The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-26
DIDN'T MAKE WAGES.
An Experienced Mining Mans Views of
the Klondike situation.


Great Falls. July 25.-Tom Phelan,
the general delivery clerk at the post
office, has received a letter from
George Crof, who left this city in Feb
ruary for the Klondike country. Croft
is an experienced mining man, and n
of the earliest men in Montana. so that
his opinion on the Alaska diggings is
valuable. The letter in part reads as
follows:
please excuse this stationery and
the pencil. for this is all there is in the
country at the present time. l ar
rived in Dawson April 26, having picked
up Dav Hatfield on the way. We came
In with dogs, most of the others pre-
ferring to build boats and wait for the
river to open, and hey are just COM
ing in now. You should see them. They
are the sickest lot OF people on earth.
Most Of them are selling their outfits
for what they can get and going back
on the boats. 1t is exactly as / expect
ed. The country has been greatly over
rated, and while there are some rich
claims, there are more worthless ones.
Even in the best camps those along Bo-
nanza, Hunker and Eldorado creeks,
the owners of claims did not make
wages last winter. However, the COM
ing year will show up the country, for
there have come into the country a
class of men who are determined to
give II a thorough test. AS for myself,
/ might as well be broke in this coun-
try as any other. There is money here
and i am going to try IL for a few
years and take my chances with the
rest.
ct have what I think Is a good claim
on the main fork of the Sulphur creek,
which is one of the best districts. I got
the claim by a scratch, and although l
had a chance to work every day I have
been here for SIS. I believe I LAY done
better thar that. I have had a great
experience since I left Great Falls, have
lone a great many hundred miles in all
kinds of ways and weather, mostly on
foot. and some of m mishaps would
make you laugh. I did not have a tent
or a stove all winter. and I find hat
this country is all right to travel in, as
there is plenty of timber and shelter.
| would have been in here in March.
but / got led astray on the Walsh creek
stampede and had to return $50 miles
for my outfit. which I had left behind.
There Is nothing In the reports of gold
found on the Hootulinqua, Stuart Pei
ly OF Salmon rivers. IL is all a lie.
came down by all of those rivers and
talked with lots of men who had
worked them. and they all told me the
same story.
Treat and Eglor Doth Great Falls
boys) got off on the Stickeen route.
They outfitted at Victoria, and have
not heard of them since. / am afraid
that they will have a hard time getting
in over that trail. as / have met one
party that tried ii. and they a "a
leave their outfit behind and come in
with just enough grub to tax them
through. If they 10 not come in over
the snow they won't be able to come in
at all this season.
Tell the boys who are doing fairly
well to stay where they are. l do not
think this is a very unhealthy country
There Is a good dea OF scurvy here. but
most of II is caused by personal un.
cleanliness n a steady diet of bacor
and beans. A man needs an occasiona
change of diet and there has been 9
shortage of everything until lately
when the boats stuck in the ice las'
fall managed to get through. The store:
opened to-day (June 49,. whiskey had
been $50 a gallon. and IL dropped to $50
eggs. SIS per dozen; nails. 81 Der pound
and everything else was in like proper
ton. Since the arrival of the boat,
prices are. of course more reasonable
Butter is now s. per pound. had bee
one ounce, while tobacco is still wortl
81 per pound.
Remember me to all the boys. and