Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-09
oTTUMwA's GROWTH.

defeat and had betaken herself away.
OTTUMwA's GROWTH.
[Ottumwa Courier.1
In an account OF. the registration in
the various wards OF the city, which
appeared in yesterdays Courier, the
statement was made that 344 new votes
had been registered in Ottumwa for
the election. These figures are sgnifl-
cant, for they mean that that many
voters have come to this city to reside
since the election last spring. 1t is
usual to estimate five persons to each
vote. BY doing this in the present case
we ascertain that 1,72O people have be-
come residents of Ottumwa during the
past six or seven months.
These figures afford some Indication
OF the city's growth, though of course
they can not be taken as accurate. I'm
doubtedly some people have moved
away since last spring, but 1t Is safe
to- say that the new arrivals far out
number those who have left. The
figures given above may be taken as in
dicative of a good steady growth of
about 5000 q year. The new Dain plant
Will bring many more people to the city,
and with its help Ottumwa should have
no trouble in passing the $4,000 mark
before another year is out. No city in
Iowa is growing more rapidly.
PROFITABLE ALASKA MINING.
dubuque .Mmes.l
Mr.. w. C. White, of Colorado Springs,
Colo, is here on visit and Is the guest
of his sister, Mrs. Dixon Cottingham.
Mr.. White returned from Alaska only
10 M on "a lii.
ance," which left Cape Nome on Sept.
10 and reached Seattle on Sept. q. He
took train out OF Seattle on the LIST
OF October and was several days tray
cling by rail to his home.
Mr.. White reports a big gold find at
Cape York, coast town. Just before
the freeze-up prospectors came upon
rich deposits on the beach, and since
that time thousands have hocked
thither.
Cape Nome, where Mr.. White spent
most of his time, is town OF about
5000 population. Four good diggings
are there, and beach mining is con-
Quoted TO great extent. Fifteen hun
ored men are working there, and the
average daily earnings of each are $40
while the living expenses are about 50
Shovelers into the sluice boxes re-
ceived 50 day and board during the
summer.
Wages for laborers range from 81 t.
$50 an hour The beach at Cape Nome
was not worked until last July. ane
since then 1t has been crowded. The
government will not permit the stalk
ing of claims on the beach, with the re.
suit that all men have an even chance
and there is no monopoly for any one
There are no restrictions, and anyone
can mine. Mr. White thinks that mex
year the Cape Nome country will pro
duce s7,O0O,0OO to s12,00O,OOo in gold
This will almost equal the gold out
put OF the Klondike last year, which
was $14,O0O,00O. The output from tn,
Klondike will be fully as large as tn
latter sum next year, in Mr.. White
opinion.
Machinery will play an importan
part in mining work after the thaw
A great deal OF it is being taken int,
the, country now. The trip from Seattl
to Dawson now occupies on an averag
eleven days and frequently it is mad
in nine. Formerly one going to Dawson
went via st. Nicholas. Now the larges
number go over the pass and down tn
river. Traffic in the Yukon Is heavie
than 1t has ever been and the indica
tons are that it will increase with eacl
year.
Mr.. White has twice been to the gol
country and next spring he will return
again, for he has large property hold
ings there. He says beach mining ha
proven great boon to miners VIII
were unable to secure claims. On
half as many people are spending tn
winter in the gold country as Their
were last year. Every steamer COMING
out is heavily laden.
1t is Mr.. Whites opinion that Alask
and the Klondike are all that the
have been reputed to be.