New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-02
CONDITIONS AT CAPE NOME.
SETTLING DOWN TO NORMAL STATE
REACTION HAS LED MANY TO
RETURN-CONTINUED PROS
PERITY LOOKED FOR


tow it has reached the depths of condi-
ton Not that Nome is failure but 1t has
reached normal level Business has settled down
to a matter of simply making n lving-men no
longer think about making a fortune this season.
Those who have the means are determined to stick
1t out spend the winter here. and be the ground
early next year, when the conditions will warrant
increased business and better returns for the
money invested.
Nome has been sad experience to the dreamers.
the thoughtess and the impractical. Some came
here with big rolls of money, expensive machinery.
enormous stocks Of goods; others landed without
cent expecting have gold dust thrown at them
or make it easily that work was hardly neces-
sary. An old mining camp follower remarked TO
me the other day that there were more downright
lazy men in Nome than he had ever seen before.
Not in twenty has done bit of prospecting.
but has loafed about on the streets kicking" and
hearing others kick"
Those thoughtess and impractical who were
here last year, and conceived the idea that there
immense gold bearing ledge out in Behring
Sea. which being washed by the waters and
the gold cast upon the beach, have been hit hard.
They invested their money and other peoples
money in expensive dredging outfits, which were
set up large barges. and the bottom about
here dredged until hardly a foot has been left I'M
touched Not single machine has taken out a
cent.
II has been said that the saloons and gambling
dens are barometer Of the general prosperity of
mining camp. If this be true then Nome has
reached the bottom for there is not saloon or
month the majority of them will be closed and this
coming winter Nome will support only about ten
saloons.
The immense supply Of provisions that has been
brought here has caused all prices to drop down to
Seattle prices. with the freight added. Canned
goods cost no more than in the States fresh vege-
tables, fruits eggs and meat little more.
Oranges. apples and eggs are so cents dozen,
Clothing is cheap. and can be bought at auction
for less than cost Miners outfits. horses, wagons
and tents, can be had for most any price. Rubber
goods such boots, coats, ponchos and slckers,
command good prices. owing to the heavy rains
which have begun to fall Rents down.
suite of offices that formerly rented for $40 a
month now be had for $40; good store build
ing formerly $3.50 is $3.50.
This drop in all prices has spread to steamship
rates 10 Seattle. Some lively rate wars have been
INDUCED in At time. several weeks ago. when
there were several ships in the of1ng, the rate
reached SIS for a steerage passage. The Oregon
gave that rate and carried out nearly one thou
sand persons to whom the rate godsend-
Rates about $50 for steerage and second
class When ship first arrives she advertses at
about S45 but at the last minute 1t generally drops
to s25. and there is great rush Only steerage
and second class rates have been affected by these
rate wars; first class continues steady at SIS and
800.
These low rates have taken out a very large
share Of the busted" element. who were doing
nothing had work and were positive danger
to the community. According TO the figures of the
companies four thousand persons have gone
out by way of Seattle or ST. Mtchaels, where the
river boats are taken up the Yukon to Dawson
With the sailing craft and small independent
steamers 1t is estimated that five thousand persons
have gone out in the last two months In addi-
tion the Army transports have taken out a
Der who made affidavit that they had no means
| All this has been good thing for Nome BY the
time the last sail at least ten thousand more
will have gone.
FULL FAITH IN FUTURE.
| That many men still have faith in Nome and the
| t. yIa -Dfo IL IN
all sides. Business men have the most unbounded
! confidence in the future. They erecting winter
| quarters for their stores. Offices and homes In
| fact building goes on as nothing else does, and
| carpenters find plenty 10 do. although the wages
have dropped from 81 so hour to 80 cents These
business men are laying in winter stocks Of pro-
visions fuel and clothing, and are making plans for
amusement fer the six months they are cut ON
| from the outside world. The large commercial
| companies making the same preparations. and
| the hotels doing likewise
The reason for the great confidence in the future
| is easy to explain. No who has made fair
| investigation will deny that gold exists in large
quantities. When everything is favorable this gold
will be taken out OF the ground and spent or put
! away to be sent down to Seattle On such claims
as are not affected by litigation and where there is
! no question to title there are men at work now
that the rains have set in. But these undsputed
titles are rare Nearly every claim of known rich
ness is tied up by litigation This winter these
matters will be Strengthened out before the United
States District Court which will sit all winter in
Nome beginning August o. The Judge IS Albert
II Moves of Minnesota. He arrived several weeks
ago and has been hearing matters in chambers.
One case Of great Importance has been going
through various stages OF proceedings This is the
now famous Pioneer Mining Company case. The
pioneers of the Nome gold discoveries several
Scandinavian sailors. among them Jafet Lindeberg
and John Ldndbom. 1t in the fall of 1895 that
they found gold in the sand. These poor. ignorant
sailors at once saw visions of great wealth They
worked the beach that fall and some of the creeks
discovering the richness of Anvil Creek which bids
fair TO rival the Kondike. They staked numerous
claims along Anvil and neighboring gulches
The following spring a number of jumped
some of the claims Anvil Creek including the
! discovery claim. Now these jumpers have begun
proceedings to GUST the Swedish pioneers, who had
| formed company known the Pioneer Mining
| Company. The first have an injunC-
ton granted restrain the Pioneer company from
| working the claims The contestants set uD as a
zens the United States nor had they declared
their intention of becoming that they had staked
that the assessment work had not been completed
within the proper time. and various other claims
To all these the defendants have demurred.
Following the temporary injunction, a receiver
was asked for the Pioneer company. 1t was grant
ed. and within week the defendants had made
motion before the court to have the receiver dis
missed The matter argued at great length IL
taking week to hear all that the lawyers had to
say. At the end the court denied the motion and
the claims still continue to be- worked under charge
of the receiver. The sentiment of the country is
with the Swedish pioneer discoveries of the Nome
gold fields.
PRESENT REPUTATION A GOOD THING.
The sentiment OF the business men of Nome Is
that it has been good thing that Nome has re-
ceived black eye in the States. 1t will keep out
the mob next year. competition will be narrowed
me work at good wages and evarvthipo