The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-01-19

many men who are willing to disturb the
grub supply Of others.
Front street goes along the river front. 1t
is a smooth thOroughfare, made so by the
dogs and sleds constantly passing on the
narrow path 1t might be a wide street.
but for the fact that every building has
its log pile. high and mighty, that reaches
out into the road. projecting more or less
according to the length of the timber So
1t happens that one cannot see the doors or
windows across the street A closer inspec-
ton, however, shows that they bear signs
reading: SALOON Hotel Lodging"
Saloon Saloon Hotel "kodging'
Saloon Opera House. Saloon. IN.
A. L. Co." and "A. c. CO.. There you have
one side as far as to the sawmill. Across
the way are barber shop. two real-estate
or mining brokers Offices a long way apart.
Then, as one goes farther up, cabin follows
bin as far the hospital.
HOW THE TOWN Is LAID OUT.
Three-quarters Of mile or more back
from this street Second street, with its
cabins. follows. Then comes the. first
bench, as they term the mountain; then
the second. and is formed town of
very respectable dimensions. Many houses
have two stories. and are supplied with
all the comfortable furnishings of home.
This is the case in those of Capt. Healy.
the manager of the North America j.
Transportation and Trading company, and
Capt Hanson. of the Alaska Commercial
company. There are i number Of very
pleasant people here. and we DO not realize
that We almost within touching dis
lance of the Arctic circle The thermom-
eter has reached Sc degrees below zero
and We did not know it. l go out bare
headed and without gloves to get pan
of snow to melt. The river is several
blocks away and to get water there ice
holes must be broken. and ak and bucket
must be employed Already many are
bringing up blocks of ice. which are stacked
up outside and brought in and thawed
out as needed for water. The snow has
been on the ground since long before we
came Every few nights 1t SHOWS gently.
just enough to cover up the dirt and dog
tracks. Thus eventually it gets deep, but
as 1t does not come in storms one does
not notice.
INCH THICK ICE ON WINDOWS
The cold is not half so intense, so far as
feeling Is concerned. ct home. The dry
ness makes this a delightful winter cli-
mate II one is properly housed. About .
O'Clock it nearly grows light. but candles
are necessary until nearly 10, few
cabins have more than one window, and
that one is d solid inch of ice that never
melts, but night by night grows thicker.
Candles are only so cents each one
must pay about 81 a day for light. A
unique method of lighting was given me by
an acquaintance from the 2ulch. All extra
bacon grease s saved III Il tin and loose
twine cord is drawn through a cork and
allowed to float on the surface. This Is
effected Nevertheless tn, bread in that
household must be short of shortening for
bacon grease serves that purpose also. az
we'll as to grease the Various skin boots,
made from seal, walrls and all kinds OF
strong skins. MoCcas:ns OF moose and fur
worn, and the pleasure of putting ones
foot fat down and starting off with
spring is fully realized here.
Nuggets are Plentiful here and coarse
gold is carted around in bags of buckskin
no hat "a nEnt mot
stand the strain. Everybody has gold
scales One passes ones bag across the
counter the shopkeeper scatters out the
dust into a pan. and pcurs it upon his
scales Good-siZed nuggets occur in every
500 collection OF dust-gr;,Nel, l should
call IL.
HIGH RATES OF INTEREST.
Food is scarce and the interest these rich
mine-Owners will pay for six months ac-
commodation is marvelous-10 per cent a
month > per cent month where the
mine is 'gilt-edge" beyond d doubt. For
small sums of few hundred dollars 20 per
cent q month has been offered. with ample
security. Seventy-fivc dollars a bag Of fifty
pounds Of -four is nc price now. Pay day
| on loans comes in the June cleanup.
Great numbers going out to bring in
-! supplies, and it is thought next year there
will be great influx Of prospectors. Near
| ~ all those who came in late working
on lays-that is. taking an undivided half
Il
| reported on bunker. An acquaintance has
| a lay here that pans Sc only three feet in
| gravel. Stampedes frequently and
creeks are Staked in day almost from
| mouth to source The registration fee is $lj
I and for the same claim the next day hum
dreds of dollars are asked. No man should
| come here without money. 1t is the
| scarcest commodity But great deal Of
| money can be made if one has the cash to
| take up these claims that are good.
| Several have Jumped from 5000 to $4,000
| since l have been here.
/ The barracks a short distance below
| us. A large force of mounted police is on
| duty. but | never hear Of any disturbance.
| 1t is a very quiet and orderly town. There
| are three church OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
| Episcopalan and Roman Catholic-but IN
| fortunately the Presbyterian church
| burned last night. Our cabin also had a
close call. While l YVES on, at tho gold
| commissioners office the stove fell. the
| floor took fire and everything in the cabin
| was smoked black.
We have not been up the Klondke as yet
es 60 degrees below 1t was so degrees be-
| low up here yesterday. 1t is only "around
| the corner to where the klondike starts
in, and walk of IS miles is easily made ir
| a day up here. Gold is plentiful Z or some
| but many helpless ones here every
where who do not know where to take
| hold. | am well satisfied with my trip thus
| far and hope by spring to feel that profits
| of a substantial nature have fallen to my
| lot.-M. L. D. Keiser. in Chicago Record.