Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-04-28
Alaska Letter.
Bonanza Greek, Alaska, March 10, 1888
HENpU AIrrIIJr

Bonanza Greek, Alaska, March 10, 1898.
MR.. HENRY AUCHU,
Kind Friend | take great pleasure
to write you in answer of your letter
dated Sept. 81, 1897 and received here
March sth, 1898. The news that it
brought were anxiously looked for.
1t makes our hearts feel happy to re-
ceive news from our friends and rela-
tives once in a while. l had written
you letter, also one to my wife, and
after three months they were sent
back. You can see it is hard to man.
age mail matter here. You wanted
me to inform you how our party are
getting along. We are getting along
quite well, but there are few without
fortune yet. Myself, Butler, Malett,
Lyseett, Jarvis Goodman and Jas. Ly-
sett took up 100 foot claim last fall to
work on shares and left it, as nothing
could be found. We lost our winters
work. They have a claim on Domin-
ion Creek, which / think will bring
them good profit. l heard the other
day that they had refused $50, 900 for
it, but think they will get more for
it. have claim there myself, but
that | will lose it as I have cct attend
to it but have placed it in the hands of
a lawyer; don't think / will ever get
anything from it.
[ sold all l had the other day for
$4,000, consisting Of my share in the
claim was working for Pelkey and
claim on Bonanza. U. Butler sold his
share the other day for Sc, 500 and is
working for us for $1.50 per hour.
have worked very hard this winter
and am greatly reduced in flesh.
Jas. Lysett will not do bad this
winter. think he will realize about
SS, 900.
l take advantage of this opportunity
to write as Mr. Pelkey is going out to
Seattle to transact business I don't
think he will go to Emporium for some
time yet.
| have worked some very good dirt
this winter. The largest pan that
washed brought me $8S00 That same
day | washed four pans that netted me
$1S4.00. | washed many good pans
this winter of $40, S15 to $50 per pan.
The pans hold about one and-a-half
shovels full of dirt. We use long
handled, round pointed shovels. 7
think | can count on $4,000 or 50, 900
for my winters work. / am satisfied
that | came here, if get out safely
All the sums that | mention are very
small amounts for this country. There
are many men here that have from
100000 to 100000. | know quite
number who sold out last spring for
$685. to 800 and squandered it all
during the summer. They don't care
any more for gold than you do for
gravel. They go into saloons and
blow in 500 for treat. 1t goes fast at
fifty cents a glass. Flour from S125 to
$50 per sack; beef 81. 25 per pound
There are two small saw mills here,
with capacity Of ten to fifteen thous-
and feet per day. Lumber sells for
$175 to 5000 per thousand feet 1fyou
were here with your mill and lumber
yard full it would not take long to
clean it up.
Last summer we could get our meals
at restaurant for 1.50 per meal, but
| was in town the other day and had
to remain two days. 1t cost me So. so
per meal and 80 90 for a poor bed. The
regular rates are: Per day, bacon
and beans, 1880 per day-beds extra.
We had nice winter-about 81 feet
of snow. Had one cold snap and the
register stood 60 below zero Four
men were frozen to death.
This is about all | can think of at
present. Remember me kindly to
your wife and family.
With kindest regards to you and
inquiring friends, l remain as ever.
Your friend,
ED. DION.
Translated from French by Frank Morrisl
-EDTToR