The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-05

water mark brings De1Ore US an inter-
esting and important question.
Congress, in section in the act ap-
proved May IA, 1898, lays down the fol-
| lowing:
provided, That nothing in this act
| contained shall be construed as impair
| ing in any degree the title of any state
| that may hereafter be erected out of
SAD district, or any part thereof, to
tide lands and beds of any of it's nav
lgaple waters. or the right of such state
TO regulate the use thereof, nor the
right of the United States to resume
possession of such lands, it being de-
ciared that all such rights shall con-
| tinue to be held by the United States
IN trust for the people of any state or
states which may hereafter be erected
out of said district. The term nav
lgable water as herein used shall be
held to include all tidal waters up to the
me OF ordinary high tide and all nom
tldal waters navigable in fact up to the
line of ordinary high water mark
Ih1s same doctrine is laid down in
the decision of the supreme court in
=. s, 152, Shively VS.. Bowlby. So it is
plain that the miner can have no right
to mine the beach under any mining
law of the United States.
NOW the question is. what shall be
done? There is no telling how many
miles of the seashore may be profitably
worked either by rockers or machinery.
1t is probable that the same shore can
De mined proftably for years, as the
surf does its mighty work in changing
and driving the sands from one posi-
ton to another. We are all concerned
to see that the gold is taken out and
put IN circulation, and the beach will
still be none the worse for other
purposes; but there should be rules and
regulations to give a man encourage
nd ny,tr sv,4rr x1g4
the amount which one applicant could
hold and the length of time.a Shores
that can not be worked probably by
miners with rockers might be- made
profitable with proper machinery. Such
enterprises would want, naturally, a
good space of ground. In view of these
difficulties, it is suggested, as possible
solution, that the secretary of the in
terror be authorized to lease the right
to applicants in their order of filing at
nominal sum per hundred feet meas
ured along the ordinary high tide mark
The amount which any person or corpo-
ration so applying shall have, more
than 100 feet, shall rest with the dis
cretlon of the secretary Of the Interior
The creek claims which We're being
worked upon Anvil, Glacier and Snow
Gulch were proving very rich. No. l,
below discovery, on Anvil, at the end
of September will have taken out over
100000 from a small piece of ground.
There was a scarcity of water at Snow
Gulch the latter part of August and
upon one claim where they could run
but four hours day with water which
had accumulated during the rest of
the day one nugget was exhibited which
was valued at 1912, at SIG per ounce,
and another nugget at $3.50. 1t is be-
lieved that the output for the creek
claims which We're being worked will
he ,,-t,r
produce this year $150O,O00 If one
wishes 10 get an idea of tundra let him
imagine vast area covered with i'm
mense sponges packed in tightly to-
sether about six or seven inches deep
and scattered over this other sponges
or about the same size stuck in with
stout tWigs three or five inches high,
the bottom layer soaked full of water
Ihen with pair Of mukluks on his feet
and a pack on his back let him travel
and seek his fortune, which lies hid
den on some stream which runs
through the range of low mountains far
beyond. 1t becomes extremely tiresome
10 travel over this hummocky, oozy
tundra. The ground thaws to a depth
of 16 or Is inches Gum boots are too
heavy for travelling over it. The best
covering for the feet is the native muk-
lux, a Well-made boot of the sea lion
and hair sealskins. The soles, made
OF the heavier skins, are sewed neatly
with sinew, and are provided with loops
and thongs to secure them we'll to the
feet and legs. They are made large
enough for wearing several pairs of
SOCKS. A layer of straight dry hay or
straw in the bottom is a protection to
the foot. These boots We're selling in
August for about 81 per pair. A pack
train was at work carrying goods from
Anvil City to the creek. The price was
70
and 20 cents per pound to claims above
NO. 3. 1t is about six miles to No. on
Anvil. Coal Oil was selling at IS per
case of 10 gallons. Good Puget sound
lumber was selling at s125 per M. Prices
go up and down rapidly, according to
demand and supply. One man who was
fortunate enough to have lot of sheep
easily sold his mutton at 81 per pound.
Flour, beans, sugar, bacon and all he
staple groceries We're reasonable in
price. Those who contemplate a Jour
ney to Cape Nome should ponder the
question well before starting To 20
there from the sound by the inside
route to Skaguay over the White Pass
railroad to Lake Bennett and thence
by river steamboats, to st. Michael, and
from here by deeper draft vessels for
the last 100 miles, is simply to enjoy
one grand excursion that will repay
anyone who can afford the time and
expense. 1t is one of the most sublime
voyages that can be taken anywhere
upon the globe. The ice does not leave
st Michael very early, and for this rea-
son those who wish to get there at
the earliest possible date would DE
Obliged to travel by the ocean route
The beach at Cape Nome is free from
ice later and earlier than at st. Mi
chael. If you will take one of the
coast charts you can learn how very
shallow the water is and how far It
is to a safe landing or anchorage;
when the wind is southerly it soon
causes the combers to roll in and as
it increases the surf beats with ire
mendous force upon the strand. 1t
is sometimes several days before it
is safe to make a landing. The Alas
ka Commercial company had a small,
we'll built lighter-high, rounded we'll
on the ends, and tightly decked-with |
firm stanchions built on each side. BY
making the line fast ashore and to
the stern of their steamer Sadie this |
lighter can be guided and worked we'll |
in small surf, the last swell taking |
III