Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-02-22
NUMBER s.

great parties Ot men went on STAN
pedes, each stalking his tree and run
ming rs fast a possible to the office Of
the gold commissioner to record, and
this all because il was thought that
there were thousands Of investors wait
ing anxiously outside TO snap up at any
price anything in the way of gold
mining claim located anywhere near TO
this rich region.
There il another side 20 this story.
but before !. can be told with any de-
gree Of accuracy matters must be inyes-
tigated further. am doing that as fast
as possible consistent with the acquire
ment Of facts on which the investor may
rely implicitly. The information given
above will serve 10 convey to the in
tending purchaser an idea as 20 the
many schemes which will be worked on
the outside and their foundation.
Fortune. For Men Who buy Wisely.
There seem to be many opportunities
to make money here by buying up large
numbers Of consecutive claims and
working them by some more economical
method, but these, too, should b. lnves-
tigated thoroughly before much money
is expended on them. There Is no doubt
in my mind that there are other methods
by which 20 extract the gold from the
ground here, but none can be worked
successfully on small scale. Neither
will it pay TO work them under pres ut
conditions, with food stuffs selling nc
an average Of 81 per pound and labor
consequently very high.
do not think it advisable for the
man Of means tn purchase "A single claim
i'm any district. for il the present owner
cannot work IL 10 advantage another
certainly cannot. II will be said that
the resent owner has not the means To
do 80. In some cases this Is undoubtedly
true, but in most cases his willingness
or anxiety 10 sell is based on the fact
that h. has little confidence in his prop
erty. Money is obtainable-at very high
rates Of interest it is true, but till OBJ
tainable-for the working Of claims
which can 5e shown 10 be in district
where they should, taking all things
into consideration, be rich.
As much work is being done now on
outlying creeks much more will be
known by spring as 10 the value Of
properties in the different districts. |
would strongly advise, therefore. that
the intending purchaser come. send an
agent or communicate with some one
in whom be has confidence and have an
investigation Of properties in which he
may be interested before parting with
the money and probably paying high
price for yalueless properties.
And ! think that none but those
whose means place them IN a position
where they can afford 10 lose should
purchase mining properties here with
out first being on the ground and under
standing thoroughly the conditions.
Fortunes will undoubtedly be made by
men who buy wisely here. but unless
great care is exercised enough money
will have been squandered ON worthless
properties To stamp a. disreputab!e
everything which h2I.s the kloDdike
brand. And this wCEld lie a great pity,
for this region is really one Of great
wealth SO far as known IL may prove
rs rich as the most sauguine expect.
But there is still plenty 4 time left in
which to investigate /, fore plunglng
blindly into il.
General Notes Of Interest.
The opera house and two adjoining
saloons We're burned on Thanksgiving
eve. The loss Is estimated 10 bc about
$50. 900. The opera house and saloon
connected with il were said to net
profit Of $4,000 per month. Business
just now is poor, however, owing to the
fact that most o. the miners are at their
cabins up the gulch, and the moneyed
men from the outside have taken thei.
departure for home again. The opera
house will be rebuilt again in time for
the spring trade, which IL best after the
clean up begins. IL is expected that this
will be a wild town then.
Whisky is likely to be scarce in the
meantime, as much was lost IN the fires.
However, men are starting with dog
trains for the outside, intending TO bring
new supply as far as the foot Of Lake
La Barge on the ice and follow the first
ice down in the spring. lt l. hoped that
food supplies will BE- brought IN in the
same way. although il il not at all Ger
tain that they will command a price
high enough to return profit on the
outlay.
Better transportation facilities are
badly needed here, and the consensus Of
opinion among the mine owners i that
q transportation company would make
money. II there j. such an thrush OF
prospectors in the spring as Is expected,
there certainly will be great shortage
in supplies again, and starvation seems
imminent unless better facilities for
getting food into the country are adopt
ed than those now in use.
There is much feeling here relative 90
the action Of the Dominion government
in having amended the mining laws so
az to reduce the size Of claims and 70
impose q tax ON the output Of the mines.
Certain il is that few Of the mines
even the richest here-would pay for
the working if 20 per cent royalty Is
exacted. The miners chamber Of com
merce, which was organized for the
purpose, Is sending commission out
one member Of which-Mr. Liyernash
will carry this letter. The commission
will present a resolution on the subject
before the house when il assemblies IN
February.