The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-01-28

to be had windows cannot be found;
new houses nor nails had to build the
house. / am building cabin, and
by the grace Of God and Capt. Healy
l got the windows for it. We are still
negotiating for nails to hold on the
roof and I am not sure but l must fas-
ten them OH with wooden pins.
Yes, I am building cabin was
fortunate to secure good lot on the
main street fand have the honse up
ready for the roof. I paid three car
penters $50 per hour: I begged some
slabs to cover it with, but think l
must steal boats to get lumber for
floors.
have dropped into quite little
scheme for comfort. SO far as it looks.
I can buy 100 yards blue jean to line
it wont that be snug as well as unique
top blue. sides gray floor, WELL will
say later. To give an idea of prices
l may well say my cabin 30x20, will be
cut up into halves; then my half will
be cut into half, tvo r"uh-. loxlO. l
mean to charge l..y .c.4 Y,J por month
rent and rent the other half for 1915.
Tive 7 will have $3.50 per month for
J. H.. estment. l only give the gossip
to illustrate business.
The weather has been very cold-62
degrees below. During all that time
the men and your humble correspon-
dent stick to their post at work. y.
the wood that it takes (and $50 per
cord), and the water to carry from the
river--soon it will be ice. Mr. Steuwe.
from Helena, came to work one day,
but it was too cold and he quit. Chas.
Lybrook and Mr.. Buchanan, from
Helena. were requested by me to work,
and being "unskilled' mechanics
offered them 81 per hour they respect.
fully declined to work.
Mr.. Fred Smeltzill, Of Helena, and
Ole Swanson are as busy as beavers
the only hard workers, real busy men
from Helena We have lay to-
gether Oh No. 20, Eldorado, which
promises to pan out pretty well.
A. E. Murphy, of Helena, and Kelly.
of Marvsville, started ont with dogs
one week ago, and ought to reach home
ere this letter. Mr. Mctiregor of
Diamond is foreman for Heuly on FL
dorado He gets $500 per month. A
whole lot of Helena and Montana peo-
pie are here. Some are rustling out
at the mines, working Or prospecting.
1t is the old story-most people are
sitting about waiting for gold to pros
rect for them.
My own history and life is pretty
general one. Many people are much
worse off. Some are still living IN
! .cnts others are we'll fixed and COM
Portable.
We have had foot or more of snow.
We have had the usual two successive
fircs-oue night a good two-story build
ing burned up with lot of grub
stores next night fire broke ont in the
business part of the street and wiped
out he three last structures Saving
t he trading store) in town. There is
no way to fight fire except with snow
balls and blankets. No insurance.
lots each side.
Stealing is so much the rage as to be
really fashionable. Not thing has
one that is not liable to be stolen. The
worst feature is it grows on one. You
have thing stolen and you look about
everywhere for chance to steal an
other thing back. | am afraid of my
self and may yet have to steal in order
to get into comfortable quarters Next
to stealing comes lying. Never was
there anything invented by way of lies
that is not being exercised in this
country.
l have not yet any news from out of
the county-no letters, nor papers. nor
90 we nave any notion or what is 60
ing out nor do we know when any
thing will reach rs. nor do we believe
anything unless t may come direct
from homo. We pay the usual dollar
to get oar letters
AS l am hurried I must close this
sketch. Oh, no. | nave not advised
you, one and all. to come here. If
good, strong man, who is willing to
stay five years he stands big chances
of making stake. l am afraid the
life of these diggings is too short for
business men or speculators. 1t may
not last three years, or a new discov-
cry may cause a stampede and destroy
the town. Just now one can use
money to good advantage, but next
summer may be too late.
ST Marks and a party from Butte are
ice bound at Circle City, $50 miles
down the river
With hopes that the war with Japan
, and with Spain has not broken up the
great United States, l am. respect
fully, j. J. L.