The San Francisco call., 1898-12-26
Indignant Miners Resort to the Boycott to Break a Corner
 in Staples.
Extensive Preparations in Progress to Operate Placer Holdings-Rich Strike
 on Thistle Creek
7 BY SAM w. WALL.
Special Dispatch to Tn. Call

tie. Dec. 25).-The Yukon has closed and he winter stampede out over the ice has begun. The 'c1 stopped run ming on the night of November l. but travelling upon it has not been con- sidered safe before to-day, although a few of the overeager and adventurous started several days ago on the shore Ice.
 Jack Carr, formerly United States mail carrier and the man who last winter came up from St. Michael, starts to-day, carrying this dispatch.
 The last few days have been cold enough to warrant the belief that tn" river will be closed all the way up. To-day the mercury stands at A de- ,grees below. The frost in the keen air attaches to everything, so that every feature of the landscape is entirely white, the buildings of the city, the earth, the trees in their most delicate outline, and the vapor over all
 The river closed quietly. being fixed by a sudden descent CT the thermOme- ter to 30 below. There was no jam near the city, as was the case last year. Heavy ice foes had been run ming for some days and they simply came together and remained. so that the surface, while not inviting to skates, does not present the jagged ap- pearance it did last year Those who contemplate a trip out hope, and some of them believe, they will find it so all the way to the lakes.
 Heavy and unusual wind storms have prevailed for several days, accom- panied by snow. This. having cleared. will be of benefit rather than other wise to the trail maKers. as it will drift upon and smooth over the rough places.
 Although trade is dull now, great many merchants contemplate going out over the ice to bring in new stocks of goods, hopeful that the swift ex- changes and big profits of the spring and summer past, will repeat them selves in those seasons coming. and this, notwithstanding the fact that warehouses by the block are stacked with goods of every description.
 High prices still prevail, of course. and d certain few articles, which have heen cornered, are in demand at extra high prices, but with the approach Of another open season. and other ship loads of goods, it is only reasonable to believe that those who are now hold ing their big stocks at big prices. will come down.
 Immediately upon the closing of the river prices were advanced on many staple articles of food, such as fresh meat, canned vegetables, butter. milk and so on. This met with indignant protest from the working miners up the creeks A meeting was held and committee sent to town to learn who of the merchants had so advanced prices, with instructions 10 advise them that they would be boycotted, and the boycott is on. Many of the miners de- '. ~afal.a rather than purchase at the high prices. as they declare the advance is with out reason or excuse, a mere eNtOrtiOn based upon the necessities of the min ers a necessity that grew out of their confidence that the merchants were and would remain satisfied with the big profits they were making at the eX- isting prices. Just what gave rise to this confidence it would be difficult to explain.
 The prices of certain food supplies prevailing are as follows: Flour, $S per sack; corn meal, $50 to S3o per hun dredweight; Oat meal, 90 cents per pound; coffee, $1 per pound; tea, sI25 per pound: cocoa, $2 per pound; bacon. 50 cents per pound; hams, 50 to I5 cents per pound; butter, $1.50; milk, 75 cents; cream, $1: rice, 50 cents; evapOr- ated potatoes, 50 cents; sugar, 50 cents: coal oil per gallon, $1.50; candles, per box. sS baking powder, $50; navy beans, 15 cents: canned vegetables, 90 cents; beefsteak, S1 and S1.25; pork. S15O mutton. $1.25; moose, SIPS per pound.
 Several of the big corners that were being perfected toward the close of the season were spoiled by the arrival of new stocks at the very last moment. This was true of butter and glass. In the last days of October the little glass fin town brought such prices as S2. 9
 c nd n11ff rr-eac quoted. though little sold, at s pound. A scow load of butter and another of glass arriving down among the big ice cakes and making a successful landing interfered somewhat with the specu- Iators, though it was not allowed to en- tirely break the charm. An 8 by 10 pane of glass still brings S1.50. although there appears to be plenty of it on sale. A number of rafts and barges carry ing meat provisions and other salable goods passed down the river during the run of ice being unable to effect a landing. This is offered as an excuse in some cases for the rise in rices. A few barges of meat are known to be stuck in the ice within twenty miles of the city up and down the river. The meat will be brought in with dog teams.
 The dynamos being brought in by the Dawson Electric Light Company are also in the ice some hundreds of miles up the river. The poles are up. the wires stretched and overything is in readiness awaiting the dynamOs, which will hardly get in this winter. Tn the meantime the Standard oil Company and the acetylene gas agents are look ing we'll
 But the distinct bit of news from this camp at this time to be recorded and noted is that times are-that is. general business is-decidedly dull. The complaint is heard from one end of Front street to the other Dealers in furs. clothing and general merchandise other than food supplies. claim to be scarcely able to nay their rents out of their revenues. The rents of stores al- ready occupied still remain at the high est summer figures. although new buildings are beginning to offer large concessions to winter conditions.
 The cold weather and the snow has put the winter trail to the mines into !, good form and for the mast week the freiehting of nrovis'ons for the winter \ out the several creeks has been under way. The freighters hown effected an orga nization and esta bl'shed A sched- ule of rates that range from cents . pound to the Forks. at Bonanza and Fl