Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1930-02-13
Alaskan Prospector Gives
Ills Experience In Travel
In The Far North

NoaAoAyt AASiihuAi SJaltuLl, WIN IGCSllyly
returned from Alaska graphically de-
scribed a trip by dog team from his
mine near Bethel to Nenana that was
In great contrast to the manner IN
which he went In to the mine In April.
When Mr.. Oman last spring
made the 700 mile trip from Fair
banks to Bethel by plane took ex-
actly seven hours, while the trip by
dog team, along the trail took more
than n month.
Leaving the mine October ID Mr..
Oman. and the mining engineer work.
ing for him reached the Kuskokwim
on the 22nd. On November they
ordered plane from Fairbanks.
Three attempts were made to reach
them, but each time the plane was
forced back by storms, although one
came within 200 miles Of them. They
waited until December l6, when all
planes and pilots in Alaska were
ordered to Nome to commence the
Eileson- Borland search. Realizing that
this might take months, Mr.. Oman
started out with the government mail
carrier, to reach. Nenana, and the ter
ritorial railroad.
During the 625 miles, which took 26
days of actual travel to cover, MIR.
Oman walked about $50 miles, with
the weather much of the time at As
| degrees below zero. Five different
mail carriers, with teams of from IS
to % dogs cover this route, Mr.. Oman
gave much interesting information
concerning the service given by these
carriers. 800 pounds is supposed to
be the maximum load on a trip. and
| any amount over that nets the carrier
a substantial bonus. On the trip one
carrier had 900 pounds of mail and
furs, 200 pounds Of the former, and
700 of the latter
Few outside realize just what the
search for the missing aviators meant
to Alaska in general A remarkably
large number Of the trappers and
traders in the interior depend on the
aercplanes to bring in supplies and
take out furs. Many suffered priva-
tions as there had been no adequate
provision made for the emergency that
arose when the planes were unavail-
able. In some cases it was possible to
utilize the mail service, but in count
less other cases this was impossible.
Mr.. Oman spoke of the economy of
travel by plane. The fare from Fair
banks to Bethel is $500 for one person,
$500 per passenger for two persons,
and $3.50 each for three passengers.
In the spring when Mr.. Oman went in
the cost was $500, while the cost of the
trip out for himself and the engineer
amounted to about $4,000, including
time lost, salaries, etc. He states that
| despite the storms Alaska is an ideal
country for the use of planes, which
constitute possibly the greatest element
at work in the development Of this
wonderful country, the resources Of
which have scarcely been touched.
Mr.. Oman is "sourdough" in every
sense of the word. He loves the
country, even though he has known It's
every adverse phase. Going there in
1907, little more than youth, he has
watched the coiintry develop and has
seen both the bright and the dark
side of life there.
In 1915 Mr.. Oman acquired his pre-
sent mining property, the Golden
Butte Mine, on Canyon Greek, 4
tributary of the Kuskokwim, and start
ed placer mining. Free milling ore was
discovered in 1916 and since that time
Mr.. Oman has continually developed
his property.
In March of 1929 company was
formed, largely of Seattle men, after
the mining expert sent out by the
! geological survey had reported favor
ably on the possibilities of the proper
ty. Last summer, during which Mr..
Oman was assisted by the company's
mining engineer in further work, the
prospects appeared even brighter than
at first.
During the coming summer the COM
pany will have fifteen men at work,
and expect to make rapid strides in the
development of the mine 1t is inter-
esting to note that one of the greatest
mechanical aids in this development
is to be two caterpillar tractors. One
of these. with caterpillar trailer will
be used in hauling supplies from the
supply station that will be established
rs miles above Bethel. and the second
will be used in operating the stamp
mill and air compressor. When one
considers that this mill. which will be
operating by the middle of July, has
a capacity of Is tons Of ore per day.
one gains an added respect for the
possibilities of modern invention.
Next to his enthusiasm for Alaska
Mr.. Oman's love Of Vashon Island Is
q close second, and already he has
interested several Alaskans in the Is
land, and expects to establish a colony
on the West Side. If all who antic-
ipate coming here will constitute as
valuable additions of our community
as MIR. and Mrs. Oman we hope that
the colony may indeed be large one