The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-17
THEPASSING THRONG.
What the Visitors to Seattle
Think and Talk About.
LIFE AS IT'S LIVED IN ALASKA.
Editor OF Juneau sMining Record" Ar
rested for Libe1-Beautiful Lake
Cheian-Smuggling Chinese.

A. +. Gemel. juneau lawyer who came
down from Alaska on the last steamer, is
stopping at the Occidental hotel. In 1887
ne came here from Kansas CITY. but after
short time he went to Juneau, where he
has since been engaged in the practice of
the law. 'Most of the cases." said he YES
terday, that come up in the courts. or at
any rate the most profitable cases, are
those relating to the various mines. The
business interests of Alaska NAV be said
to lie wholly in its mines and fisheries;
and there Is naturally considerable ltiga-
tion growing out of mining claims. The
business of a lawyer is profitable one in
Alaska when times are good; but
just at present the territory is duIler
than it has been before since my resi-
dence there, and money is scarcer. There
Is strong hope, however, that in the
spring good deal of capital will come to
develop the mines, many of which are GER
tainly rich enough to be operated with
large profit
Though Alaska is not the pleasantest
place in the world to live, man is at
tracted by the chances to make money
there; for if you get hold of good mine
your fortune is assured. The life at
juneau or anywhere else in the territory
Is harder on a woman than on a man, for
there are no places of amusement, no
pretty walks and no drives: and there are
few or no social festivities. To STAY at
home is about the only thing to do. The
men have no clubs nor societies, and about
the only evening recreation is to 60 down
town and play game of cards in saloon.
"The cost OF living is high-eggs 81
dozen and beefsteak, when you can get it,
80 cents a pound. Juneau is the only
place where you can get fresh meat all the
time. Sltka has it for day or two when
the steamer comes in, but the rest of the
time the people there live on fish and ven
lson. So you see that you cannot set
first-class table in Alaska.
"The attack on Judge John S. Bugbee,
which resulted in the old mans retire
ment and the appointment of Judge Hew-
lett, of Oregon, to I'LL his place, has been
very bitterly resented by many. Judge
Bugbee had wide circle of friends who
believe that the charges of drunkenness
and immortality were cowardly and unjus-
titled. For my part believe him to have
been an able and an honest judge, and /
think that no one can complain of not hav-
ing had justice in his court.
LAS l have said, the new Judge is an
Oregon man the United States marshal,
Orville t. Porter, is an Oregon man, and
one or two other federal officials are from
that state. The plan of appointing out
siders to the offices in the territory has
naturally excited criticism from the resi-
dents, who feel that they are entitled to
more recognition. This irritation has
found expression in the juneau Mining
Record, which has created something of
stir by attacking the federal officials.
While the people generally may not go as
far as the Mining Record has in its attacks,
still there is considerable sympathy with
Frank F. Myers, the editor. He has writ
ten up his attacks in a way that has
usually been interesting.
Just now. however, he is in trouble.
In recent issue he took occasion to re-
mark that the penitentiary and the insane
asylum of Oregon were full, and accord
Ingly some of the people who were crowded
out were being shipped to Alaska. Orville
I. Porter. the United States markal, who,
as I have said, is an Oregon man, took
offense, and had warrant issued for
Myers arrest on charge of criminal libel.
The warrant was served when the vessel
touched al Juneau, and Myers will have
to go to Sitka by the next boat to answer.
1t is said that when Porter gets through
with him the next official will take him
up, and they will make life burden for
him before they get through"