Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

In the papers for the closing week in oc-
tober are reports OF but two shooting
escapados, In one OF which one drunken
man shot his friend through the hand in \
brawl, and in the other a private night
watchman shot in the leg drunken man OF
good repute otherwise, who was found carry
ing some stolen goods There were alec
two robberies reported, the victim Of one
being a woman, who ran a restaurant and
who laid her pocketbook down in her place
OF business and could not find It again. An
other queer robbery was that OF a saloon
keeper 1t is related that he had $500 in
gold dust in each OF his overcoat pockets and
on top of the bag in one pocket he also had
$3.50 in gold coin and currency. He thrust
both hands in his coat pockets and started up
street to deposit the money in safe. on
the way he met an acquaintance and the
two finally. got into an animated conversa-
tion. In his excitement the saloon keeper
took his hands out of his pockets to gesticu-
late and a few moments later when he had
passed on, he missed one OF the bags of dust.
II was sent down as robbery although the
acquaintance with whom be had been talk
ing was not arrested.
The prevailing ailment in Nome appears
to be typhoid fever, as it is referred to in
all mention of sickness. One of the proudest
establishments OF the place is its hospital.
Recently a storm wrecked a portion of the
structure, but steps were at once taken to
restore it and at a mass meeting severai
hundred dollars were contributed and pladges
made for its continuous maintenance. The
women had taken hold of the project and
there appear to be many more women In
Nome than in most of the new and isolated
cities that have marked gold campaigning
in this country. The Nome papers abound
in mention of the arrivals Of wives who have
come to the far north to go into winter
quarters with their husbands, and many who
come to go into business.
HnmmcrinE n Doodle Council.
Even in this new and faraway land the
franchise grabber appears to have been get
ting in his work, and one of the Nome pa
pers was Misunderstanding the duties of the
journalist by kicking vigorously against the
bestowal by the city council of an exclusive
franchise to a company for the erection of a
toll foot passenger bridge over the Snake
river upon which stream Nome is built.
1t declares THE granting of an exclusive
franchise by the municipal council for the
construction of foot passenger bridge
across Snake river is indefensible. Another
party offered to build far superior bridge,
one costing at least six times that for which
a charter was granted, and pay the city 500
per month for the privilege, but the offer
was rejected. Why? An explanation is
surely needed The News is in a position
to furnish the answer. but it is willing that
the council should Justify the act il it is
possible to do So
1t looks as if boodlesm has permeated the
frozen zone, for in another portion of the pa
per is the statement that the men who Sc
cured the franchise for the bridge had been
offered 81 200 for 1t and had refused. An
other editorial on the same subject reads:
THE News again warns the municipal
council of Nome that it is abusing the pow
ers vested in it when it grants exclusive
franchises of any kind. Franchises are the
of the people and If they are to be
exclusive it should be so determined Iby a
vote of the people"
How natural it sounds to hear from away
off in that lonely community, where no laws
are known except such as each community
provides for it's own guidance, the voice OF
the courageous newspaper writer lifted as a
from the watchdog OF the peoples
rights.
Among the men who have risen to sudden
affluence through the discoveries at Nome
are three missionaries of the Swedish Amer
ican society--N. o. Hultberg and p. II. An
derson OF Golovin bay and A. f. Carlson OF
Unalla Hk. Hutberg is credited with being
the discoverer of the Nome placer riches. |
They all own fine gold properties and are
rated as millionaires. All of them came out
during the latter days of navigation to spend
the winter in warmer climes. Two Lapland |
and Johan Tornensis-are also |
among the lucky ones. They sold one OF
their claims to Charles D. Lane, the Califor-
mia millionaire, for 100000, and are pos
sessed of many others.