The Nenana news., 1922-02-02
COMMUNICATION.
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Circle Ho5 Springs Editor Nenana News:
 The Circle Hot Springs is situated on the south side of the Crooked Creek Valley. some thirty miles southwest of Circle. and was firss discovered by Mir. Groats, in March, 1897. Previous to that time, II was known to the Circle Indians, who had their headquarters al Medicine Lake. only three miles away, but was never used by them.
 The mIners ot the distrlct, follow the discovery of the springs, shovel ed hole in ;he sand and placed a tent over it, and thus it remained until 1899, when Robinson and Monohon put up log cabin. In 1900, Monohon homeSteaded the place and made a precarious exist ence from the patronage of the boys who were rocking on Birch Greek, and other patrons who used the water, until the spring of 1909. when ne relinquished his homestead and | was again homesteaded by F. NJ. Leach, for farming purposes
 The farm was quickly developed 70 point where t supPied practi- cally all of the vegetables used in rne Circle district and, al present, 5s producing, in addition to grain hay for horses and cattle, between 25 and 30 tons of vegetables, some of which are shipped tc Fort Yukon and other river points. The further extension of this farm in limited on- Y by lack Of cheap transportation 10 the river.
 But the very beneficial results ex- perieaced by those who had used the water made an ever increasing de nand for accommodations at the Springs. In 1912, Mrs. J. E. Garner, who had received wonderful relief through the use of the water, leased the notel privileges from Mr. Leach. But when the conditions brought on by the war all but depopulated this part of Alaska, together with the in accessibility of the place from the eenters Of population. she was com pelled to relinquish her lease. Since then, up 10 September 1, 1921, the resort has been carried on merely as an adjunct to the farm.
 In 1915 the Geological Department made complete survey Of all me dicinal springs in Alaska and the analysis made by that department re- vealed the fact thar. aside from the salt springs, the Circle Hot Springs were the most higaly rineralized of all the medicinal springs in the Ter ritory, and also carried the largest flow Of watsr.
 The demands for accommodations grew apace until the spring of 1921. when the Alaska Road Commission determined to build 2 road from Chatanika 10 Circle which would pass within nine miles of the Springs II became apparent that extensive facilities for accommodations would be demanded. 4: this time the hotel privileges were leased to Otto Meyer an old time sourdough cook, for d period Of five years.
 The accommodations at plrsent are comfortable and well suited to assist in the recovery of the health who use them. There are five com modious, well-furnished baildings de voted to sleeping quarters. Also a large, well-equipped dining room, kitchen, pantry, cellar and wareh9us- e. There is a bathhouse containing pool baths, shower and mud baths; also q large sweat house. There are also extensive farm buildings for horses, cattle and chickens.
 The accommodations are ample for 20 people and there are IT guests here now from all parts of Interior Alaska
 The Miners Library Association empowered Mir. Leach to collect all library books and keep them for the use of all the people of this district This library has been added to un- til II now contains over 800 volumes