THOMAS GAFFNEY TELLS OF
CONDITIONS AT NOME AND
ALONG THE LOWER YUKON
_ \
Thomas Gacney, Democratic can
didate for Territorial auditor, arrived
at Fairbanks & few days ago. He is j
touring the country in the interests j
of his candidacy, and will go to the
Third and First , divisions. Speaking
of conditions .at Nome and other
places visited, he spoke as follows to
the Fairbanks News-Miner:
“The Nome -country, taken as a
whole, is-enjoying a fairly prosperous
season,” Mr. Gaffney said. “In addi
, tion to .the Hair mon company a num
ber of small outfits have instaled
>• dredges and hydraulic plants on
■> ground that was run over in early
« days. Like all other parts of Alaska,
; prospecting and mining by the indi
vidual is hampered b ylack of trans
> po^tation facilities. There is an ur
gent. and undoubtedly justifiable de
mand for road extension into the out
lying districts from Nome, and it is
upon this demand that the develop
ment and prosperity of the division
/■ depends to. a large degree.”
Sentiment. for the International;
highway is not lacking on Seward Pe
ninsua, Mr. Gaffnpy finds. “The peo-!
pie of the Second division are strong
ly in favor of the proposed Interna-j
tional highway,” he declared. “They
realize that the development of any
<. one section of the interior is bound
to ultimately benefit every other sec-!
tion.. And it is reasqnable to suppose
that in time our government will ex
tend the highway to the shores of j
Bering Sea.
“I may be a visionary, but it is my
firm belief that the great undeveloped '
natural resources lying between the
r Tanana. valley and Cape Prince of
Waes on the American side of Bering
Strait will warrant the construction
of such a project.”
The lqwer Yukon fro mits mouth
up to Anvik had a poor fur catch last
winter, remarked Mr. Gaffney. “At
the various trading posts and com
: • muriities in that section of the river
I heard strong protests against the
t closed mink-season which is to be in
augur #.ed in that zone next winter.
The census enumerator for the Wade
Hampton precinct, which extends
from. Marshall to the KuskO|kwim and
takes in the Yukon delta, told me i
there was a population of over 2,000
souls, in that area. Ninety per cent
are natives depending in a large de
gree for .their sustenance on trap
ping. Prognostications are freely ex
pressed that if the law is enforced the
natives will suffer from destitution.
J,There. appears to be a revival of
prospecting and mining in the Mar
shall district. A hydraulic plant was j
landed atStuyahok, about 20 miles j
from Matsnhll.' Individuals have beea
Dorbandt
and
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Flyincomfort to all points in
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For Rates to Alaska Points
SEE
F. C. H. Spencer
Takotna, Alaska
grinding out a living there for years
by hand methods. From reliable in
formation I learned that with an im
proved system of mining Ntuyahk will
bea consistent gold producer.
“Prospectors discovered gold back
of Russian Mission on Buster creek
this spring. I saw about $22 worth
of dust from the discovery in the
Cto’-e at Marshall. A few prospectors
I met in Marshall who hail been
driven from the hills by the excessive
rains spoke favorably of their ven
tures. I might add that never in a
period of 30 years’ residence have I
seen a wetter season than the Second
division had experienced up to the
time of my departure.
“It is my firm belief that what
might roughly be described as the
Marshall country. will before very
long be a big gold producer. It offers
a good field both in quartz and placer
for men who have the nerve and
background. Mineral development in
that section would automatically as
sist transportation on the Yukon and
increase the tonnage of the Alaska
Railroad. I confidently look forward
to a realization of the of this state
ment in a few years.
“The radio statio nat Marshal was
discontinued in June. Protests against
its removal were made by the people
of that section, but in vain, as the
plant was dismantled and taken to
Candle. It is undoubtedly going to
work hardship, as Marshall, in addi
tion to being the terminus of the
Government boats on the river, is also
a central noint between Holv Cross
and St. Michael. A landing field has
been established there and a Govern
ment hospital is under construction
some distance down the river. From
a commercial as well as a humane
standpoint the station shoud be re
established, even if its operation
shows a financial deficit.
“At Ruby, unfortunately, our stay
wap limited, but those with whom I
talked were more than optimistic
about the camp. I was told that next
winter would see a revival of pros
pecting such as Rdby has not wit
nessed since the early days of the
camp and also that the mining out
look was very promising f^r this sea
son.
“Tanana looked classy. Bathed in
the morning sunshine of early Au
gust, her pretty flower beds and gar
dens of potatoes and other vegetables
in full bloom, made one feel that he
had entered the ‘banana belt.’ The
stores, nicely painted and everything
looking clean, conveyed the impres
sion to a traveler that there must be
a fair share of prosperity in the old
town.
Australian Joe,’ the patriarch of
the Yukon, was leaving on the Yukon
for a vacation to Circle City, the first
in 20 years. Joe was taking his pick
and pan along, probably to. try some
bench or bend in the creek that might
have been overlooked by him in the
long, long ago.
“The service on the river and coast
from Nome to Nenana is excellent.
“Judging from the hospitable re
ception accorded me during my
travels, I confidently anticipate my
eection by a handsome maoritjy,” Mr.
Gaflney concluded.
INVESTIGATING SENATORS
TELL OF ALASK A R. R. AT
BANQUET TABLE, FAIRBANKS
(Continued from Page 2.)
methods of transportation, Admiral
Coontz told how it took him 54 days
to reach Sitka from Wasnington, D.
C., the fist time he came to Alaska,
while Chairman Howell was in Fair
banks about twelve days. after leav
ing Omaha.
Many Alaskans were under his
command during the Word War, the
speaker said, and realizes how the
country was depleted of many of its
able-bodied citizens then.
But those days are over and the
country is coming back, he declared.
‘I see a great future again for the;
Territory. Alaskans are the real1
simon pur.es, the kind you want to see
succeed. As far as ! can I am going
to help you with Godspeed along the
road.”
Charles P. Sisson, assistant attor
ney general, was called upon for a
few remarks. Unlike Admiral Coontz,
he hadn't come to Ylaska 43 years
ago, but he had waited 40 years for
the opportunity. “Whatever the con
clusions of this investigating com
mittee it will be absolutely fair in
deaing with Alaska, and I know that
is all you want,” Mr Sisson told the
assemblage.
In closing, Mayor de la Verguc
said: “The visit of the committee ha;
been welcome to every one of us. I
am sure no fair-minded person eoult*
have objected to their coming to
amass facts and figures for a founda
tion for their conclusions. We have
faith in their recommendations and
thank them for their visit and the
work they have done for the coun
try.”
Are you a Kusko Times subscriber?
Why not?
Territory of Alaska—Mount McKin
ley Precinct—ss.
To all persons to whom these pres
ents shall come, greeting:
Know ye that it appearing to W. T.
Vanderpool, United States Commis-;
sioner, that F. C. II. Spencer has died
intestate, leaving at the time of his
death property in this district, the
aforesaid Commissioner has duly ap
pointed Chris Peterson, of Takotna.
Alaska, administrator of the estate
of F. C. H. Spencer, deceased. This,
therefore, authorizes the said Chris
Peterson to administer the estate of
the saul r. L. 11. Spencer, deceased,
according: to law.
In testimony whereof I have here-j
unto set my hand and affixed my offi
cial seal this 1.2th day of September,
1930.
W. T. VANDERPOOL,
U. S. Commissioner and ex
19_ Officio Probate Judge.
TABLE OF DISTANCES BE
TWEEN NENANA AND FLAT
Miles
Nenana . 00
Tavern Roadhouse .... 17Ms
Knight's Roadhouse . 23%
Nineteen-Mile Roadhouse. 68 ..
Diamond Roadhouse. 76
Roosevelt . 89
Lake Minehumina . 115
Trappers’ Cabin . 132
Lone Star Roadhouse ... 150
Telida Roadhouse . 169%
Slow Fork Roadhouse ... 187
East Fork Roadhouse .) 206
Berry’s Landing Roadhouse _ 227%
Big River Roadhouse. 241
McGrath . 263
Takotna .... 280
Bill Goss’ Roadhouse .... 291
Ophir ._..300
McCafferty .. 306
Brown Creek shelter cabin_ 318
Fritz shelter cabin . 383
First Chance shelter cabin . 346
Schermeyer R. H. 360
Iditarod,.....376
Flat ... 384
Bonanzza sheler cabin, 12 miles
from Flat
Crooked Creek shelter cabin, 19
miles from Bonanza.
Pioneer
Shop —
Blacksmith,
Machine and
all kinds of
Sheet Metal
Work
Safetys
Stoves
ROBERT LOWR1E
Proprietor
Babeesch Moosehide Mitts and Boots
, v
Furs Bought and Sold Clothing
All Kinds of Nice Fresh Groceries and Fruit*
Canned Goods of All Kinds Beas snd Bedding
A. R. Sdridge - McGrath
I
John W. Duurt
Gandidate for Re-election to the
Territorial 'Senate
Election Hay, November 4, 1930
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imti LUMBER CO.
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