The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-26

proSpected and worked this winter
| Bonanza and Ell Dorado. These
streams will be honeycombed with
holes to bedrock. No doubt consider
able work will be done on Hunker, on
| which stream the latest big strike was
made.
/ Il believe much more work would
| have been done had Ii not been for the
| cut in wages and strike of the miners.
| The mine owners organized and de-
clared a cut from $l50 to 81 per hour,
and the wageworkers struck to main
tain the old scale of S1.50. 1t is true
that some mines could not be worked
proftably with wages at Sl.50 per hour,
and on the other hand miners could
save little or nothing at 81 per hour, in
view of the high price of provisions and
freighting and that fact that during
the winter season they work but SIX
and one-half TO eight hours per day.
And, singularly enough, some of the
richest mine owners were the ffrmest
in the demand for reduction. the Ber-
rvs. vulgar and animal like, being loud
est in the general ciamor. While up on
lei Dorado one day | stopped in the
cabin of Frank Berry. who superin-
tends the properties of his brother,
Clarence Berry, and talked over the
wage question. In one breath this fell
low said he could not afford to pay
more than 81 an hour. and in the next
brazenly told me that he would take
81, zoo, 900 out of his FL Dorado claims
this season, as the pay streak was wide
and deep, and he had IL located dead
sure. Then, with rudely affected care
lessness. he picked up several quart
chow chow jars filled with gold dust
and nuggets and showed them over the
table for me To admire. These things
show how far at variance from the
trath We're some of his statements, and
he was considered the prime mover FOR
the cut. The strike lasted about two
months. and the wageworkers lost. Ex-
ira good drifters. however. went back
to work at S1.25, but the majority are
getting 81 per hour, the going wage.
Some few mines refused to join the
cut. and still continue to pay hands
81 so, among them being Professor Lip
pys claim No. 16 Ell Dorado.
Grub is the absorbing question on
the Yukon. but the scandalous reports
published in the outside world would
be laughed at by the 'Klondiker,' were
they not so harmful Harmful, because
they reach the ears of hundreds having
husbands fathers, brothers and sons
away up there. Believing the stories of
fearful suffering and starvation, they
are, of course, distressed ana In state
of terrible anxiety, imagining Their
relatives condition desperate, perhaps
starving to death.
There might be some excuse Tor
such wild exaggeration We're there SUP
stantial truth on which to base II. but
there is not. There is shortage III
the food supply at Dawson, to be sure,
but ii is certainly within the bounds OF
truth to say that without the arrival
Of another pound of food there this
winter and early next spring there VIII
not be half the suffering for lack OF
nourishment that Will be experienced
In most any of our large cities in the
states where inexhaustible supplies of
OF Thnrp he
suffering. but there Will be no starva-
ton in the klondike this season. The
situation was greatly relieved by the
departure for the outside over the ice
of several hundred men, many of whom
had small outfits to dispose of. OF
course, there is nothing in the way of
staple provender To be purchased in
open market, but there are many pri-
vate individuals who have more than
they need TO last through the season,
and by rustling around a little one can
buy small stocks here and there at
about $1.35 per pound for flour. $3.50 for
rice 81 to $1.25 for bacon, beans, dried
fruit and mush materials, 81 for bak-
ing powder, etc. These figures may ad-
vance as the supply to be had becomes
scarce, but | am satisfied that no star
walton will occur: sufficient aid can be
had from inside sources to relieve any
in distress
THE Klondike is the worst country
for lies and liars l ever saw 1t has
become such habit for people to
launch startling stories that one rarely
knows when he does hear the truth,
And then these stories are like the tale
OF the three black crows-they lose
none of their Importance or startling
nature by being repeated. During my
entire stay in Dawson no mail from
the outside world arrived. and conse
quently any story started about out
"A
fled nor authoritatiVely denied. BY
constant passing around a rumor
gained such dignity that sort of
vague belief was accorded il. 1t was
said that the United States was at war
with Spain. that she was battling with
Japan, and it was only on reaching
Dyea that we We're sure this was not
true. The story was started in Dawson
that Jack Dalton was killed at Fort
Selbirk on his way out that swift
water Bill had his feet frozen at the
same place, and IL was only after
reaching Fort Sellkirk a month after
ward that this news was doubted by
US, as we found the lie made out of
whole cloth full yard wide one man
who came down from Fort Selkirk
swore that he had helped bury Dalton;
of course, everybody believed him. and
the chief topic of conversation was
Dalton's death. 1t is "a question wheth-
formed in the matter yet.
The trip out over the ice from the
Yukon in midwinter is one never To be
forgotten by the traveller. The distance
as the boat runs is about 595 miles from
Dyea or Skaguay, but the winter trail
is at least 90 miles farther owing TO the
sleigh crossing the river from side to
side repeatedly and winding over the
lakes in crooked lines. 1t is long
tramp up river, across lake. over pass.
through forest and down valley. a dis
lance of $50 miles, and, although very
hard trip, this seasons experience has
proven beyond all doubt that people can
reach the coast from the Yukon with
out dogs and without robes. OF course
there is the advantage of having oppor-
tunity to get supplies on this end of the
line. but nothing certain in this respect
was known and was not depended upon.
Taken as whole, the trail was good.
but there are some very tough places
Much rough ice is encountered between
q nd iaA tl,s