The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24

Atter the many lurld stories Wnfcn
have been brought back from Nome by
those who returned on the earlier boats.
dIsheartened and disappointed by the
conditions which confronted them and
which they were not prepared TO meet.
II is decided contrast now to hear
from the men who have stayed on the
ground and seen order develop out OF
chaos. or who have visited the new
camp since conditions have improved.
was absolutely nothing In Nome TO
warrant any person In wasting time In
the district. The beach wns worked out;
there were no new discoveries made;
few paying claims had ever been found.
ana Of those which had been opened all
were involved in litigation. no gold was
being produced; and the conditions in
the town itself were so bad that Lam
guage was inadequate TO do justice to
them. In addition 10 all this, smallpox
and typhoid fever were decimating the
population, while organized bands OF
thugs were robbing the few who had
anything left. 1t was asserted that UNI
less government aid was furnished 70
take away the thousands stranded
there they would perish of starvation,
II appears, however. by the reports OF
those who are now returning from
Nome. that so far from these lurid
stories being true, the district will pro-
duce this season from ss,ooo.000 to
100000. despite the litigation which
has tied up some OF the largest pro.
ducers; that many men are still
making good wages on the beach:
that OF the people left in the dis
trlct the great majority have full faith.
In II. are determined 10 stay and win
ter; and that the cut rates which the
steamship companies are freely Offering
are no inducement to them to return.
For district which has received such
hard name. II appears that there Is
an immense amount of work going on.
The existing line OF railroad Is doing
an enormous business, and is to be ex-
tended distance Of ninety miles. Good
order has been restored, and II being
maintained.
II Is not to be presumed frou this that
the men who returned first willfully
misrepresented things They had
been brought face to face with
conditions such as they had never
before encountered. and with which
they were not prepared to deal Sick
and completely discouraged. they could
see nothing good In camp In which
they themselves had not succeeded in
accomplishing anything. Few % them
ever personally investigated the exist
ing mining districts. or went back from
the beach at all. They accepted and
were willing to accept as gospel the
stories told them by others. equally dis
couraged with themselves. and equally
without personal information on the
subject
The truth about Nome. like the truth
about Dawson two or three years ago.
Is hard to arrive at from the mass OF
conflicting stories. II the statement OF
everyone who turned back. sick. worn
out and discouraged from the harishlps
OF the Chilkoot pass. had been accepted
a trtta xpnulx Asxn a~raun.a a..
the Kiondike was a myth. and that &,
AFFORDED no prospects for anyone 10 sue
coed there. As a matter Of fact. II has
turned out one OF the greatest placer
camps ever discovered In the world.
The nrst stories coming back from
Nome are like the FIRST stories which
came back from Kiondlke trails. Those
who have stayed out the season or who
have visited the camp since the weed
ms out process has taken effect are
now being heard from That their stor-
les difrer from those told by sick and
discouraged tenderfset Is natural and
Inevitable, The confused rush Is over.
analrs have had chance 20 adjust
themselves; and the weak aud ilscaur-
agei have some The environment IL
different and conditions naturally IRE
sent different aspect 10 those who wit
nes- them row.
There are few men who need va
cation more than President Kruger. and
Il Is strange why anyone SHOULD object
~ his taking a few days or In Europe
The Inevitable.
When the Post Intelltgsneer said. be
fore the great strike Ia the anthracite