The Chitina leader., 1915-12-07
GROWTH newest
TOWN ALASKA|S
PHENOMENAL

The town of Brooks, as 1t IS called
on the records of the district court
of the Fourth Judicial Division, and
in all telegraph directories, is the
newest town in Alaska. In fact
from the standpoint of town, 1t is
less than two months old, although
Tits first building was constructed
during the month of May last, as
nearly as can be learned.
Brooks is the mercantile centre Of
the new Tolovana mining camp. II
is located on discovery, Livengood
Creek, which was the first stream on
which good prospects, and later pay
dirt, was found in the new camp. II
lies, for the most part. on the right
limit bench claim off discovery, but
the first part of it was constructed
on the creek claim.
There are now about IS buildings
at Brooks, which are completed. Sew
eral more are under process of con
struction, while there are at 1eas,
so tents scattered here and there
among the buildings, whose occu-
pants will later put up houses.
There are three streets at Brooks
the longest of which is about three
quarters of mile long. Then there
are several cross streets. The ma
jority of the business houses are To-
Gated on the longest street, or that
which is on the creek claim, the resi-
dence portion of the town being
higher up on the gently sloping
benches.
In fact, the growth of Brooks is
nothing short of phenomenal. II
sprang up over night, so to speaA
for practically all of it's buildings
were constructed during the past &C
days. Prior to that time it was prac
tically impossible to get lumber fol
buildings on the ground on account
of the poor condition of the trails. A
shortage of lumber and teams fol-
hauling it also had something to dc
with retarding development IN a
building way, for although two saw
mills have been working almost day
and night since they were first in
stalled at West Fork, at the head OF
launch navigation on the Tolovana
river, last summer, they have been
unable to supply the demand for
their product as soon as the trails
became passable for teams and heavy
loads.
The business houses at Brooks are
similar to those in all new camps.
The residences, however, are general
ly very comfortable. Built either of
lumber or logs, they present very
cozy appearance from the main street
of the business portion of the town,
as they rise tier upon tier on the
bench. The house which shelters the
wireless plant is located on. the high
est point of the bench. Near it the
building which will be used as head
quarters for the resident commits
sioner and deputy marshal is under
construction.
And Brooks has its "tenderloin. "
1t is situated in the best place in the
town, from a location point of view,
being up on the bench away from the
business portion of the city. Some
pioneer spirit with regard for To-
cations as compared with famous
places, has called the height of land
1.-THE Dardanelles," which name still
sticks to it, and by which it will pro-
badly always be known.
Those who are familiar with the
situation in the Tolovana country
state that there is no doubt but that
the prospecting this winter will show
a big camp. In fact, some even go
so far a sto assert that it will be a
second Fairbanks.