The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-09
ETHICS OF MINING CAMPS.

Students OF sociology might find q
fruitful and as yet unworked field OF In
yestlgatson in the life of mining camps
and town of the variety now sprnging
into existence upon the tributaries of the
Yukon. and would find there peculiar con-
diilons prevalent which would go a long
way toward upsetting several theories
which have been recognized as fairly wei
established. For example. il is a matter
% ordinary comment In all the letters re-
ceived from ia Wson City that In that par
ticular camp crimes against property are
absolutely unknown: that gold in amounts
which would be considered in civilized
regions as handsome fortune can be left
unguarded in open huts. and that it is
never moiested. and in general that cases
Of theft are never heard Of.
This immunity from crimes OF this class
can hardly with justice he attributed 10
the high moral tone OF the men who have
been The pioneers in the new gold fields.
These men differ in no wise from the mass
of citizens in any community. save that
they are possibly more snterprissng. more
fearless and more energetic. qualities
which have been ia many instances united
In an individual with an entire absence OF
moral principle. Besides this il is well
understood that certain forms of vice and
immortality flourish IN the camps % the
Kloudika as they do in other mining
camps; that reckless. abandoned and dis
solate men and women have foaked into
the country on the heels 81 the success
fai miners and In the hope of sharing the
hard won gold without the necessity OF
actual physical labor 80 obtain t.
Neither can the absence % this peculiar
form. tho most ccsosnon one 81 crime be
attributed 10 the police protection aad the
ttgtd enforcement OF the law. The few
representatives Of law aua order iu the
country are widely scattered and courts II
extended Jurisdiction are absolutely un-
known. Neither ia tire ease Of The Yukon
rnlnlnw camps an isolated one. The same
rals has prevsiled in all ,he new mining
camps uron The Paste coast. almost in
every instance. up 10 ne time when the
fuu machinery q tse law was in running
order scr the prevention ard punishment
OF crime.
These Gre the facts upon which several
Offering sa3 interesting theories might
t. based, accor,.3ns tn the ben, Of mind
ot tAs particular theorlzer. The philo-
soph'cal saarcass; fnssat hnd in theTa
some supper; for he Lea that ali laws are
tvTannicai ard unnecessary. that a eoxn-
raaatty can res along very wAli and xtsh.
oat crime where there are 70 laws against
crifsse, ard in general sh8t eara Individual
- "a faYfy eonr~seot Ana as morally e.
ts1ed 70 govern himself as are eoununf-
ties 20 60 akg~tss- Some students os
cr'nstrSolosy. fren the ssrse data rul~At
eonejete tAat cr11s IS largely due - tbs
vsTy human impulse - So tA2t Which e
fNTAs3aru. ana srorn sae gnorhl8 rssds
wstea sse ases,a0y diseased criminal
aaas IN setting hts w4fs against those 81
persons charged VIA the e9ry q s.sor~-
4sF ire law ant eatw3;tlne snera r. TIA
aiiasnps sad tgrshev. tas, n such a con-
rruafty As described sAsre woala - No
crimes x tsesi carana4ttes he-arse 90 -
cssss,y. Doesssse IN r4snsYsg camps ths as,~a.
A2atet sensro&gSy 90 sh~ saeosssrssl would
rernnl' ~ nAn TO sa~sr f-or7 ae,uAl VA.
90 foo,i
osheY ard mere Ingenious faaovses -aa
s@ suggested IL explanation CO pasaanae-