Takotna-Nixon
Forks road. The balance of the crew
remained in town and started slash
ing right-of-way—the beginning of
a road to deep water.
He'll Try Anything Once—
The Wandering Reporter attempted"
to navigate the Takotna River in a
leaky canoe Tuesday morning. The
boat, skiDped water a little too fast
and sunk about 20 feet from shore
leaving the Reporter free and foot
loose with no means of navigation.
With the exception of being just a
few degrees too coid, the water is
fine, the Reporter reports. (P. S.
This now makes it “one up.” The
other half of the firm fell in the
river at McGrath recently.).
Recent Arrival Here—
Alton N’ei-en was a recent arrival
in Takotna where he expects to spend
the summer. He is a hr other to “Ta
kotna Bill" Nelsen who is employed
on the ARC here.
Return From Prospecting Trip—
L. Boulier, a new arrival in Takut
na from Detroit, has been out doing:
a little prospecting work with Fred
DuBois on the latter’s property. The
two arrived back here early Wednes
day morning. Boulier is residing in
Frank Cuskey’s cabin behind The
Kusko Times budding.
Mrs. Howard Pays Takotna Visit—
Sirs. J. M. Howard was a visitor
in Takotna Wednesday afternoon, ar-j
riving by car with George Kartiunen
from Ophir. Mrs. Howard is U. S-j
Commissioner and postmistress at the
busy mining center and this is her
first trip to Takotna for a number of
months. She and Mrs. John Rieck
enjoyed a nice visit at the Nugget
Roadhouse.
Finish Cutting and Skidding Logs—
The MS' Alaskan pulled in from
the sawmill camp Monday night
bringing Dallis McRoberts and Bill j
Nelsen. They two boys finished cut-'
ting and skidding quite a number of:
logs which Mr. Miller plans on saw
ing out during low water. Bill and j
Dallis entered the employ of the Road j
Commission Thursday morning and
will work out of Shorty Creek on;
the new Nixon Forks road.
Correction—
In last week’s issue of The Kusko j
T mes it was stated in the article're-'
garding J. J. Bach, accountant for.
the Canes Creek Mining Company.:
that all those eligible for the benefits
under the Social Security Act, must,
have their papers witnessed before a
notary when applying for their num
bers. This is an error. Only employ
ers must have their papers witnessed
before a notary.
Safe Is Finally Opened—
The safe at, the local N. C. store;
refused to open in spite of all thet
would-be town safe experts at hand]
last week. Several days were spent
in trying to work the combination
and make ft function as it should,
but. the safe still remained safe. Fin
ally someone thought of Frank Moss,
and his reputation for working safe
combinations. Word was sent to
Frank, who was out on one of the
creeks, and everyone set back await
ing the arrival of the Kuskokwim
safe expert. All expected to see
something done, evidently a display
of supernatural powers—but nothing
happened—Frank spent a few min
utes twirling the knob, and lo and;
behold, the safe door came open.
Anyone having trouble with their j
safes, need have no more wories.
safes, need have no more warrries.
bitp lo J’OliL a«igt»rM*o
Arrive on Business—
Frank Speljack. accompanied by
Charles Cravey and wife, were bus
iness visitors in Takotna Monday af
ternoon and in Ophir Tuesday night.
Harold Strandberg To Candle—
Harold Strandberg arrived here
Monday with Don Goodman in time
to Meet Pilot Jack Elliott and take
passage to McGrath from where he
went to Candle.
Crew Starts on Nison Road—
The ARC has hired a crew of men
who started work yesterday cutting
the right-of-way on the proposed
Nixon Forks road. The main camp,
which win accommodate 15 men will
be set up on Shorty Creek.
Three Draglines For Flat—
Three dragline?, which arrived in
Bethel on the steamer T upper, are
being loaded for Flat where they are
consigned to Pete Miscovich, to be
installed on Discovery Creek, to Du
Rand & Awe, on Flat Creek, and tt>
Gus Gorilla, on Slate Creek.
Chris Petersen Improving—
Our old friend, Chris Petersen is
reported to be getting along fine and
improving rapidly. He entered St.
Joseph's Hospital at Fairbanks some
time ago for treatment for a heart
ailment. It is hoped he will return
home in the near future.
Overhauling Boat—
Woodrow Vanderpool has finished
hauling freight from McGrath for
the time being and will spend the
next few days overhauling his boat
in preparation to resuming freighting
with the arrival of the steamer Lang- j
ley the last of the month.
Yankee-Ophir Road in Good Shape—
The Ophir road between Yankee
and Ophir is in excellent shape with J
the exception of a seetion of road at;
Mile Five, which will take approxim- i
ately 50 yards more of gravel. The
entire length of road from Takotna
to Ophir is in fine condition for'
travel, with the exception of the
above mentioned strip.
Will Start Soon on McGrath Field—
With the arrival of the new Road
Commision “cat” and bull-dozer on
the steamer Langley, work will be
started on the improving of the Mc
Grath field. After the completion of
the landing field improvements at
McGrath, the Takotna landing field
will be cut down and leveled off, lim
iting the hazardous landings and
take-offs. Supt. Spach stated that
considerable improvements will also
be made on the Ophir field.
Takes Freight to New Camp— J
A. H. Twitchell left for down river ]
today with a load of fr eight for the
ARC to be dropped off at the mouth
of Shorty Creek, and one passenger
for McGrath. Supt. Frail Spach. Mr.
SUPT. SPACH ANNOUNCES
EXPANSION PROGRAM HERE
VETERAN TRADERS DO SOME
FAST TRADING IN BETHEL
While in Bethel, Supt. Fred J.
Spach of the Alaska Road Commis
sion. saw Nick Mellick of Sieetmute
and Sam Yoich of Napamute. veteran
Kuskokwim traders.
The two traders were in to meet
the steamer Tupper. and enjoying
meeting old friends and the luxuries
of civilization.
When Fred Spach met them, they
had just emerged. from the lady bar
ber’s shop. Sam seem to be arguing
with Nick in regard to the price paid
to the lady barber for services ren
dered. From the trend of the talk,
it was gathered that Sam laid a five
dollar bill down in payment for his
shave. The lady, having gotten busy
on Nick, continued on through the
job before making change. Nick fin
al.y arose from the chair, a much
better looking man. and the lady ask
ed Sam if he wished to pay for both.
Before Sam could get his freshly
shaved mouth oper. Nick picked up
the five dollar bill and deposited a ten
spot in its place and turned and pas
sed through the d ■ >r with Mr. Yoich
trailing dazedly in his wake.
Sam says that Nick can't figure
anything less than five dollars, this
being the second time that he has
been forced to part with a fiver to
the lady barber in Bethel in two con
secutive trips with Nick.
TRAVELING AUDITOR IS REAL
ALASKAN; BORN FAIRBANKS
R. M. "Bud” Boyd, traveling au
ditor for the Northern Commercial
Company, with headquarters in Se
attle, arrived in Takotna last Satur
day to make the annual audit and in
ventory of stock at the local company
store. He expects to wind up his
work here the first of next week
when he will continue on to McGrath.
“Bud" is a well known young Al
askan. having been born in the “Gol
den Heart of Alaska" at Fairbanks
where he grew up and received his
education. He has been with the N.
C. Co. for a numb i of years, being
promoted several times until he was
rewarded with his present respon
sible position, traveling each year
throughout northern Alaska checking
up on each of the 25 stores of the
company.
After completing his work at Mc
Grath. he will go to Bethel and from
there will go to St. Michaels and take
in the several stores along tbe Yu
kon River and thence to Fairbanks,
Circle and Eagle. He expects to re
main north until early winter because
of the unusually heavy volume of
business this year.
He spent the Christmas holidays
last year with Wm. Kokko. who was
then manager of the N. C. store at
Eagle.
Spach will get camp equipment to
gether at that place which Twitchell
will haul back to Shorty Creek. John
Krieger will be cook for the Road
Commision at Shorty Creek for the
present.
Kred J. Spach, superintendent of
the Alaska Road Commission activ
ities in the Kuskokwim, arrived in
Takotna from Flat with Pilot Good
man late Monday night. He spent
Tuesday out at the Road Commission
camp on Yankee Creek, reviewing the
work now being done.
The superintendent announced that
a crew of men have been hired and
have already started work setting up
camp near Takotna preparatory to
the beginning of construction of the
Takotna-Nixon Forks road, which
will follow the old Lukens Summer
Trail on the Takotna side of the river.
Work on the Takotna landing field,
which is located on the hill just back
of town, will be started in the near
future. Spach continued. It will be
cut down and leveled off. Improve
ments on the airfield at McGrath will
get under way during the next week.
He also stated that improvements
would also be made to the landing
field at Ophir.
Three steel bridges will be con
structed on the Takotna-Ophir high
way and the usual maintenance work
will be carried on. General mainten
ance and some improvements will be
made on the Medfra-Xixon road
which leads to the only operating
gold quartz properties in the Kusko
kwim valley.
Mr. Spach spent two weeks in Beth
el, surveying the site of the proposed
new landing field, previous to going
to Flat last week.
He has been very busy since his
arrival here going over and lining
out. with E. A. Adams, the works
program for this section of the coun
try this summer. He expects to go
to McGrath the first of the week
where he will meet with Hawley
Sterling, assistant chief engineer
from the Juneau office. The officials
will then make a trip to Bethel, re
turning from there to Flat and back
to Takotna.
Plenty of Men Here
When asked about the number of
men to be employed in this district
for the season. Supt. Spach said,
“Although the ARC expects to start
a number of improvements this year
and be quite active in this district,,
we have more local men on our wait
ing list than we will be able to take
care of. It is useless for anyone not
already on the list to apply for a job
with the Commission in this area.’’
New Assistant
William R. Chandler, from the An
chorage office, will be an assistant to
Mr. Spach in Takotna this summer.
Mr. Chandler has been working in
the Anchorage office during the sum
mer months and attending the Uni
versity of Washington during each
school year. Mr. Spach speaks very
highly of Chandler, informing us that
the latter has received a grade of
straight “A's" for the entire past
school year and will graduate next
spring.
A railroad in Russia less than two
miles bng is operated entirely by
boys and girls less than 16 years‘old.
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