The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-02-21
BROTHER TO BROTHER.
]. E. loft Writes His Brother Will the
True Inwardness Of the Alaska
Uraze-A Good Place to
Stay Away from.

VIM. loft Of this city has for some
time been considering the a~dvlsabillty OF
going to Alaska, and in order to become
posted on the situation has correspondent
with friends in a position to know. A
letter from j. f. loft, a brother, who
resides at Medford, Oregon, contains
the following:
You must feel we'll indeed if you con-
template a journey to Alaska. You
surely do not know the dangers ard ex.
pense Of such a trip. We are in close
touch with the Alaska BUSINESS out here
and know more perhaps thar you would
likely know about the inside workings
of the great rush. My advice to you
would be not to go, at least at this time.
Wait another year and keep account OF
the hardships and sutferlpgs of those
that are now going and count up the
successful ones and you will find that
the chances are at least a hundred to one
IN favor of utter failure. There is plen-
ty of time to 20 to Alaska 4 year from
now and then you will know more about
it. You Of course know that it is an ab-
~soiutely barren country in the Arctic
regions with only IA very short summer
about 100 days-and there is nothing to
live on only what is packed in. 1t Will
cost from $500 to $1,000 to make the
trip and purchase an outfit and supplies
for one season. 1t Will take one season
to find and develop a claim only to find
perhaps that it ,s worthless.
There is no doubt that lots of money
was taken out last season in the Klon-
dixie district, out that is all taken up
and held at fabulous prices. In fact
everything accessible has been staked
and the claimants are now waiting for
suckers upon whom to unload, not
knowing themselves whether their claims
are worth a million dollars or a cent
There are thousands going from this
coast every week, many of them striving
to get on the ground first to fleece those
that come after. Every imaginable
scheme is being worked TO make morey
out Of the people that are rushing from
; all parts of the country to Alaska.
"olnce the Klondike discovery there
has been no new developments and the
matter rests under Il great uncertainty.
il. All we know for certain is that there is
t and will continue to be a great rush to
: Alaska. The coast cities from Nancou-
: yer TO San Francisco are sending out lit
erature broadcast, each advertising their
cwn partica!a city as tie best place tc
q outfit. The transportation companies
are picking up every available boat tc
carry passengers and freight and it is
d almost impossible to get passage unless
it is engaged a month ahead.
e There are thousands row in Alaska
who have lost everything and are actual
q ly starving. When l lived in Portland
d and before all this excitement vas ere
d ated, | was we'll acquainted with many
Alaska men and they all said that i
q takes a small fortune to go the Alasks
mines and put in one seasons work. Will
chances all against one.
9 Il can't imagine what is making mer
SO anxious to risk their money ant
health for so much uncertainty. There
are hundreds Of mining men here il
Oregon that would not think of going
y to Alaska at this time. but are waiting
n 70 cnn tbn rar,1< ~ IT, ,,a1 ,,,,l ,x1 :.
the country proves to be uniformly gooC
they will go at their leisure.
Il would be sorry to see you go at this
time. Over twenty men have left Med
! ford at different times and some of then
s would be glad to get back, having spent
all their money before reaching Dawson
y City. Hundreds of men came out O
! Alaska last fall without a cent. many OF
u them having been prospecting there fol
: years. All the coast cities are now
crowded with men from the east who
cant 60 any further, having spent al
their means, and all the landing places
in Alaska are crowded to overtiowinl
I with men without a dollar and no wa,
o OF getting one. | will not try to give
you any information at this time as tc
cost of outfit, etc., as l hope you will
: take a different view of the matter. If
. however, you are determined to join the
mad rush, l will be pleased to give you
all the information l can
, The Coming Woman
, who goes to the club while her husband
! tends the baby, as we'll as the good old.
' fashioned oma who looks after he,
home, will both at times get run down
!, in heath. They will be troubled with