Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-08-11
DIR. REED IN DAWSON.
THE VETERAN DENTIST, FORM
ERLY OF MEXICO, IS SAFE
AND DOING WELL.
The Thing is Overdone but the Camp
Will Come Out All Right-He Ad-
vises His Friends to Stay Away
From Alaska.

Everybody In Mexico will be glad to
hear from DR.. ]. W. Reed, the veteran
dentist, who formerly lived here, and
to know that he is safe and doing well
among the hardships and terrors OF
the Klondyke regions. The family and
many friends of DR.. Reed had reason
to feel apprehension for the doctors
safety, ~inasrnuch as no word had been
received from him since January until
yesterday. He is now installed in
Dawson and is starting of well.
The letter is dated July 8 and por-
tions OF 1t are as follows:
81 arrived in this city a little more
than two weeks ago. Hooked around
one day for a suitable room for an Of
fee. l could find none, so I at once
leased a piece of ground on River
front, paying % per front foot per
month-in other words 500 per month
for IL feet. I put carpenters to work
at once, and in IA days had q two
story building erected and all the
rooms rented. I did not wait for an
Office. 1 kept men at work day and
night. I have now q neat and con-
venient office on the first floor. My
upstairs rooms, three, bring me $500
and the part of the lower floor / do
not use $500 per month.
"As to the camp, l think it will turn
out all right, but at present is greatly
overdone. Too many here for what
has been found up to date. Many hun
dreds are here discouraged and disap-
pointed; many r leaving without
going out to the mines or to prospect,
and, of course, will give the camp q
black eye. Not being q miner I know
personally nothing about the mines,
but / have my opinion on Information
1 have gained from miners who have
been in the country for some time. !
would not, however, advise anyone to
come here now. Many hundreds too
many are already here with nothing
to do, and it is q very expensive place
to live in. Meals are % so. However,
some have cut the price and meals
can be had at some places for $1.5O,
none OF them as good as a % cent meal
IN Butte.
"My advice to all friends would be
to stay away from Dawson and Alaska
for a time at least. Wages are high
when work is to be had, but living is
also very dear and the season for work
short and the climate one that soon
knocks out all but very strong men.
Old men have no business here. The
climate Is hard on the young and
rugged and the old men as q rule fail
fast. They need not come here ex-
pecting to take things easy and live in
luxury, for such a thing is not possible
Later On things may change, but al
present it is a tough country to live
in.
"Ihave met many here whom I knew
in Butte and other parts of the coun-
try. A great many of them are dis.
couraged and will return as soon al
they can get out of the country. II
but a small immigration had come
think all would have been well, but the
multitudes that come and are still
coming are 30 great that unless new
and rich finds are made, thousandl
must get out of the country OIL grea'
suffering must follow.
"The men who get in here in time t.
stake on good ground are all right, Blu,
there are not enough claims for one
tenth of the people already here. ]
lost almost n year in trying to gel
here, and now that I am here I viii
stay at least q yeari If I keep my health
I was almost afraid to come to Daw'
son after listening to the lies tolt
down the river about how unhealthy
the place was. The fact is, Dawson al
present is comparatively healthy.
have made it q point to inquire of ply
sicians and ever went to the hospital
for information. The doctors say the
place is very healthy. At the hospi'
tai I found 80 patients under treat
msnt, with the loss of about two Z
week. The prevailing disease is sour
Wy, some fever. The only wonder tc
me is that the fatality is no greater
considering the way the people hav'
to live. I have not been out to thu
mines yet, but expect to 60 later on