THE KUSKO TIMES
g.. i-i..11' " 1 -■■ - i. mu „.»■■■—i , -
TAKOTNA. ALASKA. FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1937
VOL. 1. XO. 25.
PRICE, 25 CEKTS
LOANS WILLAID
IN DEVELOPING
SHINING GROUND
Uncle Sam is lending a hand to
projectors who need help in devel
p r.g good ground, or to miners in
:;*ed of a loan to enlarge operanons.
fiwo types of loans are offered, by
ae Reconstruction Finance Corpora
on; a development loan, not to ex
..ed $20,0t»0, for the established
rospector; and a general mining
i: an for producers.
Six Tears to Pay
Rate of interest is 6 per cent and
_re loan must he repaid witbtn five
.r six years.
“It is the intention of the RFC
hat these loans shall he disbursed
or expended within a year after they
are received,” according" tc Charles
.ierbert, supervising engineer for Al
aska, mining division, RFC, wjth
headquarters at the hiordaie Hotel in
Fairbanks.
Development loans for prospectors
are intended primarily for labor, ra
ther than for heavy mining machin
ry. but the general mining loan is
without limitation as to disburse
ment.
Second by Mortgage
The loans arc secured by a first
mortgage on the ground to the RFC.
r>. i they cannot be used for the pur
chase f miri-.g ground or for the
payment of ou.k debts.
Complete, definite data are neces
sary in an application for a loan.
The application is forwarded to the
RFC headquarters at Washington, D.
C_. and, for a development loan. Mr.
Herbert, on instructions from Wash
ington. will examine the property.
If the application is for a general
mining loan, the RFC may require
that an independent mining engineer
make an examination of the property.
Required Data
Topical headings in the application
for a loan include the following me
tal or metals (gold, silver or tin!,
geology, reserves, assays. Type of
mine, prod uc ion. mining methods,
proposed development, milling, smelt
ing. refining, water supply, power,
labor, transportation, crists, assets
and liabilities.
The RFC is empowered by act of
Congress to make I ans “To corpor
ations, individuals or partnerships
ngaged in development of quartz
ledge, vein, ore body ct placer depos
it, containing gold, silver or tin of
sufficient value for development pur
poses.”
For Quartz Development
Mr. Herbert pointed out that these
loans are especially helpful for
quartz development or for winter
placer drilling.
Two big RFC loans have already
been put to use in Alaska, one for
Goodnews Eay. and the other for de
velopment at Woodehopper Creek
SUNNY CALIFORNIA IS
HAVING SEVERE FAMINE
LOS ANGELES — Many persons
are starving and many are dying of
disease, resulting from unsanitary
conditions, in the San Joaquin Valley
in California, and a conference on
the distressing situation has been cal
led for July 19 of county officials in
Southern California with Governor
' Frank E, Merriam.
To tens of thousands <xf indigents
in. the Middle West, who are contem
plating moving in automobiles and
- automobile trailers to Los Angeles
county warning was issued today to
stay away from California's “prom
_sed’ land.’ The authorities wish to
prevent a crisis as well as to fore
stall an epidemic that might result
from widespread violation of sanita
tion regulations.
Gordon McDonough, Los Angeles
county supervisor, estimated that 19
1-3 per cent of the county’s popula
tion of 2.300,000 persons is on relief.
He asserted that the county is dan
erously over-burdened and that at
least 70.000 persons, from the South
west. are in desperate straits.
LOTS OF DOOR KNOBS
WASHINGTON.—If all the door
knobs in the new department of in
terior building here were stacked up
they would reach twice us high as
the Washingon menu meat.
Many Barges id Use—
Frank Lang, partner of Chas.
Smith operating the large river boat,
the Sea Wolf, arrived in town Mon
day to spend a week or so repairing
a barge which they will add to their
already large fleet of t arges being
used in freighting on the Takotna
River. He reports that they are pa
tiently waiting for the river to raise
so they can come up to *Takotna
with the freight loads which »r* now
strung along the river at various
points. They have been kept busy
despite the extremely low water on
this end, freighting sh»ptr'*rrts out of
McGrath bringing the loads up the
river as far as possible and thereby
will get the freight up here much
ouicker when the water raises, cut
ting down the distance by many
rnOea.
, LONG-LOOK ED FOR RAINY
SEASOX BELIEVED SET IN
The sun has “given up the ghost”
and has retired for the rest of the
summer (we hope).
That long-looked for rainy season
has started in the Kuskokwim area
and the water is expected to come up
within a few days, permitting the
river traffic to get under way in earn
est.
Considerable freight has piled up in
McGrath awaiting a rise in water on
the Takorna River. With the resump
tion of freight traffic, it is expected
the river will be jammed with both
little and big boats from now until
free re-up time, endeavoring to get
ail the freight up if possible before
winter sets in.
+ * + t *__*__* f
OPHIR NEWS
ARTICLES
BY CHRISTIAN BOLGEX
(Special Correspondent)
4- * * * 4- 4 • * * 4
Goodman Brings Freight—
Late in the evening on the 22nd,
Don Goodman of the Star Airways,
landed with a load of freight for
Ophir and left the following morn
ing for Anchorage with Oscar Grand
son as passenger. Mr. Grandson, who
had been staying in Ophir for a short
time, coming here from Flat, was
formerly in charge of the govern
ment fur-seal herd on the Pribilof
islands.
Sim el Arrives with Mail—
JULY' 25—Max SimeL carrying
the Ophir-Holy Cross mail, arrived
this afternoon and will be on his way
back to Holy Cross with the outgo
ng mail tomorrow. With Simel came
Frank McCaffrey from his place
about five mites below Ophir. Frank,
who is fishing and gardening at his
place, reports catching the first sal
mon of Hie season on the 22nd of
this month.
Roethlisberger Back—
Doe Goodmar returned to Ophir
the 25th with Fred Roethlisberger
as passenger from Folger. Fred has
been working for Sid Paulson since
last April, bat had to lay off from
work on account of a badly infected
knee. He expects, however, to be
able to go back to work pretty soon.
Paulson is working three eight-hoar
shifts on the ground and will be able
to uncover a big cut by fall.
Will Assemble Machinery—
Harold Hanson, representing the
Pacific Hoist (z Derrick Company,
has been in Ophir for abcut a week
waiting to assemble the Uotila &
Hard mining machinery when it ar
rives.
Returns to FoSger— »
JULY 25—James Wilson of Folger.
who has been in Ophir for more than
a month building a warehouse and
making a dump box and sluice boxes
for his partner, Eric Hard, left for
Foiger today with Oscar Wine he II
of the Star Airways, who came in
with a load of freight.
Brings Freight for New Store—
0. E. Gurtler came up from Holy
Cross today in his power boat, bring
ing a load of merchandise for the
Elindheim store, which had been
routed via Hoiy- Cross by mistake.
Mr. Gurtler left this afternoon for
Spaulding Creek to visit his son. who
ii operating the dragline for Scbwals
dail & Vibe on that creek- Gurtler
spent last winter prospecting on the
North. Fork of the Innoko.
ALASKA HAS PROVEN ITSELF
“CHRISTM AS TREE” TO AMERICA
“Seward’s Folly,” as- Alaska was
scoSBngly referred to after its pur
chase by that far seeing secretary of
=tate in 1567, has proven a veritable
Christmas tree for the United States.
We paid Russia $7,200,000 for the
Territory, or* approximately two
cents per acre. It has been said to
be the best deal in real estate record
ed in history.
Since that time Alaska has return
ed to the United* States in Minerals
, alone, close to one billion dollars, and
! double that in fish, furs and other
things. The exports are double the
imports, thus giving the Territ- ~J
a substantial trade balance, which, if
it remained in the Territory, would
very quickly develop our dormant re
sources, and make it possible to add
two new stars to the constellation on
our national emblem.
It is estimated that the productive
: output of the white population, in
cluding men. women and children, is
in excess of $1,500 annually per cap
ita—a figure scarcely equalled any
where in the States.
Alaskans feel jusified when they
J ask the federal government for roads
and trails, and appropriations to de
velop the country.—Ex.
The Notre Dame cathedral in Par
i is. begun in the 12th century, has
ntwr«ea completed.
ALLOT FUNDS
FEDERALBLDG.
AT ANCHORAGE
An appropriation of $325,000 has
been made for the construction of a
federal building in Anchorage, it be
came kncwn in tha city recently, ac
cording to the Anchorage Times.
C- T. Holden, of the Procurement
Division of the Treasury Department
at Washington, D. C-, arrived in An
chorage recently to obtain detailed
information on construction costs
and conditions with the view of cal
ling for bids on the job.
Revelation of the large appropria
tion for tbe new post office and court
bouse surprised city and federal of
ficials who have been urging the pro
ject for years.
Laree Structure Planned
The proposed building will be much
larger than even hoped for during
the last 15 years in which the build
ing has been advocated.
Mr. Holden declined to be quoted,
but on being questioned, admitted he
was after information to be used in
tbe construction project.
Mr. Holden was interested in labcr
costs in Anchorage, freight rct-e?
from Seattle, cartage cost?, mat trial
climatic conditions, tor >gra- hy snd
soil conditions at the site of the pro
posed building.
Besides derails for the building, the
official wiD ioik into the prospects
for growth of. the federal agencies
in Anchorage, prospects for growth
of tbe chy in business and popula
tion. and the construction history of
the city.
The $325.0f*0 for the new building
must cover ail costs in connection
with it except land. These costs in
clude the making of plans, engineer
ing it and furnishing it.
LOCAL
BY THE WANDERING* REPORTER
Will Work for Speljack—
Leonard Zaiser left for Little Creek
Sunday where he will be employed
working ground for rrank S pel jack.
Goodnews Roadhouse Praised—
A1 Berg has a fine roadhouse and
gives excellent service, according to
arrivals from the busy town of Plat
inum, this week.
Miss Riedy on Business Trip—
Miss Ellen Eiedy departed for
Fairbanks Monday with Pilot Bill
Knax in a P.A.A. plane where she
expects to remain a few days on bus
iness matters.
Makes Trip to Platinum—
Thos. Groves, who is associated
with the “Golden Heart Placers”
mining company, left far Platinum on
a business trip Tuesday in a “Wien
Airways” plane.
Slmel Makes Second Trip—
Max Simel arrived in Ophir with
the monthly first and second class
mail Tuesday. This was the second
trip up the Innako of the four sched
uled mail trips to be made during
the season.
Messich Goes to Anchorage—
Frank S pel jack and Pete Messieh
were in town from Gan ? Creek Sun
day. Pete boarded a plane for An
chorage the same day. coming back
the next with a spring for the cater
pillar for which they have been wait
ing for some time.
Bring Freight on Scow—
Joe Oates, Jr., accompanied by
,\l«xie Wilson and Frank Lang, ar
rived here • Monday afternoon with
two tons of freight on the small
pcow. Most of the freight was for
the BTindheim Store at Ophir and
some for the Oates' Freighting Ser
vice.
Brings Load of Lumber—
Joe Oates. Jr." arrived in Takotna
last Wednesday evening from Mil
ler's sawmifl with his boat and barge
loaded with 1500 feet of lumber, most
of it was consigned -to Ole Blindbeim.
A small amount was for Chas. Lang,
who is repairing the scow which is
lying pn ■ the bank above the bridge.
Joe Gates, Sr. is now local distribu
tor for all lumber turned out by Mr.
Miller for Takotna and surrounding
country.
California Mining Man Here—
' PSot Gepe Meyering, piloting C- L
Paulsen’s Bellanea plane, landed m
Takotna Wednesday night with Mr.
and Mrs. Paulsen and N. Ebb ley as
passengers from Fairbanks. Messrs.!
Paulsen and Ebbley made a trip to
Ophir and the Creeks yesterday
morning to attend to some mining
matters. Paulsen is a mining man
from California and is reported to be
interested in entering this field. Eb
bley is a mining engineer associated
wiSk thp mining man.
E. O. Gl'RTLER GETS FIRST
GLIMPSE OF TAKOTNA
Mr. £. O. Guriler. from Holy Cross
is a visitor in Takotna.
Gartler is an old-timer in the coun
try. but this is the first time he has
ever set eyes on Takotna, having
spent most of his time in the Innoko
country. The Inn. ko river-man went
nut to Spaulding today to visit his
son. Grover Curlier. Mr. Gurtler ex- (
r-ects to remain in this vicinity for .
fr.e next few r.'. m.hs. At the end of ,
the working season, he wall go to ■
Cripple where he usually spends his i
winters. j,
The Alaska coastline is more than '
26.> 00 miles long.
f_*_*_*_ t t _*_*_*_t
OLY CROSS
HAPPENINGS
BY MISSES AXT.TKA and ANGELA
DEMIENTIEFF
(Special Correspondents)
Leaves for Flat—
JULY 1—Thelma Merle Whitley
left n the “Nancy Belie" for Flat j
where she expects to work for the
next wo months for Mr. George j
Turner.
Salesmen Pass Through—
A plane landed here today of the
Sikorsky type, piloted by J hnny
Moore. Art v. oodley and F. Dick
son. each with a c tuple of s esmen,
also parsed through.
Will Visit Missions—
JULY 3—Eev. Fathers’ Prange
and O Connor left on the Mission
boat, the former for Hooper Bay
and the atter for his Mission at Ak
c’urak. Fatter Prance just returned
from his rip to the Outside. He plans
to make the rounds of ali the Mis
sions and expects to be back in a
couple of months.
Enjoy Fourth of July—
JULY 4—We spent our Fourth of
July playing games and shooting
firecrackers. In the evening everyone
was invited to an enjoyable “talkie”
show given by Brother Feltes.
boat Makes Third Trip—
JULY 11—The steamer “Xenana”
made its third trip of the season to
day. The b at made quite good time
coming without a barge and expects
to leave on schedule the next time.
Rev. Father Giancey was on board,
a new priest for this mission.
Mrs- M. Demientieff Dies—
JULY Hi—Today at 3 p. m.. Mrs.
Michael DemieniSeff. the firmer Mis.
Stanley Pendent; eff. daughter-in-law
of Mr. and Mr;. Ivan Demien. eff,
passed sway. Three little boys sur
vive her, Fred, 13; Claude. 12; and
Rudolph, 9. The boys are to live with
their grand-parents.
Goes to Hospital—
JULY' 12—Brother Ryan, the post
master here, left today on the boat
for the Fairbanks Hospital for a i
general overhauling and a much ,
needed rest. Brother suffered a bad
cut on his thumb while working in
the sawmill a few days ago and that
decided bis leaving.
Holy Cross Dry Again—
The water has abated and Holy
Cross is dr- once more, but what a
wreck!
HARDWARE FJKM ENJOYS
BEST BUSINESS IN YEARS
“The business done by our company
during the month of May was the
best enjoyed since 1923,” stated J. C.
Richards, representing Hunt k Mo
tet, well-known wholesale hardware ;
house of Tacoma. “We are anticipa
ting having the best year in our his
tory,” be continued, “as a result of
the increased prcpAerity evident in
all parts of the Territory as well as
the definitely improved business con
ditions in the States,”
Richards, accompanied by C. W.
Cash of the National Grocery Co.,
are just completing a swing of the
Lowns and tracing pasts in far west
ern Ai-sfca, having been to Mt. Vil
lage, Bethel, Platinum and way
points. They stopped over here for
a few hours Monday, making a short
rrip to Ophir with Warner A If- rd.
They are male in - the swing with Pilot
B::! £_ --. popular P.A.A. pilot,
Mr. Richards stated that the hos
pitality shown at all points visited
was excellent and particularly at ,
Platinum- They attended the grand
opening of Hurst’s Beer Parlor last ■
Friday niglf: which was attended by
practically everyone who seemed to' i
enjoy the big dance ai«l free punch.
TWIN COLTS OUTLIVE JINX
PALO ALTO, Calif.--Twin colt*
named Mae West and Clara Bcrw i
have successfully rounded oat a year :
of life at the stables of Mrs. Alma <
Spreckels Rosekrans. Horsemen say 1
that twin colts rarely survive The i
two animals are offspring of racing ’
stock. i
BGODNEWSHAS
GREAT CHANCE
FOR BIG CAMP
The following article is made' up
>f excerpts of a letter received last
veek by Bob Lowrie from a friend
if his who is prospecting and mining
n the Good news Bay area. The let
er was written a: Platinum and con
air.s much interesting information
egarding the outlook and general
■onditions m the district at the pres
mt time.
the writer says in part:
“I took in the stampede here this
:pring which I think was a very good
neve as this is a big. virgin country
.rd no white man has been over it
it all. You have heard about the
tampede hole on the west of Red
d-iunaki along the beach, no doubt.
Veil, I have seven claims there and
■till think I have the best chance,
fhe claim; are very high up on the
>er.ehes. The beach Las been drilled
if 100 feet de-;p and no pay has been
'ound. I have a four-claim associa
ion that I can pan platinum on, but
: w rich it is. I don't know. I am so
rosy. I hdve not had time ta look at
t. I don't erpcct anything b iff down
iere until fail.
“Seven of us have opened up a big
ountry to the south of here about
10 miles from Platinum. Look on the
he ms.’ and locate Hugmfeter Island.
Yell, there is a little spit running
>ut to meet it and on that spit and
r.iand about 15 miles, y u can al
most make wages on the surface,
■ocking.
“Otto Van Sickle, former manager
if the X. C. store at Takotna, is
:ere and has quite a bit of ground
taked in the last mentioned region,
some believe chat this district is an
other Xome Beach. I have gotten 25
tnt puns on grass roots, but don’t
;now yet if it will go to bedrock or
lot. 1 have one creek staked, my
;elf or. the head of Care Pierce that
! panned a grain out of a pan which
vas a small one.
“From what I can see, this coun
ty is on the ‘up.’ I have never seen
tr.y place so well mineralized, and I
ir.ly hope that the bedrock turns
>ut OK. If that doesn’t turn out,
fcis country is ab.ut sunk for a big
amp. _ .
“I see John Felder every day. He
ms built a big store here. He also
la? an interest n some claims here,
think w'th Walter Johnson and Joe
lean. I discovered the creek and Joe
md Johns n and myself go; a very
rood surface sh w ng which is about
say. We leased out one creek to
lohn Beamn and are taking him
Sown t. look at it tc morrow. Ihave
ibout 1.0 -0 acres staked here.”
SCHWAMM AT SEATTLE
AITH HiS BIG PLANE
SEATTLE. July 21—After a flight
«h’ch betran tnree weeks ago at San
Jiego. Calif., Aviator Anthony
schwamm piloted his “flying hotel.”
he Savois. to Seattle today and is
>eing serviced at the Lake Union
.eaplane station preparatory to tak
ng off within the next few days for
southeast Alaska. The trip north
rotn California was delayed by un
favorable weather and by the drain
ng by thieves of the aircraft's as
>line tanks when it stayed out one
light in Oregon.
Braises and Cracked Ribs
Pilot Sthwamm suffered two era. t
>d ribs and was bruised by the jt -
ng of the plane when it alighted in
jeavy breakers on one occasion dur
rg its flight from San Diego. The
ireakers, it is declared, were ran
ting 12 feet high.
The large aircraft is a 22-passe ti
ter affair, capable of carry ng a four
on payload.
Like Balboa's Plane
It is the same type of plane that
len. Bulb a of the Italian Air Corps,
lew f-err Rome to Chicago a few
iears ago during the Cer.ury of Proj
■ess Exposition in the Illinois metro
Pilot Schwamm declared that in
he United States there are only
ibout three other aviators besides
limaelf who have ever handled a
plane like this. It is to be operated
n commercial passenger and express
service on regular schedule between
Seattle and Southeast Alaska ports.
THIS TURKEY FEEDS FOUR
EVANSVILLE. IdL—There will be
irurn.-ticks enough to go around at
he Thanksgiving dinner where this
urkey is served: Hatched at the
Vanderburgh county infirmary, the
>ird has four legs.
Jack Looking for Pay Streak—
John Eieck is back on Six-Pup
ooking for pay. He has been m town
hr some time laid up with an attack
rl rheumatism. He went back to
ns ground on Ganes Creek Snndav
ind is now hard at work, taking ad
vantage of the skewers and ruse in
rater.