The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-11-03

be then renewed the month following.
So many merchants, however, has had
the effect of bringing down prices,
which, considering the freight charges,
are now rapidly getting to the bottom,
making it nearly as cheap to winter
here as at Juneau or any other north
ern point.
But the visitor must not expect luxu-
ries. He must be content with bunk
and provide his own bedding. The
bunk will cost him from seventy-fve
cents a night up. Meals at cheap res
taurants are fifty cents each. He will,
however, in all probability, hire tiny
shack and learn to cook for himself il
he is to be gold hunter. Then, as
before stated, he will find the price of
the bare nocessaries of life no higher
in proportion than Seattle. Flour is
l.50 per sack, potatoes 81. 25, bacon
twelve to fifteen cents per pound.
The infant city is well laid out, and
not only on Broadway but on most of
the side streets on either side up to
where the trail turns off to the left into
the timber there are new stores and
residences. Among the timber also
there are many merchants, in tents or
rough shacks. In the early history of
the city-that is, three weeks ago
boiled shirts were publicly derided, as
we're also shaven chins. Now there
are four barber shops and two or three
signs reading Troy Laundry" There
is also bath house in course of con-
struction, and this is n luxury that
tired men coming off the trail will ap-
preciate. Lumber is still scarce, rough
lumber at nine dollars per thousand
feet at Seattle selling for about twenty
five dollars here. There is little doubt
that hundred or more buildings will
be erected during the next thirty days.
Now, what are the prospects of
Skaguay's permanency? The men who
are building the wharves and the three
story hotel and other buildings evil
IDENTIFY believe in its future growth and
prosperity. Yet there is nothing to
give it the slightest hope of perma-
nency except as an entrance to the
gold regions. That they do not at the
present time possess any such en-
trance that is at all what highway
for the expected crowds in the spring
should be is conceded. But the in
tention now is to build wagon road
along the Skaguay River to the foot Of
the mountain. This will cost great
deal of money, but it will in all prob
ability be carried out, for every one
who has made an investment here un-
derstands the situation. 1t is esti.
mated that from 100000 to $50, 900
gold seekers will flock to Alaska next
spring, and that they will begin to
come in in February. Skaguay must
be able to announce long before then
a better trail than the present one or
the trade will pass her by and the
town boom will be "hushed." She
will also have others besides the Dyea
trail to compete with, and, in short,
her future depends entirely upon her
making the best inland route to the
Yukon territory that can be made.
Her citizens are remarkably public
spirited and liberal. A town meeting
two nights ago subscribed $1,000 for
fire protection in few moments. A
surveyor is now mapping out route
for wagon road along the river.
Money will have to be raised to meet
the cost of this road and work on it
be started immediately to insure the
permanency of Skaguay as a port and
as town of even its present proper.
tlons.