THE HARD WAY
Early day mining in the Tanana (Fairbanks) was sometimes done the
hard way. Here nrospectors use wheel barrow, hand tools and the
once prominent rocker, a box in which to shovel pay dirt and a set
of riffles to separate the gold from the gravel. Its name came from
the method of agitating the dirt by rocking the box on a cradle.
This scene is in the Fairbanks district.
Millers Hungry ! [
For Books; Local •
Library Born h
A library in a rough and tumble g
mining town would seem to be a ^
curious combination, but with the ,
■ ! ^
discovery of gold canie miners and c
prospectors who were hungry for p
the printed word. 0
The process of gathering some t
1500 worn books and several hun- t
died magazines was slow but in t
1904 the first library was put on t
the shelves in the Episcopal mission t
on the banks of the Chena.
Church and library reading room *
were one and .the same building, ‘
y^ith only a tcurtain screening the 1
altar. Writing desks and materials ''
foi writing letters was set up to *
accommodate about 20 people.
Archdeacon Hudson Stuck gave (
the library a thousand books to j
swell the miners’ choice, but re
quests for reading matter far out
numbered the supply.
Books were taken from the make
'Little Giant' 1
Boosted Fairbanks'
Early Economy
“You mean that thing actually
ran on tracks?” tourists so often
ask when they see the narrow gauge
“little giant" locomotive parked on
the Garden Island side of the Che
na bridge.
Yes, it actually ran. And although
it offers a striking contrast to the j
Alaska Railroad diesel streamliner
that glides into the depot each rnor- j
ning, the toy-like engine saved
miners in early day Fairbanks over
$300,000 a year.
Transportation was a big prob
lem in the early days. And when
the village of Chena, located at the
Junction of the Chena Slough and
the Tanana river, was established
during the Tanana gold rush, it be
came a Sparta to the Athens of Fair- j
banks.
Due to Chena's favorable loca
tion and the extreme difficulty of
traveling the slough to Fairbanks
at low water, the "little giant” was
put into operation
Construction was completed on
the Tanana Valley Railroad in 1905,
promoted by Falcon Joslin. For
years it carried freight over 40
miles of narrow gauge track from
Chena to Fairbanks to Chatanlka. j
The train was responsible for
hauling the vast amount of machin- ■
ery needed to open the F. E. com
pany's operations in the Tanana
valley area.
Modern means of transportation
have long since outdated the little j
engine. But it still stands today as
a symbol of the roaring, bustling
mining camp that once was Fair
banks.
htifl library and passed from hand
j hand and camp to camp. Men
''ho came in town from the creeks
nd hills took books and magazines
ack to their friends who stayed be
ind.
Finally, the need for a larger
nd better library became acute,
leorge C. Thomas, who had worked
n some of the mission projects,
ffered to donate money for the
urpose of building a library, plus
pledge to contribute an addition
1 $1000 annually for three years,
is the news of the construction of
lie building travelled, many con
ributioris from the States brought
ooks and money for the under
jking.
The George C. Thomas Memorial
library was officially opened on
august 5, 1909 in the rectory of St.
fatthews church. A library board
/as formed and Rev. Charles E.
letticher served as president the
irst year of its existance.
A full-time librarian was hired
he next year and the library was
:ept open from 2 to 9 p.m. The
eading room was available to any
me at all times.
Mrs. Caroline Siedeman, librarian,
nade the first circulation report
fter a year's operation. During the
leriod ending October 31. 1910. the
ibrary handled 9,607 books.
Lavelle Young
Was Once Gold |
Dredge Boat
The Steamer Lavelle Young, j
which brought Capt. E. T. Barnett
to 'the site of Fairbanks in 1901.
was built originally as a dredge
boat to dig gold in the Far North,
according to The Waterways Jour
nal.
The boat was built in Portland
in 1898 and on its port side there
was a bucket line. Captain Archie
Pease supervised its construction
and it was destined for the Koyu
kuk River.
The venture proved unsuccessful, :
however, and the steamer was sold
to the Northern Commercial Com
pany which converted her into a
passanger boat.
| 0 AAido Selfwinding Watches
i 0 Diamond Engagement and
| 0 Wedding Rings.
Stateside Prices on All Merchandise
5 Money Back Guarantee on All Repairs
| Heinz Borchard
Watchmaker—Jeweler
| 503 Third Ave.
= FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
JESSEN'S WEEKLY WANT ADS BRING RESULTS
This Way, Madame!
to ALASKA'S
FINEST#
JEWELRY
STORES !
40
YEARS
IN
ALASKA
J. Vic Brown & Sons
FAIRBANKS AND ANCHORAGE
Nationally Advertised Merchandise at Stateside Prices
Alaska’s
Arctic Airline
jffien
• SALUTES
SPECIAL GOLDEN DAYS RATES
Reduced Roundtrip Air Rates to Fairbanks Effective July 17th to 31st
Barrow .— .. $93.34
Betties Field ...-.. 40.00
Fort Yukon . 30.67
Kotzebue . 66.70
Nome .-. 66.70
Tanana .. 26.67
Hughes . 40.00
Barter Island . 80.00
WIEN ALASKA AIRLINES, INC.
Phone 3355 532 Second Avenue