Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-06-11
"A Newsy Letter from, ALASKA.

With permission OF Receiver George
Rogers we are permitted to publish
the following interesting letter from
DIR. !. I'll. Moore, dated at Skagway,
Alaska, May 26th.
MY DEAR GEoRGE.--I have lived
through the excitement, the rush, the
rise and the fall of this town and now
we are yerging on another boom. To
day ground was broken for railroad.
Property has doubled In value already,
and | think will soon reach fancy
price. The building of railroad here
likes this point as the gateway to the
Yukon and makes OF IL the leading
town OF Alaska. AS l write there are
5000 people at Lake Bennett, Linder-
man and La Barge ready 70 embark for
the gold regions. IL will be a great
sight TO see the fieet Of small boats
start out. Pink York was ready to sail
but he gave IL up and suppose is now
on his way home. He left little too
soon.
have been very successful and have
enjoyed my life here very we'll, were
Ii not that Ii has separated me from my
family. | have q nice little cottage
built and am expecting them here on
any boat. You can well imagine how
gladly / will welcome them. After q
man chews restaurant hash for eight
months, life becomes almost unbeara-
BILE. Now that my family are coming i
look forward TO a square meal.
/ have not invested In any mining
claims but think that made big mis-
take la not taking some bargains that
were within my reach. Our weather
here Is warm and pleasant and in every
way equal TO yours In Idaho. l ex-
pected 70 be forced TO endure the rigors
OF fearful climate and TO my surprise
| IL has been mild and equable. The
lowest temperature last winter was six
degrees below zero and that only one
day. One day this week IL was as hot
as midsummer In Blackfoot. We have
two good hospitals here. | am con-
nected with the Bishop Rowe hospital,
an Episcopal institution. II was found
ed By Bishop Rowe, friend OF Bishop
Talbot.
/ have case left OF spinal menin-
gifts. the disease which ragged here
last winter. The stories OF Its ravages
were greatly exaggerated. Only about
twenty-five cases died here. That num-
Der also died al Dyea and Sheep Camp.
Our town has been maligned fearinily
by the press and YET to-day it Is mar
velous place. We have a splendid sys-
tenn OF water works about completed, a
fine electric light plant, telephones, a
railroad starting, good streets, side
walks, large stores, dozen hotels, etc.
think that this is good showing for
town nine months old. wish you
could come up this summer and make
US visit. The trip would do you
good.
The war spirit 10 rife here as else.
where, but we are four days behind
the world In getting our news. Papers
readily sell at ten cents each when q
boat lands. AT Lake Bennett they sell
for twenty-five and sometimes seventy.
Ave cents each.
/ We had war celebration here and ]
was one OF the four TO head the pro.
cession In a real hack. We have mil.
itary company and In every way are
like the rest OF the world.
| frequently meet Idaho people and
am glad TO report them all well and
prosperous. DIR. Keller Is now In Sitka
doing work for the government officials
/ expect him home In few days. Our
marshal here Is Nampa man, and ID
the only first-class official that Skag.
way has had.
4 l hear splendid reports from you.
Office and wish TO congratulate you.
and hope to renew our very pleasant
relations.
Kind regards to Blsckfoot friends.
Very sincerely yours,
/. II. MOORE.