The Alaska citizen., 1915-11-22

 called on the records of the dis trict court of the Fourth judicial division and in all telegraph di- rectories is the newest town iu Alaska. In fact, from the stand point of a town, it is less than two months old, although it's first building was constructed during the month of May last, as nearly as can be learned.
 Brooks is the mercantile center of the new Tolovana mining camp It is located on discovery, Lived good creek. which was the first stream on which good prospects and later pay dirt. were found in the new camp. It lies, for the most part, on the right limit bench claim off discovery, but the first part ot it was constructed on the creek claim.
 There are now about 95 buildings at Brooks which are completed Sev. eral more are under process of cor struction. while there are at least 90 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 ars located on the longest street, or that which is on the creek claim the residence portion of the town being higher up on the gently slop ing benches.
 In fact. the growth of Brooks is nothing short of phenomenal. It sprang up over night, so to speak were constructed during the past SC days. Prior to that time it was practically impossible to get lumber for buildings on the ground, on ac- count of the poor condition of the trails. A shortage of lumber and teams for hauling il also had some thing to do with retarding develop ment in a building way for, althougI two sawmills have been working almost day and night since they were first installed at West Fork at the head of launch navigation on the Tolovana river, last summer they were unable to supply the de mand for their product as soon as the trails became passabe for teams and heavy loads.
 The new town therefore shows the result of the industry of tho miner, prospector and early stam. peder to a new camp. At this tim1 net more than year after the first discovery was reported, it's location presents a far different appearance from what it did to the first ar rivals on the ground,
 And it has not been easy In fact, as expressed by one well known business man of Brooks, many of those who got started there had to do everything but commit petit larceny and murder to do it. The main reason was that everybody was short of money, and it was necessary for each and every one to give and take, trade or barter, but working altogether, Brooks as ic
 Now that they have some sem blance of a town the residents of Brooks are planning many improve ments. Chief of these is adequate fire and health protection. In re gard to the former the business men of the town. at a meeting re- gently held. agreed to give stated sum each month toward the hir ing of a night watchman, whose duty it will be to keep a lookout for fires. It has also been agreed that each business man is to be supplied with at least one chemical fire extinguisher.
 And Brooks now has a good wa ter supply. The water is secured from spring about two and one half miles below the town. It is ex- pected, however, that a supply will soon be found nearer to town, as a drill is to be used in the sinking of a well.
 The lighting is such as is in vogue in all new mining camps.