THE KUSKO TIMES
A. X. Grant, Publisher, Sole
Owner and Editor.
Twice a Week:
Wednesday and Saturday
Address all Communications:
Kusko Times, McGrath, Alaska.
MCGRATH, ALASKA, JAN 19. 1921
FOREWORD
Forewords ordinarily are nothing
more than a lot of needless bombast on
the part of those engaging in new ven
tures in the newspaper field, sometimes
meaning much, sometimes nothing—
mere words at best. For our own pur
pose we will say that today is given to
the public the first issue of The KUSKO
Times, to be published twice a week—
Wednesday and Saturday.
It*ls nothing more nor less than a
venture in a new field—a field that
seems most promising. Like any other
concern engaged in disposing of its
wares, of whatever character, The
Times also has ‘'wares” to sell, name
ly, circulation and advertising, and in
addition to these, in the early summer,
a complete job printihg plant will be
at the disposal of its patrons.
The size of the publication is per
haps not as pretentious as we would
wish, but. with a semi-weekly service,
it will be found large enough to cover
in a brief way the important news of
the Outside world, as well as all local
happening^ worth while. Paper suck
these days ?s costly, and many Alaskan
papers havp been obliged to curtail by
issuing less ftequemly.
Tt will be the aim of The T^mes to
publish urtl news worth while—mining,
socigif and otherwise—not only loc&lly,
Wt also from nearby points—Tacotna,
Ophir, Cripple, Poorman and Iditarod,
likewise ftotn points either up,or down
the Kuskokwim. To this end The
Times invites contributions from those
in adjacent places who have any items
worthy of publication. In sending the
same please sign name, not necessarily
for publication, but as evidence of good
faith.
To the many friends—and we seem
to meet them everywhere—who have
assisted in establishing this pioneer
paper of the Kuskok wim Valley, both
by words of encouragement at d in
substantial aid, the publisher desires
to express sincere thanks. To Scotty
Clark. Ben Derrick and Sig Vig. who
had charge of bringing the newspaper
plant from Ruby to Ophir, over a nig
gerhead trail, landing it without a
break, and to Billy Jones, who landed
the plant in McGrath, we also desire
to express sincere appreciation. And
right here, also, for the numerous
courtesies extended the writer while
nu his trip to Ruby, by friends of many
years’ standing, as well as new ones
whom he met. he desires to give full
acknowledgment. Those old friends—
those “young” boys and girls—well,
you can’t beat them in any man’s
country.
BETTER MAIL SERVICE.
Considering the number of people
now in this section, likewise those still
to come, also taking into consideration
the large operations already under way
and those in contemplation, is it not a
i«ct that this section of the Kuskok wim
I
valley should be accorded & better mail
service?
Government agents, it is said, have
for some months past been making in
quiries regarding the feasib’iity of
routes over the courses outlined iu an
other column, and, should the expedi
ency of those routes be proven and
their ad vantages and desirability made
apparent to the postal authorities, it is
not improbable that contracts over
these routes might lie awarded at a not
distant date. Action is now needed.
At any rate it would seem to be welt
within the province of the Commercial
Club to fortify itself with every fata i
concerning said routes to the end that
it may give every possible aid to the
postal officials in bringing about the |
selection of routes that are cota mens ur
ate to the oeeds and requirements of I
the people of McGrath. Tacotna, Ophirj
and Iditarod district, in a word, why !
not get busy* S
Dp to the present writing no positive
news has been received here regarding
the suspension of assessment work od
mining claims, And now one of Ohio’s
j representatives suggests the suspension
(of the Volstead dry act for a period of
j thirty days to give the “boys” a chance
I to put John Barleycorn where they
think he belongs and thus do awav
with further wrangling. It’s another
case of jam on ihe top shelf—if the boy
knows it’s there, wall, he must have it;
if it isn’t there—well, he forgets it.
__
OPHERITES
ASSEMBLE
I Farewell Function Ten
i
dered Mr. and Mrs.
W. A. Vinal.
Ophir, Jan. 12—A farewell psrtv was
tendered to Mr and Mrs W A Vinal
j at this place on Saturday evening last.
| The function was held at the Town
{ |
Hall, and was one of the most elaborate
of its kind ever given here. Practi
cally everyone in the district was pres
ent and participated in the pleasant
affair,
Cards, dancing and speeking formed
the greater part of the program, Mr
B B Smith presiding as master of cere
monies at the banquet table. Mrs Weir
sang one of her choicest Scotch songs;
Mr Benson, the Ophir poet, rendered a
song and recited ooe of his favorites,
and Mr Frank Spicljack, in a few well
chosen words and in most pleasing
manner, sperking for all, gdve the i
farewell address, in which he expressed j
to Mr and Mrs Vinal the deep regrets!
of friends at their departure and the I
earnest wishes of all for a happy fu
ture.
Those present were: Mesdames ane
Messieurs Vinal, Sid Paulson. J Weir,
W H Jones. Vic Hill; Messieurs Wm
Schneirla, Frank Speiljack, Bans S
Hanson, &am Hounan, John Collins,
Alfred Johnson, Andy Hansen. Scotty
Clark, Chris Bolgen, Mat Simonich,
Joe Saponicb, Bob Limberg, Gus
Hungun, Fred Rothlesberger, John
Mykleburt, Mat Kevi, John Repo,
Mike Mynti, P McMullen, B J3 Smith,
Mrs P A Anderson.
A ROSE OF ANOTHER NAME
Wit* Aipoktgif's to K. C. B.
Aster a-iriviug at a decision.
To start sncaettiiag—sav.
To establish a newspaper.
Right here at McGrath.
And after telling friends.
What was ttpcxi <*tsr rmn<£.
And aforesaid friends.
Were all pleased.
And made various comments.
*■
All intended to etrMfrht-eti us.
As well as outline.
How a newspaper should tie run.
In this.particular community.
A curious one suddenly asked.
What will you name iLe child?'1
That was a stunner.
But. coming back,
Before the count.
We handed hi in ibis.
“What would you? ’.
And then tw stai ted:.
“The McGrath—the. McGrath—”
And then he quit.
Just about that time.
The w heels and cogs.
Began to move.
And fan their whirring. 1
And their clanging.
In aluhabetic allitet ai ion. ■ „
There came many names. 5 i
Just as good aDd appropriate. 1
As one starting with McGrath.
For patterns there were. <
The Aikenville Argonaut. '
“ The Butomatic Argus.
“ Blackburn Bugle.
“ Bakertown Banner.
“ Boydville Breeze <
“ Behan Bazoo.
“ Cloughtown Clarion. . 1
“ Garterburg Courier. 3
“ Downer Dispatch.
“ Downey Dream.
“ Eld ridge Enterprise.
“ FoXville Forum.
“ Greentown Guardian.
4 Gullikson Gazette.
■“ Hummel Hammer.
“ Heino Harpoon.
4‘ Hosmer Herald.
41 Hart of Hearts.
“ ILaogley Larabaster.
14 McMullen Magnet.
“ McDonald Mentor.
44 McRae M usher.
4i Martello Miner.
“ Nelson Nugget.
’* Nixon News.
** Lind Light.
“ O'Halloran Outlo®k.
“ Peterson Pantoscope.
*• Rebhun Rocket.
4’ Ste»’ons Searchlight.
“ Stev ent Standari.
** Spragueville Sentinel.
- Stanton Standard.
4* Smithtowu Soothsayer.
“ Straedville S^paal.
“ Tittel Telegram.
“ iV«ernerburg Wisdom.
“ Williamstown Weekly.
Uvd when wheels slowed dow.o.
['Vrere’came ihalf htciH ttormgtot.
JVhich said:: Kusko Times.
‘Fine!’" we thought.
>o here it is:.
IJhe Kusko Times. Vol. 1. No. L
t belongs to the people.
Either to praise or mo “pan.”
3ut as to “Kusko”
Jap Langley said:.
‘That would be a good name.
?6r a new town,
f one were started”.
\nd toe is some judge.
•We thank you”.
THE KUSKO TIMES
Twice a Week r. Wednesday and Saturday
Two Dollars Per Month
Who Said Freighting
That’s our business and that's where we shine;
in other words where satisfactory service is al
ways given. Freighting between att points—
McGrath, Tacotna, Ophir, Iditarod, Cripple,
even as far as ILtsby.
W. H. Jones
Freighter