The Nenana news., 1922-04-11
OUTSIDERS ARE INTERESTED
 IN ALASKA SAYS ARRIVAL

Alaska is attracting widespread interest in the States, according to J. c. Van Orsdel, of the Mt. McKin- ley Gold Placers, Inc, who, accom- panied by Mrs. VanOrsdel, returned from the East last week. But he says he was amazed to find so many people Outside who know absolute ly nothing about the Territory. Al ter all the publicity that has been given Alaska lately, he expected to find people little bit familiar with conditions, but he was disappointed.
 The Van Orsdels spent some time at Columbus, Ohio, and while there Mr. VanOrsdel had the opportunity to attend several gatherings of civic organizations and was called upon on each occasion to tell them about the Northland. He made the most of the opportunity and was kept busy, during their stay in the city, answering all manner of questions.
 Mir. VanOrsdel says there will be representatives of several groups of capital visit Alaska this year, and it is his opinion there will be some thing doing in the investment line. He has 1t upon reasonably good authority that capital is coming to look the field over, at least.
 Many times during their stay in the States, the oldtimers wished they were back in Alaska, for the winter Outside was a severe one, even in Sunny California, where heavy loss es resulted from freezing tempera- lures. Cold weather in Southern Cal ifornia cause such 8 demand for gas for heating purposes, that the big tanks were emptied, and one man actually froze to death on Mt. Lowe.
 The oil industry is booming in the Poppy state, with new wells coming in almost daily in some of the newer fields. In one locality where oil was recently discovered, he counted 200 derricks, and one of the towns is completely over-run with them. In this particular town, which was previously a modest sum mer resort, gusher was grought in with serious consequences to the entire neighborhood, all of the near by homes and streets being bathed in crude oil. Scores of damage suits followed and one woman nearly lost her life when she tried to get rid of the oil on her lawn by setting fire to it.
 Eddie Suter, former Fairbanksan, is in the oil game at Huntington Beach and has five wells on his leases.
 John Metzger, former merchant at Fox, has opened butcher shop near Tia Juana, MT Van Orsdel was informed. h." R. NJ. (Waterfront) Brown was seen riding around Los Angeles in Cadillac and is reported to have fallen heir to a grubstake.
 Ernest Foster, formerly in the employ of the 4. E. C., at Nenana, is still in the cement contracting business al Long Beach. He is a grandfather now,
 Auto accidents are giving the Los Angeles authorities much concern and vigorous efforts are now being made to So regulate traffic that ac- cidents will be redwood The average death rate is something more than
 one a day
 Mir. VanOrsdel says that prices in the States are coming down steadily with the exception of rents, which continue to form a source of loud
 complaint in nearly all the larger cities.
 MT. and Mrs. VanOrsdel went to Fairbanks on Sunday and, upon their
 return within the next few days
 will prepare to leave for the Kan
 tishna district, where they will spend the summer.