The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-29
KEEP AWAY FROM
DAWSON CITY
Unless You are Rich Enough to Stay
at Home.
THE ADVICE OF CONSUL MC00K.
Terrible Suffering In South Wales. Due
10 the Coal strikc-America's
Opportunity in This
Crisis.
THE ADVICE OF CONSUL MCOOK,

Consul McCook has sent the Department
OF State an undated report from Dawson
City (received September p. 1888. Mr..
McCook says:
Dawson City. probably the largest min
Ing camp in America, IS built on q bog
or swamp and contains q shifting popui1-
ton which now numbers about 5000.
Forty thousand prospeotors have passed
through here from the White and Chill
koot passes. Most Of them had years
provisions. Hundreds are going away
daily, not being able TO stay ong on ac-
count OF the cost Of living. a dinner
costs $3.50 and breakfast and lunch $50
Lodging is Il 80 per night in a bunk. and
a hotel charges 500 for n bed per night
The price Of property in the business
locality Is enormous. a lot Of convenient
size upon the main street cannot be mad
urder $4,000. Lots IN a bog off Main
Get brings from 5000 20 5000 To
rent a log cabin costs 800 per month.
With the exception Of the warehouse,
tho theatres, dance halls. saloons. and
gambling houses are about the only cs-
Adjustments which can, afford these
terms Along the riveE ground leased
foot per month. This. with the 10 yer
cent royalty charged on the gross o-t-
Put, yields a very large revenue.
MANY IDLE.
The prevailing price OF labor IL 81 per
hour. but there are so many idle hands
waiting for employment that the supply
exceeds the demand. and may bring the
price down. Still, there is the greatest
activity IN the erection of large buildings
and warehouses.
Most of the prOspectors who are coming
TO Dawson City leave for camps in
United States territory. since. apart from
the country in the immediate vicinity Of
Dawson. which has an been staked or.
this is the most promising field. But
even here. out Of more than 500 placer
claims and 200 bench claims, only 2O
have thus far paid 20 work. A great
many have not yet been prOspected and
will have 20 be given up TO the Crown.
because one condition Of the grant Is that
every person having a claim must work
81 continuously for three months each
year. Ninety days labor at so q day is
a good deal 10 risk upon one claim. and
q good many who cannot afford II will
surrender them. Tie creek claims have
been reduced i'm size from 500 to 250 feet.
THE OUTPUT
Estimates of last years OUTPUT range
from 100000 70 Sl2OOOO|D Work has
largely been confined 10 Bonanza and
EldOradO creeks. Dominion. Sulphur and
Eureka creeks will be opened up next
winter as they promise good results. one
cannot prospect in summer as the pits
which are dug then on with water. 10 IS
by the mercst chance that one may strike
rich claim. No poor man should sell
out and come here Organized companies
with capital will do much better. as they
can hire work much more cheaply Than
individuals
A LATER REPORT
I'm report dated August 18th. Consul
McCook further emphasizes the distress
among the prospcctOrs In and around
Dawson City, and strongly advises no
one TO join in the hunt for gold unless Doe
has az least enough provisions 20 last
over winter. and enough money In bank
to take him home ~ DE Us Unsuccessful.
The consul says he is appealed to daily
by men who have no money and cannot
get work and he advises such of them
as are able 20 travel 90 80 20 81. MlchaelS,
where. he Is Informed. the Government is
arranging 10 take care OF them by put
ting them I'm communication with friends
in the United States.
TERRIBLE DISTRESS.
The far-re4ching effects OF the coal
miners strike I'm South Wales is dealt
with at some length I'm a report TO the
lips at Cardin. After referring 10 the
terrible suffering on the part of the
miners. which Mr.. Phillips says can
hardly be- exaggerated. lac tells some OF
the results as Affecting this country. lie
says:
An the naval coal supplies We're OBJ
tanned in this district. and. OWing Co the
scarcity. the British admiralty aodn-
dOucd their naval review this year, ana
the channel fleet being I'm need of fresh
supplies. other coal is now being tested.
and the best of This will De chosen FOR
naval purposes forthwith The coalins
stations throughout the world are ale
fected. and in some instances are sald
To- be almost depleted. Inland, nor only
have the prices of other Goals advanced,
but great Inconvenience is experienced.
especially in London. in consequence or
the volumes of smoke emitted wherever
steam power IS used. and the newspapers
report convictions in the police Couft
against steam-packet owners ana olneI s.
on the score OF having created nul-
sanccs.
POCAHONTAS COAL.
In this way. an opportunity has been
afforded for The Introduction ~ focanoh-
tas coal into London. and the making
Of coal contracts with American shipping
firms a sailing vessel has just riedItd
az this consulate in ballast for N)rloiN.
Va. 10 load "a cargo OF coal Tor AUS
tralia. Am
The prices obtained for coal are stH
inflated. but are now below 81 per ton
free on board. and the few non-assocld.eu
co!lieries al work are reaping a g0iueh
harvest by doubling their output ana til-
The workmen employed hand over 'n,H
20 per cent. advance or wages 70 w
strike relief fund and thus have aidrd
considerably in prolOnging the struggle