Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-20

food is now I'll give this as an eX-
ample: Last night scow landed with
nine young(?l soubrettes on board.
They were destined to repleniSh the
old stock in dance halls, etc, but to-
day or tomorrow will hare to go down
river where food is to be had as there
is absolutely none for them. The
town is literally stocked with women
who toll not, neither do they spin and
their compilations change with the
sun.
OF course, gambling is wide open
here and person can secure any game
he desires.
Now, the point wish to emphasize
is this, There is nothing here to
come for, us everything is taken up
that is known to be good and even if
something new were struck it would
be filled to overfiowing by those Of US
already here and the thousands on the
trail who will reach here next spring,
if they don't freeze or starve. Wages
will be good this winter, l think, as
mine owners are suspicious regarding
the attitude of Canadian government
and new laws and intend to literally
disembOwel their claims, if men and
money will do so. prophesy serious
trouble between the miners and police
next summer, as the new laws are
very obnoxious to all and an attempt
at their enforcement will meet with
possible armed opposition. This is
certainly an all-hog government. You
are taxed for the cabin youabuild; for
the wood you burn, and so on. The
text of the new laws is about as fol-
lows:
1. All claims found on new creeks
hencef0rth shall be 100 tt. long and
the width of creek or gulch from
brim to brim.
2. Every other claim is to be reserved
for the Crown.
3. A royalty of 10 per cent. to be
collected on all claims producing $500
up to s. 600 per month, and royalty
of 20 per cent. on claims producing
81, 900 and upwards.
If man desires to make an honest
living and cut cordwood for town use
he has to pay tax of two bits (25c)
per cord. It's all right if he lives off
the earnings of some woman or is
tin-horn gambler. They can ply their
trades without official interference.
One thing l want to warn all against
is stocks. Some have gone cut with
schemes of stock selling and they
represent property that isn't worth
a. Good placer property does not
have to be this hoisted upon the pub
lie, but capital can al,uays be secured
here to work any placer claim. DO
not buy Clondyke mining stock however
glittering their tale of possible or GER
tain wealth.
There are two companies doing
business here-the North American
Trading & Transportation CO. and
the Alaska Commercial Co., familiarly
known as the n. A. and A. G. respect
lively. The n. A., owned by the
Means, Cudahy Co. of Chicago, is a
blackleg concern, run by a man named
Healy who is the most unprincipled
wheIp in existence. Their store would
be sacked in "a hours if the police
were not here. ] want to stay here,
though, ani see if the miners do not
yet hang Capt. Healy. l want to
help. The A. G. is Jewish house of
Frisco and is 0. K. It's manager,
Capt. Hanson is man and white
one too. This house does as near the
square thing by people as it can.
The police are lot of worthless
buns, for the most part, and utterly
worthless as far as protection from
thieves is concerned.
This letter is somewhat disjointed
but everything contained isas straight
as | can give it and is for the guild
ance of all. Do not leave a business
or good salary to come here. If a
young man has $500 or not less than
5000 and nothing there, he will pro-
badly be better off here than there,
for it is great country and there is a
chance for a fortune. | advise all to
go down to Circle City or Minook
creek and go by Dawson as the days
of this camp are numbered. The
Canadian government has killed the
goose that laid the golden egg and
they will realize it next summer
This letter will 60 out over the 600
miles of ice by man named Nc
Guire and will probably be mailed in
Chicago-if he succeeds in making
the trip as it is very hazardous.
With best regards to all friends,
T. r. Houston.