The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-05-26
OUR "LILLIAN' -TELLSSTORY OF
 NEW TEX. BURG

MISS LILLIAN HILL WRITES A
 NEWSY LETTER OF TEXAS OIL
 FIELDS: SAYS NEW TOWNS
 HAVE DAWSON AND OIT-T1ME
 CAMPS BEATEN.
 Quite recently a number of articles have appeared in the Saturday Even. ing Post regarding the new oil fields in Texas. A number of local people have become interested in this strike thru these articles. 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 Hill. writing from Ran ger, Texas. describes conditions in that town. which is in the center of the big oil strike in Texas. one which bids fair to prove the biggest in the history of the country. She says:
 ,T cannot even attempt to give you an idea of what Is going on here. II Dawson and he early mining camps of Alaska were anything like this they were some camps but they tell me this has the early days of Daw. son skinned, and of course I am only going on what have heard.
 There is money everywhere, and everyone has 1t and spending is a regular by.word. The town is not or ganized yet: in fact everything is in a badly disorganized state. There are four banks and they are packed all during business hours. Many new brick buildings are being con- structed 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 quar- trs after the first of May. They all need help now but have no place to tut 1t and are running on an unsys- ttMatic schedule.
 "The postoffice has crowd of peo pie lined up in front of it at all times and it is really troublesome to stand in line and wait for ones turn to get mail. There Is big building going up for the postoffice now. besides fifteen other brick buildings from two to three stories high.
 "T wish l could send you pictures of the town as she looks, and l wilt as soon as get my things unpacked There is a continual stream of rigs and automobiles going to the oil wells, one stream going and the other com. ing in. The traffic is something ter rife and at intersecting street cross. ings there is great need for traffic cops like they have in Frisco.
 Room rent of $40 per month for an excuse of a room. and real houses arc not to be had. The town has or ganized company to put up money for housebuilders. This corporation will loan builders up to $2,000 and I am going to take advantage of the offer and build in a month or two. I am here permanently and will eith- CT open up a stenographic office or something else in that line.
 "I am also working in moving pie ture house. We have a vaudeville performance with every show and it is some show. but the pictures 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 consideredat all. The people crowd into cheap jewelry houses and buy phony 3ewelry. but they pay good prices for It. There is one little shack that has one show. case and about fifteen pieces of cut glass and a lot of jewelry and trink. eta This place Is crowded every night and q boy stands outside and calls. This is the place to get your jeweelry' One sees all kinds of things in the street. People will buy some doughnuts or cookies. or some fruit. and go along eating out of the bag. The cafes are crowded all the time and boarding houses are pack ed. One can scarcely get room The McCleskey hotel is the best here and $4 a night Is the regular charge, and 1t is bum at that. One place has sign up Sleeping room for two more men who work at night and sleep days Slee ping room is a place for cot and that is all.
 You can scarcely believe what it looks like. One crowd of boys have a checking station to check coats, hand bags, etc.. and they charge ten cents daily per item. and you should see the stuff they have. It is packed 50 that I could not count what they were making.
 "The biz oil well companies are putting up large buildings of brick and the town will start paving the streets soon. but now 1t Is nothing but dust. which Is terrific. We don''