Douglas Island news., 1919-06-20
TELLS STORY OF
 NEW TEXAS BURG
Miss Lillian Hill Says New Towns Have Dawson and 0ld-Time
 Camps Beaten

| Several former Fairbanks people are
 In that district now trying their luck in the oil game which Is as hazardous as any mining game.
 Miss Lillian HuL writing from Ranger. Texas. describes conditions ! in that town, which Is in the center of the big oil strike in Texas, one og which bids fair Co prove the big gcst in tho history of the country. She says:
 "I cannot even attempt Go give you an idea of what Is going on hero. IT Dawson and the early mining camps Of Alaska were anythink like this they were some camps but they tell me this has the early days of Dawson skinned. and of course am only going on what | have heard.
 "Thero is money everywhere, and everyone has it and spending is regular by-word. Tho town is not is in badly disorgonizcd state Is in badly disorganized state There are four banks and they are packed an during business hours. Many new brick buildings are be- ing constructed and most of the banks are contemplating early moves. They are paying good wages and the First National has promised me a job when they get in their new quarters. They all need help now but have no place to put it and are running on an unsystcmatic sched- ule.
 '-The postonicc has a crowd of people lined up in front of it at an times and it is really troublesome to stand in line and wait for ones turn Co get mail There is big building going up for the postonice now. besides fifteen other brick buildings from two to three stories high
 "I wish could send you pictures Of the town as she looks and ! will as soon as | get my things unpackcd. There is continual stream of rigs and automobiles going Co the oil wells. one stream going and the other coming in. The traffic is something terrific and at intcrscct- ing street crossings there is great there is great need for traffic cops like they have i'm Frisco.
 Room rent of $40 per month for am excuse of a room, and real houses are not to be had. The town has organized company Co put mp money for houscbuilders. This cor poration win loan builders up to. S2.OOO and | am going to take ad- vantage or thc ofcr and build in a month or two. | am here pcrman- cntly and will either open up a stem ographic onic" or something else in that line.
 "I am also working in a moving picture house. We have a yaudc- virc pcrfo~mlrcc with every show and it is some show. but the pie ures are really the best that | have seen. even including those seen in the best movie houses in some of the big cities.
 Money is not considered at all. The people crowd into cheap jew clry houses and buy phony jcwelry, but they pay good prices for 1t. There is ono little shack that has one showcase and about fifteen pieces Of cut glass and a lot of jew elry and trinkcts. This place is crowded every night and a boy stands outside and cells, This is the place to get your jewelry. One sees all kinds of things in the street. People will buy some doughnutu or cookies. or some fruit, and go along eating out Of the bag. The cafes are crowded all the time and board ing houses are packed. Ono can scarcely get a room. The McCloskey hotel is the best here, ard $4 a night is the regular charge, and it is bum at that. One place has a sign up sleeping room for two more men who work at night and sleep days Sleeping room is a place for a cot and that is all.
 "You can scarcely believe what it looks like. One crowd of boys have a checking station Co check coats, handbags. etc., and they charge ten cents daily per item. and you should see the stun they have. It is packed SO I could not count what they were making.
 "The big oil we'll companies are putting up largo buildings of brick and the town will start paving the streets soon. but now it is nothing but dust. which is terrific We don't mind that since the money is here. ! All the people seem to be good-na- tured about things.
 Lots of drinking places are doing a rushing business. as it is SO hot here. Ice water is five cents glass but root beeer is the same price. Root beer is tho popular drink. Only soft drinks are served in the cafes or anywhere else.
 CT have been out to the wells and