Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-07
pass the winter comfortably. but can do
more or less woCk.
To Mine I'm Tents,

pass the winter comfortably, Out can 90
more or less wsCk.
To Mine I'm Tents.
There are very few so well on as this.
however. fuel being scarcer than food. but
among the beach combers'' a novel plan
will be adopted Parties Of four. six or
eight will organize for winter operations by
securing a large tent, spreading 1t on the
beach over the ground they propose to
work In. and there they will set up house
keeping. The canvas will be protected on
the outside from the weather in every
way possible and stoves will be kept going
on the inside, so that the tent will not
only be comfortable to live and to work in,
but 1t will never freeze in there and the
mining can go on quite as satisfactorily as
If balmy spring were the only season known
in the Cape Nome district. a great rush
is expected in the spring. but, as has been
stated there are no claims unstaked any
where within thirty or forty miles of Anvil
City. and what lies beyond those limits Is
practically unknown. But according to the
Prince of Wales, 235 miles. gold has been
found along the creeks in quantities that
would pay from SO to $50 per man per day
If PANIED by an expert.
Claims are offered for sale-a claim being
twenty acres-at prices from So, 900 to $780,
600, and there are, of course. at this time
not many takers at those figures. but they
are expected in the spring with the rush.
Already Staked Out.
Over one thousand claims, covering 10000
acres-about thirty square miles of terri
tory-have been recorded, and 1t Is general
ly believed that each claim represents a
suit-at-law. so hasty and haphazard have
been the methods Of procedure in securing
claims.
The claims of this entire section are of
the placer variety, and so far no quartz
has been discovered, which means that
what is a busy mining camp with millions
this year may be a deserted village twelve
months later.
Nome gold Is much darker in color than
the gold of the Yukon river country, assay.
inf $40 an ounce, though the current trad
ing price is SIG an ounce Gold dust and
nuggets constitute the bulk of the currency
and gold scales as necessary in the
stores as the ordinary grocer's scales. And
gold dust as circulating medium is not
as popular as II mig..- be, for coin or paper
money commands pi. MUM q per cent
In many localities. Suci- money Is known
as "chechako.' or newcomer" as only the
new arrivals have It, and that Is the Esqui-
mo word for new arrival.
Winter at Anvil City-that is to say. in
the entire Nome district-ordinariy con-
tinues from October to June. and tenn
perature of 80 to 60 degrees below Is not
unusual. On the 21st of December the sun
barely rises above the horizon. and on the
21st of June 1t does not disappear entirely
from sight during the tWenty-fOur hours.
Advice to Prospective Miners.
To the prospective miner in "the states
expecting to try his luck in the Cape Nome
rush next spring, or rather next season. 1t
may be said that he should keep his atten-
ton fixed on weather reports from the
northwest and be in San Francisco or Seat
tie in June to catch the first boat out. as
Norton bay usually opens in June. What
the fare will be cannot be told this year,
but now it Is SEQ and S75, according to ac-
commodations, to st. Mtchaels, and $40 on
to Nome by the small steamers crossing
the bay-135 miles. The distance direct to
Nome from San Francisco Is about $500
miles and from Seattle or Tacoma 300
miles, and competition has made the fare
to st. Michaes the same. What changes
the rush of gold seekers next year will
make remains to be seen. 1t is merely
ordinary and agreeable sea trip, and the
miner arriving at Nome is practically in the
midst of his field of labor as soon as he
goes ashore and there is little to do ex-
cept to become a millionaire as soon as con-
Venfent. At the same time it may be re-
marked with truth that If he is comfort
able at homo and is doing fairly well, he
had better stay right where he is and thank
the Lord for a contented spirit.
w. ]. HAMPTON.