The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-13

is to drive a stake in the center Of a
claim, squaring the stake and writing
thereon the number OF feet in each de
rection claimed. Work must be done on
them within thirty days, or the claim Is
forfeited, and 500 worth Of work must
be done on PAGERS each year, for three
years, to hold the same. A patent is
then applied for and issued without
question, after which the claim passes
into the possession OF the holder. 500
worth OF work Is supposed to mean a
hole ten feet square.
There is no danger OF famine here this
winter, as provisions are very Plentiful
owing to the amount going home. DO
not think one out OF every five Will stay
to face the hard winter, which we are
sure to have.
think l mentioned some prices in a
recent letter. The situation Is now
changed. and anything, except sugar,
can be had almost for the asking. Flour
is drug on the market at &c per pound
Beans Soc sack Of 50 pounds. Evap--
GRATED potatoes, costing 121sc per pound
in the states, to &c per pound.
1 bought good double-barreled shot
gun and 100 shells yesterday for 81 90.
A vest, Canvas blanket hned), for l0c.
Ten pound OF good tea sold for Csc, SO
you see there Is no danger OF starYa-
ton. A month ago paid Sl2 for a pair
OF rubber boots, To-day ! could buy
all l want for SOC to 81 so.
This Is enough to give you an idea
of the changes thnt have taken place
within a month.
Clsrants, huckleberries, blueberries,
etc, are ripe, and are fine. Currants are
a brilliant red, and much larger than
those we have at home, some OF them
being as large as gOOseberrles. Black
currants are also found. To-day for
dinner we had roast duck. currant and
custard pie (made with condensed milk
and evaporated eggs), we have no lard,
and bacon fat answers all purposes for
frying, shortening, and also butter, for
we eat It on bread.
I received in t0-day's maH a COOK
book, but have not yet examined 1t, and
while we will not be able to make many
good things our imaginations are In e&-
ceMent working order.
We keep fairly well informed on wa
news, and while It reaches US some time
after 1t occurs, It is new.
Strange as It may seem, the news
we are most interested In Is that OIL
which we get the least, !, e., Alaska
news. Our kind friends send all kinds
OF news but that in which We are most
Interested. Send clippings containing
Alaskan news.
My partner Bob (HawlSins), Is a JOIN
good fellow, and We get along nicely:
Bob Is as brave as Hon, and would
not fear to trust him anywhere or with
anything, not excepting even my life.
| He WIN stick to me through all and at
| the finish we Will no doubt be found to-
rether. We will have many hardships
yet FOR an Alaskan winter is not a round
of pleasure. For example; $50 Nicolai
froze to death on Copper river last win
/ ter. Co.'S.
Nicolai and Copper River. They are
quite religious. and belong TO the RUS
| sian church. They are also very hon
est, Goods that are lost In streams and
| found BY them are taken out, dried and
| brought to camp, awaiting claimants.
Strangely little Is seen Of the squawS.
and II all look IKE the ones that have
| seen, shall not worry II / see no more.
They are quite small, and just as lazy
as / am. II possible.
Well, I'll use all my paper II don't
soon quit. But can't tell Just how
/ long II will be possible to get maH over
the glazIer as It Is f9n Of erevaSseS,
and very dangerous When IT becomes
| better in the spring, when the snow has
covered the holes and cracks, look for
| another bunch" OF humanity, but not
as many as tried It this year.
We are promised free delivery Of mail
| next month by Lieut.. Abercrombie, u.
s. A.. stationed at Valdes, but now in
the interior, trying to find an American
route to Dawson and Circle City.
Don't think me dead II no mail ar
riyes through the winter, as fear
can't get word out, but as often as am
able III let you hear from me.
| JTyth bipdest regards to aN enduring
friends, l am,
W. H. BGERTER.
| T,,,l Uotdn4 Alaska