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Westward District Experiences
Best Season in Quarter Century
The year 1924 has been one of the
best in the history of the westward
district, fishing activities, mining and
stock raising bringing this rich section
to the fore rapidly. While the aver
age tourist has not yet discovered the
westward district, it is but a short
time until they do so, the Valley ol
Ten Thousand Smokes, the splendid
harbor and Russian antiques at Ko.
tliak, the oil fields at Kanatak, and
the picturesque towns of Unga, Una
laska, and Belkofsky being rich in In
dian curios and native life.
Those who have made the trip are
load in praise of the primitive terri
ttory to the westward. Up to the pres
ent time the district has been visited
more by big game hunters than by
pleasure seekers, the big brown bear
and caribou being plentiful. Fishing
both fresh water and salt, is unexcell
ed anywhere and the angler may fill
his creel with the finest trout in
northern waters.
rvodiaK Hich in History
The town of Kodiak, on Kodiak Isl
and is a treasure trove for the curio
hunter and tourist. Here it was that
the Russians first landed, and many
buildings erected in 1700 may be
found here. The Russia church was
built in 1794, a new and more up to
date building being erected in 1875.
Among the world famous cur;ios in
the church at Kodiak is a painting.
The Twelve Holidays, painted in 1794,
on Cyprus, and framed in hammered
silver. A new testament printed in
1776, ihe year of American indepen_
dence, <s hiA used in me services in
this church.
Tht oldcA estabiioh- d mercantile
business •' i the j d .ltlc , oast, estab
lished during American rev., mi nary
period 's Oat oi the »\ ! iTs!.l;v» Co
*toi at Imd'urc. 1'i.i busim s was
established m 1775 by the Russian
American (ompan,>, ^nn a a.; succeed
ed in 1861". at the time of American
occupation cy the Amcaa Commercial
Co., wnich took over hr Russian
holdings. u 1911 the hu.-ine^s was
purchased irom the A. (Company by:
W. J. Kiokine Co., a business which i
has been run continuously for over;
148 years. Mr. Erskine & Son have
changed the business from a strictly
fur trading post to a general mercan
tile business, carrying one of the iarg
est stocks of goods in southwestern
Alaska. Mr. Erskine is one o' the pro
gressive business men of Lite distiict,
who has done much to uuiid up the;
town of Kodiak. Recency h • com-j
pleted a large dock and landing for
small boats, and is now in New York
financing a cannery proposition. He.
is also offering excepti mul inuuce i
ments toward having a cold storage I
plant erected in Kodiak. The advaniaj
geous location of the town, together J
with an exceptionally beautiful and'
safe harbor will do much io make this
a fishing center.
Otto Kraft & Son
Otto Kraft & Son first opened up1
for business in Kodiak about twenty!
years ago. The firm runs a large rner-i
cantile business, are interested in cod-j
fishing and have lately installed a big
refrigerating plant, as well as an elec-j
trie light plant. Mr. Kraft installed'
the Kodiak telephone exchange and
this year purchased the first auto ever
seen west of Seward. At first the na
tives were frightened at the horseless
vehicle, but later became a nuisaD'
chasing the truck around for a ride.
It is said that many of the youngsters
would work all day for a ten minute
ride on the devil-wragon. Mr. Otto
Kraft, senior member of the firm, first
came to Kodiak in 1885 on the sailing
schooner Karluk. Having no cook the
vessel shipped Mr. Kraft as chef, who
went to San Francisco, returning in
the spring to take a position with the
old Alaska Commercial Co. In 1892
he was connected with the North
American Commercial Company, buy
ing out their business and success
fully enlarging it to its present pro.
portions.
Kodiak Has Radio Station
Kodiak has a radio station of high
pewer, situated on Wood Island some
; two or three miles across the bay
| from Kodiak. Here two operators
are stationed, and their services are
in great demand, owing to the stormy
nature of the coast from Kodiak west,
ward. On Wood Island is also situat
ed the Baptist Orphanage, operated
under the auspices of the Woman’s
American Baptist Home Mission So
ciety. This Home was established in
1890 and is in charge of Rev. George
! A. Learn, who with his wife reside
j here in handsome buildings erected
| to house the Indian orphans. There
1 are some 50 native children in the
Home, who are taught useful trades
together with sewing and housekeep
ing. This orphanage has been helpful
to hundreds of children.
rvuuicm imcm Qiauvn
As ivodiak is about like southern
| Oregon in temperature and climatic
| condition, opportunities for agriculture
and stockraising are many. The Ko
diak Agricultural Station, under the
superintendence’ of Dr. C. C. George- 1
son, has demonstrated that oats, peas, 1
hay, vetch, barley, and all kinds of i
vegetables can be raised in profusion
and has done a great work in educat- <
iug the natives in husbandry. A herd :
of cattle is maintained on the farm, i
and Dr. Georgeson is convinced that
sheep could be raised at a profit. For 1
many years the station attempted to
acclimatize the hardy Galloway strain
of cattle, but later these were disposed <
of and Holsteins were tried out, which ,
interbred with the Galloway were
found suitable for milk and beef. It ,
is said cattle and sheep can pasture (
the year round on Kodiak island, so j
tempered is its climate b} the Japan t
current. (
Many Fine Homesteads i f
There are numerous ranches and t
homesteads on Kodiak island. Knute 1
Thevig at Gibson bay has a number of
sheep and cattle and raises good root (
and vegetable crops. Horace Abbert, c
with 32U acres, has half a thousand £
sheep and nearly 1UU head of cattle. t
Roy Clark, west of the experiment i
station, has 160 acres and raises cat- f
tie, chickens, horses and vegetables in |
profusion.
Minin. Selig has a nice home near
the townsite, and is a very successful j.
farmer. 1
Norman Noble also has t>20 acres s
adjoining the Abbert homestead. He \
is engaged in stockraising. (
Bob Morrison, just across the bay £
from the town of Kodiak has a model ^
dairy farm and a large herd of sleek, i
fat, and contented cows. -
Kodiak is also well adapted for lur j
farming, many fox islands being in op- j
eraiion near the town. Karl Arm- ±
strong, former deputy marshal, is one (
of the largest fur growers and has t
made a fortune out of the business, i
He has about 40o animals at the pres- t
ent time.
Kodiak has excellent transportation
service in the summer time, but dur- <
ing the winter months the Watson 1
and the Starr are the only vessels on '
regular runs to the island. £
During the Katmai eruption Kodiak £
was covered with ashes to a depth of i
many feet, the people being compelled i
to flee for their lives. It was believed £
the island was ruined for crops, but in t
a year or so the ash fertilized the soil t
making it much richer than formerly. 1
On fact it is so rich the grass grows i
to a tremendous height and it is cut
by natives on the mountains above
the town, tied in fish nets and rolled i
dow'n to the village, a novel way of se- c
curing forage. i
Kodiak would be a rich field for the £
motion picture field, as the quaint <
Russians buildings, the church with <
its richly carved altar and chancel i
•ails, the natives and tlieir curious
;ustoms, together with the magnificent
scenery combine to make this a verl
:able northern gem of the Antilles,
with a diadem of smaller islands of
rare beauty.
Kanatak the New Oil Town
Kanatak, Alaska’s newest oil camp,
is situated about 80 miles lrom Kodiak
across Shelikof Straits, and has a pop
ulation ordinarily of about 150. At the
present time a cessation of drilling by
one of the large development compa
nies, has caused the population to di
minish somewhat, but the town is still
very optimistic, and by spring will
have another influx of prospectors.
At the present time the Standard Oil
company is sinking an experimental
well, being down about 900 feet. The
Associated company is down probably
lioO feet, and will re-enter the field in,
the spring with a larger rig. Indica
tions of huge oil deposits are seen on
every hand at Kanatak, according to
geologists who have surveyed the
field. A good road was built this year
uom Kanatak to the oil fields, and
over this all supplies for the oil rigs
are hauled by means ot caterpillars,
i’he road skirts magnificent Lake Be
charof, a large body ot fresh water,
which will be the center ot great fish
ing activities some day.
A number of business houses are lo
cated at Kanataa, with lumber yard,
rad postoffice. Among the pioneers
n the business field are Gabe Santos,
who runs a first class restaurant;
tfoberl McIntosh who conducts a sott
lrink establishment and pool hall;
Jhas. Madsen, who runs a mercantile
>usiness; Ai Barnes and others.
Kanatak is a new camp and while it!
:annot be expected to be as large as I
iome oi the older camps, nevertheless
i has made a substantial growth.
in case oil is struck the inilux ot
loomers will make a city over night,
linga Prosperous Fishing Station
The town ot Lnga, west of Kanataki
m one ol the Shumagin islands, is an'
»iu settlement, and at the present
into is the center of the codfishing in-1
lustry. A number of stores, a U. S
lommissioner, deputy marshal, and a
adio station are among the innova
ions. It is an important outfitting
enter for big game hunters and for
ishermen. The harbor is well shel
ered and during the fishing season a
arge number of men are engaged.
At Sand Point, north of Unga, Andy
irosvold runs a large trading post and!
utfits hunting parties with boats and
;uides. Considerable fur is bought
nd sold here. The islands compris
ug the Shumagin group have many
me fox farms. The steamship Starr
;ives mail service once a month.
Unalaska a Thriving Village
During the summer monthts Unalas-j
a is probably one of the largest vil
iges in southwestern Alaska, some
00 to 700 naval men having their
eadquarters here, the nucleus of the1
oast guard cutter service. The Jesj
ie Lee Home is stationed here, and isj
oing good work among the Aleuts
v large coaling station and oil tanks;
,re found at Dutch Harbor, near Una-!
aska, and this is the center of trad-]
rig activities for the westward islands.]
1 deputy marshal, commissioner, and!
ither federal officials are stationed atj
his point. Many vessels en route to^
nd from Nome, Japan and the Orient,
ouch here.
Belkofsky Not to Be Overlooked
The fishing camp of Belkofsky is
m the mainland, between Unga and
Jnalaska, and has normally about
0 to 75 population. At this point is
tationed Rev. Fr. Hotovitsky, a Rus
ian American priest, who is doing
wonderful work in Americanizing the
latives in his diocese. Rev. Hotovit
ky insists that his charges learn to
ead and write English, and reverence
he United States flag. Considerable
'usiness is transacted at Belkofsky
n the fishing season.
Tourist Attractions
The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
3 probably the greatest natural curi
osity from a tourist standpoint, in the
rhole world. Here thousands of gey
ers and fumeroles, caused by the big
ixplosion of Mt. Katmai in 1912, are
ondensed in one valley probably 25
ailes long by a mile or two broad. Mt.
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HJe uitsh our fttenbs anb patrons
A Bery Uterry Christmas
anir a Happy Neui Pear
Seuiarit Irug Co.
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Kalmai, one of the largest living vol
canos, overshadows the valley, its
huge crater being a sight never to be
forgotten. The Valley is reached by
boat from Kodiak or Seward, Geo
graphic harbor providing an easy en_
trance to the wonderland. The past
year several parties of tourists visit
ed the Valley among them aged ladies
of sixty years or more, the trip prov
ing no undue hardship. Guides to the)
valley can be obtained by writing to
Mel Horner of Seward, or Roy Gilley
at Kodiak, the latter working at the
establishment of camps and pack
trails, to be in readiness for next
season. It is estimated that it will
cost a tourist about $20 per day to
make the trip from Geographic Harbor
to the Valley, including guides, pack
ers, cooks, etc.
Kodiak offers a fine place to spend,
a month or so in summer, fishing,
boating, mining climbing, and hiking'
trips providing amusement.
Tourists can secure reservations on!
the steel steamship Starr by writing
to Seward in advance, or can take the
Admiral Watson to Kodiak and go by;
small boat to Geographic harbor.
The trip to the westward by steam-]
er offers a solid month of wonderful
scenery, fishing operations, and big
game. The cost is slight compared to
the time taken, it requiring about 20
days to make the round trip from
Seward.
The westward district is just awak-!
ening to its wonderful opportunities!
for advancement. It has been dor-|
mant lor many' yrears, but its business;
men are now reaching out for new
business and new industries. With its
annual harvest of fish, fur and agri_
cultural products there is nothing but
lack of transportation holding it back.
Dr. S. Hall Young, general mission
ary for the Presbyterian church in
Alaska, recently gave an interest lec-j
ture on experiences in Alaska, to the!
srldiers of Chilkoot barracks, at a din
nar given in his honor.
It is reported that W. George of ]
Juneau lias been appointed a member
v)i the Territorial Hoard ol Account- ,
anc\. R. M. Courtney, another mem
ber ot the Board was recently ap
pointed from Anchorage. There is a (
third member to be named.
The Anchorage Times has installed [!
a twenty watt radio set, Jack Chovinj
doing tiie work. The Gateway was the!
first paper in Alaska to install a radio '<
set for the benefit of the paper, and <
many other papers are now' realizing <
the advantage ot such service. 1
Dr. Turpin of Seattle, a physician
and .surgeon formerly with the public
health service, has relieved Dr. J. B. 1
Beeson of the Alaska railroad hospital t
who will shortly take a trip outside, t
soing as far as Washington. t
— ■
i
MAJOR JOHN C. GOTWAYS
WILL LEAVE ON ALASKA
Major John C. Gotwals, chief engi
neer tor the Alaska railroad will ar
rive from the interior Saturday on
his way to Washington, where lie will
take up the handling of the railroad
estimates with the appropriation com
mittee. While in Washington Major
Gotwals will be relieved from his du
ties as engineer officer of the Alaska
Road Commission in order that he
may devote his full time to the rail
road.
Major Gotwals is one of the most
capable and efficient officers recently
appointed to the railroad corps and
is probably more familiar with inland
roads and trails than any federal offi
cial in Alaska.
FAIRBANKS HOME BURNS
The log cabin home of Mr. and Mrs.!
J. A. Foley of Fairbanks was burned,
to the ground Saturday night. Mr.
and Mrs. Foley were at the masque
ball at the time and no one was in
the home.
Mrs. W. K. Kieruff sanea ror the
States on one of the last boats, taking
her mother, Mrs. Peter Deiser to Cal
ifornia, for medical treatment. Shej
was accompanied by her small son.
All parties are from Fairbanks.
Frank I. Reed, popular proprietor of
the Hotel Anchorage, will arrive on
Saturday’s train en route to the States
to finance a big hydrostatic proposi
tion, designed to commercialize elec
tric powder. Mr. Reed is one of the
solid business men of Anchorage and
iny project he is interested in will bet
successful. , „ .
-ORMER ALASKA CONDUCTOR
TAKEN TO SANTA CLARA
SANTA CLARA, Cal., Dec. 20—0.
1. Ruckman, wanted here for alleged
>ox car robberies committed in 1911,
inu bond jumping, has arrived from
Seattle in the custody of deputy sher
lfs. Ruckman has been employed on
he Alaska railroad as a conductor un
ler the alias of Arthur Long.
W. C. Gagnon, for some time inter
ested in the Hotel Seward with Ed
Dahl, has sold his interests to Mr.
Dahl and will leave soon for Ihei
states.
While the Fairbanks fireboys were
it work at the Nordale hotel Are re
:ently some one went through their
lothes getting considerable money.!
le has been voted the meanest man
n town.
Commander and Mrs. Dowling are!
low stationed in New Jersey. Com-!
uander Dowling was in charge of na-:
al operations in the Chickaloon coa!
ields.
.. ii — i i ... - w
GIFTS! for the
whole Family
Shop Early, We Cau
Give You Better
SERVICE
Ellsworth’s
Come in and see our
NEW BOUDOIR
CAPS, APRONS,
NECKWEAR, and
other useful XMAS
GIFTS
Banbury and Ogle
SYLVIA’S
FRAMED PICTURES
ICE CREAM
MADE DAILY
HIGH GRADE < y
CANDY
PHOTOGRAPHS.
CURIOS
PHONE ADAMS 128
Use More
Milk
ARON ERICSON
PAINTER AND DECORATOR
MADISON 130
SIGNS
WALL
PAPER
J
The Frisco Club
NICK POO LOS, Propr.
Cigars, Tobaccos, Candies,
Soft Drinks
TRY OUR CARD TABLES^
Corner Fourth and Adams Sts.
SEWARD CLUB
CHRIST LARSEN
Card Tablet, Candles,
Soft Drlnka, Tobaccos
Clgara and Cigarettes
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