THE KUSKO TIMES
A. X. Grant, Publisher, Sole
Owner and Editor.
Pub shed Everv Saturday
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TOKOTX \, ALASKA. AUG. 4, 1923
Old-Timers at Kanatak
Still Waiting for Oil
Fight hundred and fifty feet is the
(depth of uue of the holes now being
(drilled bv the Associated Oil Company
pn the drilling: "rounds near Kanatak,
the newest oil camp, according to
Statements by Attorney John F. Coffey,
as.related to the Seward Gateway, a
few days ■ go. Two holes are being
sunk by the Associated Oil Company,
and the second hole is down to a depth
of 475 feet. The Standard Oil.Com
pany, which experienced considerable
difficulty with its drilling oo account
pf the formation through which the
drilling is being carried on, is now
down to a depth of 275 feet. The pro
gress beiog made now by the A.— ;.el
ated Oil Company is highly satisfac
tory to the officials of the company,
having passed through the extremely
hard capping which is known as con
glomerate in order to straighten out
fhe hole being'drilled. The Standard
,Oil Company resort to powder wa e
essary. and sev< ml blasts were sin
■ fore the hole was finally straightened.
The Alaska Road Commission is
prosecuting its work of road building
.with vigor and is giving emptfinent
to every availat !e laboring mam-in the
new camp. The work of the Commis
sion, being carried on in conjunction
with the two oil companies, under the
supervision of Gem-ge SpaDgler, when
completed will give a first class road
extending from the town of Kanatak to
£he oil fields, a distance of 17 miles.
Every available man in the new camp
is at work, either with the Road Com
mission or with the oil companies. The
going wage with the oil companies is
per day and b ird, and $4 per duv
and board with the Road Commission.
The camp generally is in a lairly
prosperous condition, auu while at the
present time t-iure is no ground or rea
son for anv great influx of people, Mr.
Colley declares that conditions sur
rounding the drilling operations and
phe progress now being made by both
pompanies warrants those on the
grouod, numbering those in the camp
proper, and another 150 in the contigu
PROFESSIONAL
Albrecht and Taylor
LAWYERS
Iditarod, Alaska,
and at
705 L. C: Smith llldp., Seattle, Wash
Practice inwall Courts.
' Dr. W. f. Green
McGrath, Alaska
our r rritory, in harboring the most
lively enth.Masm and hopes. From
talks had by Mr. Coffey with the geol
ogist connected with the companies,
there ;s no question but that oil in con
sideitble quantities will be eucou -
terei . The main question seems to be
when'bis auspicious event will occur
The - nds now being driled through
give every evidence of oil-bearing,
sands, and unless all signs and indica
tions fail absolutely, wells with abund
ant flow will be struck within the very
near future. Oil in paying and com
mercial quantities should be struck by
the drilling companies not later than
the 1st of September, according to Mr.
Coffey, who bases his predictions upon
conversations had with people who
have devoted tlieir lives to the oil
game.
Many old-timers are now in Kafiatak
and have been busy during the pu t,
winter and spring in preparing for the
rush that is anticipated in the late
summer or early fall, Sid Anderson,
formerly of Seward and Anchorage,
and Ei trier Evans, who have places of
business adjoining one another, are
hourly dispuants as to the tit-ice of oil
when it has been struck. Anderson is
firmly of the belief that orl ihi uld
never be more than $10 per barrel,
while Evans, in bis old days in the gro
cery business, says six bits would oe
high enough. Carl Larson, an old-time
Cache creek miner, is now operating a
laundry. The Sheehan boys, sons of
Thomas Sheehan of Anchorage, who
for rears has had charge of the freight
yards for the Alaskan Engineering
Commission, are in business in the
camp, and are neighbors of Jack Tay
lor, who, with Hfinie Thompson, con
ducts a restaurant. Charles Otiermat
maintains the onlv bakerv in camp.
Charles Madsen, formerly of Kodiak
and Nome, is in the grocery business,
atid has for a competitor Bill Rust
chow, who for ten years conducted a
trading post at Cold Hay Two old In
terior "snow dogs” have recently
erected a lirst-class pool room. Several
camp pool tournaments have already
take place in the Slim Michacbson and
Ed Lawson pool room. It is a building
30x45 fe^t,, furnished in a manner that
would reflect credit to a place of 3,000
persons. Tom Dodd, the venerable
sage of the camp, owns one of the best
recreation halls, and it is Oiled with
old-timers at most any time of the day
or evening. Carl Armstrong, an early
day Nrn,. ie, who formerly s deputy
U. S. m i >:• il at isjqdiak retained
that posiiiiu through ; ;»e political
storms of fourteen years, is the camp’s
“‘transput•:er.’’ Fred Minton, formerly
of Nome, s i.eiated with Armstrong.
In fact, o enumerate Mie various
types of easiness and to mention the
names ot the owners would he like call
ing the i-.,n of the old-timers. .Men
from every part of Alaska are already
gatnered .port the shores f Portage
Lay, aud they are tilled with great
faith and nthusiasm, ar.d are continent
that only a question of months must
now intervene before Mother Nature is
forced to unloose her oil riches and
make K umiak the foremost and the
newest oil camp in the United States.
[n res;.jo.se to Senate joint memorial
No. I of the last Territorial .legisla
ture, the Posti.llice Department will
make a study of conditions in Alaska
with a view to establishing a parcel
post zone system.
For a Nice Lunch
or First-Class Meal
Call At
Durant’s Cafe
Flat City
Pool Hall
Fruits
Best of Everything, in
Candies Cigars Tobaccos
All Fresh Goods .
Jack Mutchler
Proprietor
MWiTIfTTT '’SHESST’ H55 "-IS?
ALASKA RIVERS NAVIGATION
COMPANY
Operating Light Draught Steamers
On the Kuskokwim.
Capt. Wallace Langley, Manager.
, i ... mi
Arrange to Spend the Night at the
liver Roadhouse
Best possible meals. Private rooms
New dog kennels, and the best of lower river fish
for dog feed.
Diamond Dick
Proprietor
McGrath Roadhouse
Excellent Meals
Service Prompt and Efficient