Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-07-18
on Dease Creek, and from 200 to 800 on

miles distant. The great difficulty ex
perienced by the miners in opening
their clans is encountered in the ma
ture of the soil, and the distractions tc
be overcome before striking bedrock
The ground is covered with species Of
moss, to depth of two or three feet
when frozen ground is reached, which
continues to the hard-pan. One man
has sunk shaft twenty-three feet and
not yet reached the bedrock, although
he has quarried out enough ice to build
a respectable-sized iceberg.
There are about 1 400 miners on
Dease and Thibet, waiting for the
falling of the tide" Provisions cost
about So per day, and many are
"broke," disguised and coming away.
The cost of the journey may be esti-
mated from the following figures: Fare
to Wrangel (from Victoria) $50; to
Steamboat Landing $25; toll on trail
two cents per pound; fare on lake So
and freight three-fourths of cent per
pound.
MIR. Wood expresses himself as per-
fectly satisfied with his trip, and has
CONC to the conclusion that the hard
ships, privations and uncertainties of
the chase for gold, lin the Stickene re-
gion especially render it an unsafe en-
terprise, and, in by far the larger number
of cases, an Improbable investment.
SAr1sFIED.-A friend who recently Wis
tied Port Townsend says that while the
Custom-House employees profess great
love for Garfelde and regret at his
removal, they know of no man in the
Territory, or out Of it, they would have
preferred to succeed him than Henry
A. Webster. They are waiting in
breath!ess suspense for his arrival. A
most singular unanimity exists in oppo-
sition to the time-honored doctrine of
" rotation in Office They urge, and
with considerable plausability, that the
old and tried servants of the public,
are the most capable Of discharging the
varied and intricate duties of office.
Harry's views on the subject, it is hoped,
will coincide with their own.
------> 81
POSTAL CHANGEs.-A Washington dis
patch of the 18th announces the follow
ing postal changes in this Territory: A
new office has been established at Free
port, in Cowlitz county, and V. NJ. Wal
lace appointed Postmaster, and an office
at New Tacoma, with VIM H. Fife as
Postmaster. Hon. G. H. Montgomery
has been appointed Postmaster at Fort
Colville, Stevens county, and John Y.
Hill, at Whitman, Waua-wana county.
ALMOST A FIRE. - The residence of
DR.. Ostrander, in Tumwater, had mar
row escape from FIRE last Saturday after
noon. Sparks from the chimney caught
in the moss on the roof, and for short
time the destruction of the building
appeared imminent. The impromptu
bucket brigade formed by the citizens
soon had the fire under control, howev-
er, and the damage was but nominal.
- -
INcoNsIsTENT-One of the most de-
termined opponents of railroad bonds
in Swantown, "on principle" recently
voted to tax his school district about
twice the amount allowed by law, to
build a new academy building. 1t ap-
pears that principle, after all, changes
and may be adapted to circumstances.
What a vast difference there can be.
TwiXt tweedledum and tweedledee."
PATRIOTIC ABoRIGINEs.-On the 4th of
July, in the Council House at the Sko-
komish Indian Agency, by Rev. M.
Eells, seven gallant braves were united
in wedlock to as many dusky maids of
the clam-beech. After the ceremony,
a general celebration took place, in
which some two hundred white people
and nearly thousand Indians partici-
pated.
INsANE.-Two more patients were
placed in the Insane Asylum this
week, one from Kitsap county, named
Ruhle and the other from King, named
Nail. At the present ratio of increase
in insane patients, the maintenance of
the Asylum will soon become a heavy
burden to the people.
az Mr.. Northover, a farmer living
near American Lake, in Pierce county,
while returning from Steilacoom, on the
18th instant, in an intoxicated condition,