THE KUSKO TIMES
TAKOTOA. ALASKA. FRIDAY. AFRII. 2. 1937 PRICE, X CENTS
VOe.. I.
NO. 9.
WILSON & HARO
PLAN TO DRILL.
OPHIR GROUND
Drilling operations will fro ahead
on-the mining ground-owned by-Wil
son & Hard in the - Ophir area, ac
cording to Jim Wilson, who- returned
Tuesday from the Outside. He ar
rived with Pilot Goodman and step
ped in Takotna for a short while be
fore continuing his journey to Ophir
“It was a tough, winter in- Calif—
omit," the mining man said. The
fruit growers had to burn two miC
lirwi barrels of oil keeping smudge
pots going in the orchards, because
of the unusually heavy frosts. Mil
lions of dollars damage was done to
the crops despite these precautions.'’
A. large portion of* the ground
owned by Wilson & Hard is untie—|
lease to Dave Strand berg, who plans
considerable activity there this sea
son. Mr. Wilson is not associa d
with Mr. Hard on- the deal put
through this winter whereby Gus
Uotila and Mr. Hard acquired options
on the whole of Ophir- Creek and are
bringing in a large dragline, bulldaz*
er and other equipment this spi ng
which is estimated will mean an .n
vestjnent of around $90,000 -
BUSY GIVING SHIP ANNUO,
SPRING OVERHAULING
E. W. Miller is preparing for the
spring break-up and the start of wa- j
ter traffic.
Gapt. Miller and First Mate Ted:
McAdams have been busy the past j
week cutting wood and installing a
boiler in preparation for thawing the
M.S. Alaskan loose from*'the river,
ice. When the overflow starts, they
plan on pulling the boat out of the
river onto the island across from T*»
kotna and anchoring with cables fa»*
tened bo .dead men..
Mr. Millet is anticipating a flours
ishing shipping season. Takotna is:
his home and'headquarter*.
WILL OPERATE
DREDGE AT FLAT
THIS YEA*R, SAID
Dredges are getting so in demand,
that it is almost necessary to stand;
in line and take turns getting an
order for one, said David Krom, whoy
after 23-years absence from Flat, is
reentering the field on a big produc-:
ing scale, according to the Sewsrdt
Gateways
Mr. Krom went to the States on
a recent boat and expects to have his
dredge on the ground this year and;
in full operation in 1938.
Has Plenty of Capital
While Mr. Krom has not been at
Flat for more than two decades, he
was kept advised and with what in
formation he had at hand and with
his former experience to back him
up, found no difficulty in obtaining.
capital for a mining enterprise upon
a major scale.
He regards Flat as a leading pro
ducing center and the ground he has;
25 miles out of the camp is going to;
he extensively worked.
MadqpjDndges Going In
In addition to the rehabilitation of
old dredges in the Nome district,\
new machines will be in operation |
about Fairbanks, he said, and spoke •
of the half-million dollar equipment
going into the Good news Bay coun
try. Added to these will be his own
dredge.
The forthcoming'season, is going
to be a humdinger for Alaska gold
and platinum, beBcves Krom, who
returns in late spring to take person
al charge of the-setup to be under
taken at Flat.
Waino Puntilla was an over-night
visitor in Takotna the first of tha
week from bia.dradge.
Kennecott Mine Will
Close Permanently in
TwoYearsSay Heads
Hopes that the famous- Kennecott
mine, out of Cordova would resume
operations on a biff scale as a result
the recent meteoric rise in the price
of copper, have gone a-glimmering
with the announcement made by1
Kennecott officials this week that the
mine would be closed permanently
within the next two years.
The present bodies of ore will be^
worked out in that time and M
bodies have not been found.
The Kennecott LJorporation has.
been doing some intensive prospect
ing: in the immediate area. but.failed
to locate bodies in sufficient amounts
to justify further work.
The Copper River Railroad- will
also- shut down with the closing of
the mine.
FOTR YOUNG PALMER MEN
WILL LOCATE TAKOTNA
Pilot Don Goodman- landed in* Ta
kotna Tuesday morning with four
passengers from Anchorage. The
new arrivals were: Fred Croessant.
Martin Alders; Veryl Card and Al
bert Yrj'ana.
The boys have rented a cabin be
hind The Kusko Times office. They
have been employed at Palmer fa.
the past year by the Corporation and
the Road Commission.
Anchorage is overrun with men,
they said and more coming- in on;
every boat.
The beys are good Alaskans, and
TULICKSACK IS
CONTACT POINT
FOR BEARCREEK
Tulicksack rests on both sides of
the Tulicksack River and at the
mouth on the left limit of the Kus
kokwim going down.
On the right side of the River we
have the Bureau of Indian Affairs
school, conducted by Mr. and Mr.
Bird. Across the River is one of the
old-timers of the Kuskokwim, Andy
Smith, who operates a trading post.
The population of the town is
mainly native, numbering approxim
ately 100. The natives occupy them
selves with trapping^) fishing an
reindeer raising.
Tulicksack is the distributing point
for the rich mining district around
Bear Creek where the New York Al
askan gold dredging Company oper
ates- Large boats run freight 35
miles up the River and then trans
fer their cargo over to small boats
or caterpillars to be landed at Bear
Creek. Two dredges were operating
at this point last year. A third
dredge is going in this season.
we would like to see more of their
kind drift in to the Kuskokwim area.
They propose to get into the mining
and prospecting game, either for
themselves or for someone else. They
intend to look up some good trapping
ground where they might, hibernate
next winter.
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KUSKO TIMES today.
Fairbanks Miners
Take Over Golden
Horn Qnartz Mine
Mining in the Iditarod will be put
on a year around basis soon, if the
efforts of Gustus Johnson and Joe
Martin,, mining men of Fai.-banks,
turn out successfully.
The two have taken the “Golden
1 Horn” mine there and are busily en
• gaged in exploration work, accord
j ing to advices reaching here recently.
The Golden Horn was discovered
long ago, but earlier attempts to put
it on a paying basis did not, turn out
so well. However, Johnson and Mar
tin, both experienced miners, and
hard rock men and both formerly of
' Fairbanks, saw possibilities in it
| and is said that the work done to
date has justified their faith. They
have five or six men working at the
mine this winter.
McCARTY AND Me CONN BACK
M. D. McCarty of Poorman, re
turned recently after an extensive
! visit Outside for the first time in
I 19 years. Flying from Ruby ho Ju
neau, he continued east as far as
; Quebec to visit his brother, John. La
! ter he visited old friends in Mon
treal, Walpole, Mass. Portland,Maine
going there on to New York, which
! he thught “quite a camp with some
' sizable cabins.” Wm. “Bill” McConn,
who returned with him to Fairbanks,
; made his first trip Outside in 28
: years. Both the boys have decided
to come Outside more frequently for
they had a “bully” time all winter.
j NEWS OF INTEREST FROM TOWN OF FLAT j
By Margaret M. Lott—[Special Correspondent]
TMij. Hank 3»
Gus Rwdman » m town from Mm
claim on Jnlian Creek, where he has
been prospecting all winter. He is
in to meet his wife whom he expects
to arrive today on the P. A.A. plane
from Fairbanks.
Keturi Will Haul Freight—
Elmer Keturi came in from Moore
Creek Friday to make arrangements
for hauling the freight of the Moore
Creek Mining Co.
Mrs. Davis Returns From States—
Mrs. Jean Davis arrived from the
Outside Thursday with Pilot, Ralph
Savory to operate the Day Naviga
tion Company mess house.
Turner & Wood Move Store—
Turner & Wood have moved their
store on the south side of Otter
Creek. It is now across from the
hotel, a much better location.
Gulartes Back From Holy Cross—
Mr. and Mrs. Tony Gularte return
ed Thursday with Pilot Dan Victor
from Holy Cross. Mrs. Gularte spent
the last three months visiting with
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dimien
tieff at Holy Cross. She was joined
at a later date by her husband.
Leave For Moore Creek—
Cecil Barlow and the “Cowboy"
flew to Moore Creek eSL'TOot Da*
Victor. The cowboy wilt go«by-trail
from Moore Creek to Deadwood.
Spends Winter Prospecting
Bill Burns is back in Flat after
having spent the winter prospecting:
Completes Repair Job—
Arnold "Kohler retained to Flat afr
ter repairing the Moore Greek Mim
ing Company’s tractor.
Harry Wilson and’Wife
Harry Wilson and wife returned
to town after spending a time ove
in the George River Country,
,Mrs. Ellison Entertains at Bridge—
Mrs. J. A. Ellison entertained at
three tables of contract Monday ev
ening in honor of Mr Ellison’s birth
day. The guests were: Messrs. Tom
Jensen, Dwight Randall, M. Stiffler,
Wes Kennedy, Frank Lott, and Mes
,dames Jensen, Randall, Stiffler, Awe
and Lott, The ladies’ high score
was won by Mrs. Randall, the gen
tlemen’s by Mr. Jensen.
Airfield in Good Condition—
Flat has been enjoying a long spell,
of dear, cold weather. There has
been considerable plane traffic during.
this time. The field is in good con
dition for either ski is or wheel
equipped aircraft,
Capt. Day Expected Soon—
Capt. Glenn Day is expected to fly
! from Spokane to Iditarod any day
now. Upon his arrival he will be
kept, busy getting the boats ready
for the summer season.
Leave For Moore Creek—
Els e; Keturi, Ch«s. Uotila, Arnold
Kohler and George Rosander left for
Moore Creek recently. Kobler and
Keturi are to bring in the caterpil-'
lar tract®* for repairs and Uotila i
r and Rosander will remain there and
! prospect with a drill. They report a
lot of snow in that distict.
Jensen Will Bring Supplies—
Tony Jensen was an arrival in
town recently and will leave soon,
for George River bringing out a load!
of supplies.
Mine Operates Steadily—
The Golden. Horn mine is ope rat- j
ing steadily under the management i
of Justice Johnson. Five men are
employed.
Frank Walker Visits—
Frank Wafter (The Sheik) of Holy
Cross, arrived in town on a business
trip, remaining for a short time. He
then left for Fortuna Ledge with Pi
lot Dan Victor. Peter Jensen 1 eft
with them..
Gurtler Leaves For Bethel—
Bob Gurtler left recently with Dan
Victor for Bethel and Good news
Bay. Gurtler expects to return to
Flat in about two months.
May Work Flat Creek—
It is generally understood that
there is a new mining company to i
start operating on Flat Creek this
coining summer.
Dragline Going Into Flat Area—
Fritz Awe left for the States to |
bring in a dragline and other equip
ment.
Beaton to Anchorage—
John Beaton passed through Flat
on his way from Russian Mission to i
Anchorage to get medical treatment. \
Wrill Move Outfit—
Chas. Yost expects to move up to j
the hill soon where he will begin!
preparing for summer operatfcnc.!
Prospecting Otter Creek—
Rasmus Nielsen and Jerry Hunter j
are prospecting on the left limit of
Otter Creek.
Will L'nvf f or Bear Creek—
Jimmie Stenberg arrived in town
from the Holitna where he was en
gaged in trapping this winter. He
expects to leave soon for Bear Creek.
Sam Voich Is Visit or—
Sam Voich was a visitor in town
for a few days, he has a post at
Napamute.
Breaks Leg on Icy Step—
Suffering with a broken left leg.
Miss Ovelina Woodworth, 28 years
old, was flown to Fairbanks from
Flat recently by Pilot Ralph Savory
of the Star Air Service. Miss Wood
worth, daughter of Mr .-'and' Mrs.
Frances Woodworth, was taken to
St. Joseph’s Hospital, where the in
jured limb was set by Dr. Aubrey
Carter. Miss Woodworth was injur
ed by falling on an icy step.
MANY RUSH INTO
TOGIAK BAY AND
EEK RIVER AREA
The news of the recent strike at
Togiak Bay, over the hill from Go«4
news Bay, and in the direction of Dil
lingham, is the cause of .quite a rush
from various points in Alaska, ac
cording to recent arrivals from Beth
el.
Now on the heels of this stamped*
comes the word that some reindeer
herders have made a rich find of
placer gold up on Eek River. Eek
River flows into the Kuskokwim Riv
er further up the bay and nearer the
mouth of the Kuskokwim and just
below Apokak.
W. D. McVeigh of Bethel sounds
the warning against any stampeders
coming into this section unless they
are properly equipped for rigorous
weather, and have with them suffi
cient supplies to see them through
until the arrival of the steamer ser
vice next summer,
vice hext summer.
It is a difficult country to travel
in, and a hard country in which to
sink a prospecting shaft. The
ground is wet and swampy and a
prospecting party should be equipped
with a light weight placer drill with
which to seek bedrock.
Quite a number of parties have ar
rived already, it is said, and gone
to their various destinations, but a
this time no reliable reports verify
ing the authenticity of the reported
finds are available. Oldtimers of
this section who are familiar with
the formation and the country, are
confident that this district only needa
intelligent prospecting to develop in
to one of the richest placer sections
in all of Alaska, producing both gold
and platinum, hut intending at—
peders would do weH to first be sure
of the authenticity of their informa
tion, and if they do decide to make
the trip, to tome prepared in all.
way’s.
RAILROAD MUST
CLOSE IF FUNDS
NOT AVAILABLE
The memorial passed by the Ter
ritorial Legislature asking Congress
for $764,000 for the rehabilitation of
the AlaskaRailroad was cut down to- *
$200,000 by Congress, Delegate Di
mont informed the Legislature this
week
In appealing for the original ap
propriation Dimond told Washington
officials that “200,000 wouldn't more
than pay the cost of one of the three
new steel bridges needed. The rail
road is badly in need of new bridges,
snowsheds, trestles, re-tieing, and re
placement of rails. In fact, the rail
road was never completely finished,"
Dimond said. “If enough money is
not appropriated to put the railroad
i» to shape, it will have to dor-e d< wn
as i: is getting unsafe to travel. The
Raihoad is the main artery t Alas
ka and is m-e'-ssary in the devcl -p
ment of the country,” the Delegate
continued.
In the teegram received, Delegate
Dimond said that he was going to
continue to fight for the appropria
tion originally sought.
KRUHM IS BUSINESS VISITOR
Bill Kruhm was a business visitor
in Takotna for several days, arriv
ing on the P.AjV, plane last Friday
and returning to McGrath by dog
team with A, H. Twite hell Monday.
Charlie Anderson also returned to
Takotna on the* same plane from Mc
Grath where he spent a few days on
business.
Charlie Woods of McGrath, was an
overnight visitor in Takotna thin,
fcreek.