davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06

outside hears so much, are found. OW-
ing to these conditions 1t happens that
not only are some spots immensely rich,
but also some sometimes entire
claims-are worthless blanks.
And there is where the investor must
exercise great discretion in the pur-
chase Of properties on creeks which are
say that in every case, both on Eldorado
and Bonanza creeks, where the present
owner has located pay streak, he is
either unwilling to entertain PROPOSE
ton to purchase his ground or puts q
figure on it which, with the expen-
sive methods Of mining in vogue, would
offer no inducement to the Spectator
who understood the conditions thor
oughly.
BY the time that this letter reaches
the eyes of the reader hundreds Of
men who are now on the way out will
be flooding the country with Klondike
gold mining properties. 1t will be read
lily seen that these men must have seen
much more prospect Of making money
by selling their claims than by working
them. And while, as I have said. this
district offers many excellent opportu-
mites to the investor Or Speculation
great care must be taken by intending
purchasers not to be caught by one Of
the many schemes which will. undoubt-
eddy be worked by these persons,
think there are some Of those now
going out who have really valuable
property to sell, but when one consld-
ers the great risk that they run by TAX
ing such trip, he will understand that
the prices which will be put on proper
ties will be far in excess OF their real
value. Besides, these men know that
they have but to wait until the river
breaks up in the spring when thew will
be overrun by anxious buyers-but men
who are on the ground TO investigate
before parting with their money.
There seem to be many opportunities
to make money here by buying up large
numbers Of consecutive claims and
working them by some more economi-
cal method, but these. too, should he
investigated thoroughly before much
money is expended on them. There is
no doubt in my mind that there are
other methods by which to extract the
gold from the ground here, but none
can be worked successfully on a small
scale. Neither will it pay to work them
under present conditions, with food
stufts selling at an average of 81 ner.
pound, and labor consequently yery
high
| do not think it advisable for the
man of means to purchase a single
claim IN any district, for If the present
owner cannot work it to advantage. an
other certainly cannot. 1t will be said
that the present owner has not the
means to do so. In some cases
this is undoubtedly true, but in
most cases his Willingness or
anxiety to sell Isl based on
the fact that he has little confidence in
his property Money Is obtainable--at
very high rates of interest. 1t is true
but still obtainable-for the working Of
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06

the many disappointing features OF
this region. and many reasons why 1t
offers to the poor man no real induce
ments at all, but enough has been said
already to set people thinking BEFORE
stalking everything on the chance OF
making fortune in the gold fields OF
this region. The same is true of all the
gold fields Of Alaska. l have talked
with many old miners here, some OF
whom have spent long, weary years IN
the country, hoping at some time TO
stumble on to fortune, but with very
few xceptions-indeed all--have found
II impossible to make more than a
GRUB stake"
no the investor this region offers
many advantages, but great care must
be taken lest worthless properties be ac-
quired
Placer mining claims do not, as rule,
offer much inducement to the large op-
orator, for the reason that the probable
output II 80 difficult to estimate, and
for the further reason that tney can,
under ordinary circumstances, and by
the usual methods, be so quickly WORKED
out Owing to the fact, however, that
the gold In these mines Is held in the
earth by several feet of almost impreg-
nable ice, which must be thawed out by
a most laborious and slow process, II is
probable that many of the mines will
not have been thoroughly worked our
during the next five years. l speak now
Of those already known to be rich IN
gold deposits.
This thawtng method is 50 expensive,
too, that ground which will not yield
SIS per day to the man cannot be worked
except at a loss. 1t happens, therefore,
that great areas of enormously rich
ground are being left untouched The
miners, while drifting about in the gray
ell and bedrock, take out from time TO
time pans of gravel, thaw it in their cab
ms, and wash the gold out, so that they
may see how it is running. If the pay
streak seems to be giving out in the oil
rection in which they are working, they
change their course, in the endeavor to
follow it,
In many instances the pay streak runs
in a course so irregular that it Is very
hard, indeed, to follow it. At places the
bedrock is smooth and consequently did
not hold the gold. At others it is very
rough and shaly, and it is at such places
that the big pans, of which one on the
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
LATTER DAY SAINTS.
Conference Opened in Brooklyn Saturday
--PoIygamy Not Favored.

New York, Feb, 5.--The first session
of the conference of the Latter Day
Saints began in Brooklyn, today. The
missionaries in the eastern states pre-
sented their reports Of the work done
since the last meeting Edward P. Kes-
Ter, in charge of the eastern district
speaking about the spread of Mormon
ism in this section, said:
I've been here about one year, and
in that time l think [ can say that
great things have been accomplished.
The Latter Day Saints are fiourishing.
We have built up quite a following all
along the eastern coast. Don't make it
appear that we favor polygamy. for
that is just contrary to our teachings.
Polygamy died in 1890, and if any saint
practices it he violates the law of the
church. We are making converts and
friends every month, and soon we shall
overshadow Some Of the old and we'll
tried religious bodies In the east"
A feature of tomorrows session will
be singing by delegation from the
Mormon tabernacle in Salt Lake City.
Three leading Mormons, Representative
King OF Washington and Apostles Ly-
man and Cowles of Salt Lake City, are
to explain the doctrines of the Mormon
church.
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
IN THE KLoNDIKE.
Comprehensive Summary of Conditions
Prevailing in the GoIdfields.

A special correspondent Of the New
York Times, writing from Dawson City
under date of Dec. 8, gives an exhaust
i've summary Of the situation and condi-
lions as they present themselves to him
in the new Eldorado. In his letter the
writer says;
TO poor men or men OF small means
VINO imagine they see in this territory
opportunities to make fortunes, and
who, Notwithstanding all that has been
said so far about the difficulties to be
encountered at every point along the
journey, and the probable disappoint-
ments which await them on their ar
rival here, are still willing, perhaps
anxious, to start on the journey to the
new Eldorado, my advice can be
summed up in one word-don't.
There are many disappointed, heart
sick men working on the dumps here,
winding on windlass, exposed to the
T1gors OF the climate, and with the Their
mometer standing at from So to so de-
grees below zero-and there is worse to
coins-who had been advised not to at
tempt the trip. Many Of them, while
grumbling about the hardships which
they have and are still enduring, blame
the newspapers for having brought
them here. True, some OF the more
sensational papers did give a greater
amount of space to that part Of the
story which described the riches of this
district than to the other side which told
of the dangers and hardships, but in
looking over lot of clippings which
brought with me, find columns of mat
ter advising only those who were well
fitted in every way to withstand hard
ships and privations of the most severe
nature and who knew from experience
something of the nature of the life they
would be compelled to live here, to at
tempt the journey.
And yet they are here, and while they
tell you their troubles and figure out
how small, after all, is the remunera-
ton at s1.50 per hour-and the aver
age wages here are SLIPS, while many
are working for their "grub''-for six
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06

the record has been established Of death
pronounced in As seconds from the time
the condemned murderer left his cell to
enter the execution chamber.
The kicking about the work of the
state highway commission has resulted
in the introduction of bill which pro-
vides that the members of the commits
sion shall devote all of their time to the
work Of the department, and that fair
salary shall be paid for this work. It is
needless to say that the measure meets
with general approval, especially from
those men who have been close watch
ers of the work of the highway board,
and have reached the conclusion that
there is too much money expended and
not enough good work performed. The
highway commissioners are spending
100000 year and have the entire state
20 look after. It is not surprising, then,
that there are men who think that the
work is of enough magnitude to require
constant attention to secure their en-
tire services. The criticism is heard
thai cheaper men will be the result, but
cheaper men are likely to render more
thorough and satisfactory work than
high priced men who give but a few
hours a week to the consideration of
questions involving hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars of the states money.
hearings are so numerous during the
spring Of the year, that it is 10 uncom-
mon occurrence for petitioners to be
told by the commissioners that they can
have but Is minutes for the presenta,-
ton of their cases. Nobody has a word
to say about the ability of The members
of the commission at present, but 1t Is
generally expressed that the state would
be the gamer with less able men who
devoted the whole of their time to the
work, than with the men at present on
the board who give but few hours a
week. And no one wants the present
commissioners to step out If they are
willing to stay for $4,000 or so per year.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL.
The list Of legislative counsel contains
these names. in addition to those already
published:
Wilbur H. Powers, for Hyde Park
Electric Light Company; J. Otis Ward
well, for Boston Elevated Railway Com
pany, Edison Electric Illuminating Com
pany, Essex Company. the Association
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06

curse the day when they gave up all
and received nothing in return. Many
have not even reached the new Edo
rado. Money played out, and they
were compelled to winter on the pass,
while others were frozen in up the river
and will either have to haul their out
fits down on sleds or live in idleness
and eat the food which, on the average,
cost them more than 81 per pound to
get over the pass.
OF those who did reach Dawson, about
5000 in all, some 800 were compelled to
so down the river to Fort Yukon, where
they will cut wood all winter for their
board, while from 400 to 500 more have
started on the trip out over the ice. This
latter is most perilous journey. Until
this winter it was thought to be next to
impossible to make the journey, even
when well provided with food. robes and
one or two good dog trains. Few of
those now on the way are so provided.
Many are SO poorly prepared for the
journey that 1t seems certain that many
lives must be lost this winter,
1t will be readily seen what serious
state Of affairs presented itself to the
weary traveller when he reached here
when he preferred to face the dangers of
such a trip rather than those which they
found here. 1t is difficult for one in New
York to realize that man may have
plenty Of money and yet starve to death.
We are so used to looking at the stores
with their heavily laden shelves, the
contents of which may be ours If only
we have the money with which to pur-
chase them, that it is difficult to under
stand the extraordinary condition
which presents itself when a man may
offer ten times the value of a pound of
food and yet find no one to sell it to
him.
Such has been, and to a certain extent
still is, the condition here. 1t was only
after many who had outfits suf-
ficient for two or three months
realized the seriousness of the
situation, and resolved to brave
the dangers of the trip over the ice
to where there was plenty, and 80 were
prepared to sell a portion Of their out
fit, retaining enough only for the jour
ney, that food could be bought at SIPS
per pound. Floor was selling at 500
per sack-50 pounds-when l arrived,
and little later it went to $125.
At present writing the situation seems
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
THE SOUTHERN MILLS.
They Are Prosperous and Up to Date,a
Says MI. Coolidge.

Says Mr.. Coolidge.
Boston, Mass, Feb. ST. Jefferson
Coolidge, treasurer Of the Amoskeas
mills of Manchester, N. H, has returned
from a trip to, Florida. He says Of the
general mill situation: "On the mains
tenance Of the reduction in wages de-
Ponds the existence of the New Eng
land mills, and striking against a reduce
ton is a mistake on the part of the
operatives, who are attempting to Kill
the goose that lays the golden egg. IL
the mill hands desire to be out of em4
ployment they are taking the right
course in striking.
Nearly all of the southern mills ars
prosperous. The biggest mills are earn-
ing large dividends, but are rarely pay
ing over six per cent, as they are reA
serving their excess profits to increase
their quick capital
1.-The southern mills get some adj,
vantage from cheaper coal and cheaper
cotton, but the wage question is the
greatest factor in their favor. If il
were not for the lower wages paid in ths
south, our mills could compete with
them without trouble.
Southern mills having been built
later are superior or at least equal I'd
the average New England mill. The
best southern operatives turn out Just
as much work as the northern opera4
tives, and are just as intelligent"
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06

to have been relieved, for it has been
stated that flour has been sold as low
as $50 per sack in one or two cases. But
know that there are many still here
who have sufficient only to last them
for from four to five months, and who
must procure more in some way, or take
the long journey out, as others have
done.
Nor is food the only thing that Is
scarce. Blankets, socks, moccasins, and,
in fact, clothing of all kinds, are unob-
tainable at any price. And these are as
sorely needed as food. We were unable
to believe, until we had experienced it,
that the weather was so severe here as
reported. But already the thermometer
has stood at Sc degrees below zero for
four days, in succession, and if this win
ter is as cold as tine average here, it will
go as low as so degrees below zero be-
fore the end of February.
1 find it almost impossible to keep my
hands warm when outside, and my face
has been froSt-bitten several times al
ready. Nearly every man one meets
has several black, ugly-looking spots on
his nose, chin and cheeks These are
causel by repeated freezings One can
not put on too many socks to keep the
feet comfortable, and yet Of this very
necessary article there is scarcity
there are none to be had at any price
Wood is plentiful in the vicinity of the
mines, but at Dawson it brings $50 per
cord. And there are few who care to
cut and haul it at that price This is
not because they are in such circum-
stances that they can afford to be in
dependent in the matter. but because it
involves such hard labor and so much
suffering from the cold. After it is cut
it must be hauled from four to five
miles, and, with the exception Of a few
horses--I think eight in all--the only
power procurable for this is man power,
Dogs are SO scarce that an ordinary
one viii bring 5000, while a good Eskimo
oog VIII command $3.50, and a buyer is
easily round for him. So great is the
demand for these dogs for freightfng
purposes and for the trip out, that few
or their owners care to use them for
naullng wood, even at the seemingly
high prices ruling.
The richest deposits of gold are found
IN the creVasses of the bedrock, which
mere is kind of soft slate, and so in
most of the mines the rock itself is
worked out to the depth of from one to
four feet The bed of the creeks-Bo-
nanza and ldorado-is-wide, and as
the deposits are on the bed of a former
creek, or glacier, which wound about in
totally different directions to the pres
ent creek, it is impossible to locate the
pay streak" except by~sinking shafts
in the slow and laborious manner above
indicated. It happens that ten or
more holes may have been dug on
lay without the pay streak--if any there
be there--being located. Several weeks
work has been done, and there is nothing
to show for it, True, the next shaft
may strike a very rich streak. but In
many cases the men become discouraged
and throw up the lay.
| might go on indefinitely enumerating
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
BIRD DEFALcATIoN CASE.
Expert Accountants Discover Error Which,
Reduces Shortage to $4,000.


South birmingham, Feb. 5.-Matters
at the birmingham Savings Bank were
very quiet today, only a few depositona
calling at the banking rooms in the
Manson building, to inquire into the
condition Of the institution. The exs
animation OF the books is progressing as
rapidly as possible under the direction
of the expert accountants, and until
such time as when they will be ready
to submit a detailed statement to tho
savings bank commissioners of the COM
dition of the bank, there will not be
much information to be given out to the
public. Yesterday the supreme court
modified the injunction against the bank
so far as to allow the institution to colt
lect assets and to release, assign and
discharge collateral.
Today the experts at work on the
books accounted for the sum of $1700 Of
the alleged defalcation by Bird, the exc
bookkeeper now in Jail awaiting trial,
in default Of $4,000 bail, by tracing
mistakes made by Bird in duplicated ac4
counts-that is, in instances where an
account was transferred from one PERI
son to another, the bookkeeper failed I'd
close the original, and the bank was
therefore, carrying two accounts on the
same amount of money
This discovery by the experts reduces
the alleged defalcation of Bird to about
$4,000.
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
Labor.
BOYS OF ,61 AND ,66.

Boston, Feb. 5.--The boys OF 81 and
IS, members of this and preceding leg
islatures and state departments, will
have their annual reunion at the
United States Hotel, Wednesday. Feb.
16 The reception will be from to 5
O'Clock, and dinner will begin at
o'clock, followed by camp fire and war
songs. Senator A. s. Roe is president,
Mai. Chas. G. Davis secretary
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
GIRL KIDNAPPED.
Bertha Schmidt Enticed From School in
Fall River.

Fall River, Feb. Bertha Schmidt.
years of age, was called out Of the
Tucker street school yesterday AFTER
noon by woman who represented herr
self to be a relative Of the child. The
pair disappeared, and later the child's
mother called at the school to inquire
as to Bertha's whereabouts. Then 1t was
learned that the child had been kid
mapped
The distracted mother explained that
she had been divorced from her hus.
band in New York two years ago. and
had been living since in this city with
her daughter whose custody was en-
trusted to her, The case was reported to
the police, who closely watched the
trains and boats for the woman and
child A suspicious pair were noticed
boarding the Pilgrim for New York, but
in the meantime communication had
been received from New York authors
ties, and the police found it unwlse to
interfere. 54
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
A GLUE FOUND.
Boston Suicide Thought to Have Come
from New York.

Boston, Feb 5.-capt. Mccioskew
chief of the New York detective bureau
telephoned to Capt. Dugan this MORN.
ing, and asked him to hold the body Of
the Youngs Hotel suicide until friends
could come on from New York to iden-
tify the same. gH8
The woman is believed to be Mrs.
Laura o. Petersen, widow, who had
been for some months studying media
cine at the Presbyterian Hospital in
New York city
Undertaken TinlSham received tele.
gram this morning from the Danish
consul of New York city, stating that
Mrs. Petersen left the hospital Wednes.
day, saying that she was going out 81
town to stay day or two.
Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
LEEpY,s RAILwAY Bill.

Topeka, FEB. 5--Gov. Leedy has pre-
pared railroad bill which gives the
board of railroad commissioners the
power to make and enforce schedule
Of rates on all the railways in Kansas.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-27
THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT HAS SUED FORPEACE
Direct Appeal Ready Quit
French Ambassador Presented a Tender of Peace From
Spain % President Mckinley.

held in order to make prompt reply to
the proposition. Secretary Long ar
rived at -he white house shortly after
the French ambassador had departed
after a talk with the president during
which the Spanish poposal was gone
over briefly.
Mr.. Long said afterwards that it was
an initial move, but in reply to inquiries
as to whether 1t was likely to bring a
speedy cessation of hostilities. he ex-
pressed some doubt.
Naturally. the plea Of Spain to open
peace negotiations opened up a wide
field of conjecture on what the terms
of peace will be. Thus far there is no
official warrant for saying what terms
Spain will propose or what terms the
United States will offer or accept. SO
far as this country is concerned, it is
the general impression that the COM
plete Spanish evacuation of Cuba and
Porto Rico will be insisted upon as a
sine qua non. There is not the same
certainty as to the Philippines. Ladrones
and Carolines, although the belief is
growing that the terms will include
coaling stations in these groups. on
the part of Spain. It is believed she has
reached such a realization of her mis-
fortunes that she will readily accept
terms for the evacuation of Cuba and
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-27

siderably derange their carefully pre-
pared programme for the remainder of
the expedition. 1t will now be neces-
sary to intercept the sections Of the ex-
peditions already at esa heading for
certain selected points on the coast of
Porto Rico and TO advise them of the
change in plans.
General Wilson's brigade is now ap-
preaching the island. being due there
to-day or tomorrow. and reinforce
ments will follow at intervals of one or
two days until the whole force of 10000
men is landed, unless events connected
with the peace negotiations make it
necessary to stop future movements.
However. it is a matter for congratula-
tion to the war department that Gen
eral Miles has managed to set foot on
Porto Rico before the first overtures for
peace and thus to place the island in
tiif Sbiiit pbEAAith as Nubh anu NhN
Philippines. namely. as territory as
least partially in the possession of the
United States at the beginning of the
negotiations.
The mails to-day brought a corrected
list from General Shafter of his casual
ties. Secretary Alger is distressed at
the number of missing carried on the
rolls. and to-day telegraphed General
Shafter to hire all necessary help and
send men out through the jungles to
hunt up the remains of the poor fellows,
for he does not doubt that missing in
this case means death under the bushes
and an undiscovered body.
During the late afternoon and even
ing the president conferred with most
of the members of the cabinet and the
Spanish proposition was thoroughly
canvassed.
Secretaries Day, Alger and Long were
at the white house during the afternoon