The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-03

The Attn country - dead and dull. no
business Is being transacted. miners are
leaving and there Is a general belief that
the waoie boom viii collapse. Sucn are
the reports brought down from Skaxway
by persons who have been Ia the district.
There n absolutely no business" sad
Norman X. smith. who vas on the trail
out on Sunday. February %. Mr. Smith
ss one OF the best known men about Skag
way. Lake Bennett and in the Ailin coun-
try He made most OF the preliminary
"Reminiscences for the White Pass l. Ya-
kon fa.lway over the mountains and IN
the direction OF TIE Atln country.
People about Atln and on Pine creek
are thoroughly Disguised" said j. A Man
ming who IS at the Hote. Seattle from
SxaSway. Dir. Manning was tie owns.
OF the Occidental hotel al Saaggay and
he has just eold IL out Tie has seen mos,
OF the persons who have come out OF the
Attn country within the past few weeks
and for months. so that he has a fair
knowledge Of the feeling and conditions
there.
According TO the stories OF these two
gentlemen Canadians and Americans al he
are disgUssted with the exclusion law. tho
officials are disgGstea with 1t and every
one blAines * for the siagnation OF busl-
ness AT meeting held within the past
two weeks man named Kenny WAS sent
cut 10 Ottawa TO discuss the matter WITH
government ministers and 10 declare that
the people OF the Attn country, irrespective
the law. Mr. Smith said that he had met
a man named Crime, who declared that he
had been delegated to go to Victoria 10
use his Influence 10 have the act repealed.
However, very Little tredence was paced
him -
i came GU; on Sunday week ago with
Constable Allen and Expressnan LILY
from Taku Arm" sad Mr.. Smith al the
Hotel Seattle last night Il had not peen
on Pine creek nor at Attn City, but these
men had just come and together We made
the trip 10 Log Cabin, where met Well
known Skagway merchant, Sinclair HACK
EFT, who had also just come ou; These
men said 10 me that there vas abs olu ely
no business at Atlin City, nor on Pine
creek No ore was doing anything ar all.
for mining was closed Down on account or
the winter. The men simply sa; In their
cabins, cooked their beans and their meat;
iazity waiting for the spring 70 come and
the snow to disappear. There was no bus
mess TO he zone; nothing was being sold,
for there was no one TO purchase.
You see all Of these men have claims
which they hoped to sell. others want TO go
into business. They have all kinds OF
schemes, transportation companies stores
and many others all depending Tor success
upon the crowds. the thousands that were
expected TO come in this spring Is there
any wonder that they do not like the ex-
clusion law? These people expected 10
make money OUT OF more than mines: they
expected 5.0ce 1900 or 5000 people.
boom and a rush which has all been killed
OF by the law. Why. there Is ab o ute
nothing in there 10 attract a man who
wants 10 so into business. for there is no
business.
Now. | wan: 10 deny night here that
there IN any trouble or that there are any
armed bodies OF men ready TO break out
upon the officials. There il no truth " hat
ever in such tales. Thsrs ts no excitement
whatever. and none Il threatened The
Canadian mounted poice ARE feared in that
country. and no liberties are taken. JUS
tice = sure and quick. and every one who
has been In there any .engtn OF time knows
IL. OF coDrse, there are no doubt men who
are sore who bad located claims after
much hard work. but had not recorded
record them, and men who have held town
lots with the expectation Of having them
for nothing These men might be aroused,
ass ther ~ af'f 10 81 attic
Mr.. Manning had heard OF meetings he.d
N At.igl 10 .s.l.ss~G uat the law.
They have he'd several meetings rather
quietly" said he yesterday afternoon ami
| understand that Almost the whole r.1pu-
iation 81 Attn, some 90 or 800 attended
them. The Canadians A. well as Arneri-
ceus, and even the officials are strongly
opposed 10 the A;lin law. and they saw 50
with much ytgor. The officials have very
good reason Ia IL opposed To the law
know tAat arTarS cufents had been made
to conduct the same h nd 81 a hsrslnssss
that uade the recorders Office a; Is ason
30 notorsosIs Without ra9Ssn and Scraa,-
bic for claims. such 'sraf; would amount
10 nothing,