The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
HOTEL GOSSIP.

rms newspaper talk about there being
$1,000 men going into the Cape Nome dis
triet this season is decidedly overdra wn,55
said United States Commissioned Lenox
3. Sheppard of St. Michaels Alaska, at
the Kenyon, last night. In explanation of
this statement he proceeded to say: 1T
Is impossible for that number of people
10 reacn there this summer for the yes
sells simply cannot accommodate them. In
my estimation there will not be more than
5000 up there this year at the outside.
Then again the steamers cannot get up
there as soon as is advertised. The boats
may start but they Will have 70 lay over
at Alaska until the ice breaks up, with
the result that those who go out on the
later steamers will undoubtedly arrive at
their destination at the same time as the
earlier ones. I have been stationed at St.
MichaelS for three summers and two win
ters past and during that time I have
not known a steamer TO come into the
Nome roadstead before June %. OF course
the revenue cutter Bear and a few Whal-
ers thai are built for the ice can get
around earlier, than that. but as for the
general run of steamers such an under
taking would entail great danger"
In speaking Of the outlook at Nome
from mining standpoint, Commissioner
Sheppard said: Notwithstanding the
fact that there are number of conflict
ing reports in regard to the country, You
never heard anyone who has been there
speak disparag ingly about the place. The
mining there was first instituted in IS, to
be followed up the following year with
the result that lase season there were
thirteen claims in all developed. The gold
bearing country extends for some $50
miles inland, principally along the creeks,
and the working of the beach was simply
an afterthought. At the present time
there is plenty of work for men to 10 in
leasing the claims on a to per cent
basis, while the gold costs in the neigh
bOrhoOd Of 6lz per cent to take out While
it is true that there are but four months
in the year that a man can engage in min
ing operations, at the same time by
changing shifts six months labor can be
performed, from the fact that tor nearly
two and one half months in the summer
there is no night, as 1t IS light the en-
tire time"
1t may be possibly news to the thought
less would-be pilgrim to the new Eldorado
TO hear that during the summer months
that the earth is covered with a moist,
SpOngey accumulation of a species Of
moss. When trodden upon this covering
eJects water and a cane can be thrust
down to the depth of eighteen inches. Be
low that the ground is frozen solid. In
fact" Mr.. Shepard states, "a shaft has
been sunk to the depth OF sixty feet and
then the ground was found to be in the
same condition. This condition of the
country makes it necessary for the min
ers to haul their supplies during the win
ter months when the tundra country is
frozen solid on the surface.
While at no time during the converse
ton did the commissioner give evidence
of great enthusiasm in regard to the min
ing outlook, he stated that Cape Nome
had put out more gold for the number of
men that had been working there, for the
time that it had been opened up, than any
other place in the world.
Sam King of Dewey is in town and is
quartered at the White House. When
seen last night he stated that everything
in the La Sal country pointed to a big
mining boom during the coming summer.
Three years ago. he said, there were
not more miners in that district than
you could count on your fingers; last year
there were over 800 prospect0rs in there,
and at the present time they are crowding
in in good shape. Outside capital, too, Is
getting interested from the fact that il
is being demonstrated that indications are
showing up we'll the deeper the shafts are
sunk"
Mr.. King, who constructed the toll road
from Cisco to Moab, a distance OF forty
miles. along the Grande river. says that
for an ideal outing for q summer vacation
nothing can beat the shooting of the
rapids as INDUCED in recently by Judge
Seventh district court Providing that
man goes prepared with lots of rope, he
says there is absolutely 10 danger to be
encountered. Apparently the Sanpete
judge did not 90 well prepared, as he
managed to stave in the bows OF Kings
best boat on a big boulder in mid stream
before the trip was fairly under way. but
with the pudicious applica ton of some
seuttle the barque was frustrated, and
the party arrived at Moab four hours be-
hind schedule time. King says that for
anyone who is anxious to escape the trials
of Office life for few days, that If he
will take the train to Green river and
then take a boat down the stream until
he strikes the Colorado river, that he will
find it a sure cure for the worries of a
business life. When that point as reached
he says that the patient may indulge in a
little quiet recreation in the form of hunt
ing and fishing. When his pulse is normal
he may then proceed TO Moab and pick
peaches for spell. to return to the rail-
road track, eventually, new man.
''Los Angeles is at present suffering
from tourists and q superabUndance Of
hOld-ups, and we can readily dispense
with the latter" said John ]. Shields at
the Kenyon last night. The situation
base become so bad that it is deemed un-
safe to go not alone at nights. Only a
to hold up a lady and her son as they
were walking home one night, and upon
the couple starting to run the fellows shot
the boy dead in the street"
Phil D. Wilson. formerly CITY editor of
the Colorado Springs Gazette, is numbered
among the guests at the Kenyon Wilson
is tarrying in Zion preparatory to going
on to the coast, where he proposes to
take steamer to Cape Nome.
Captain John F. GuilfoyIe of Fort Du-
scheme came in from the post last night
and registered at the Kenyon The genial
soldier reports ali serene on the Du-
scheme, good rains and Poor Lo behaving
himself and giving no trouble TO the
troops stationed at the fort.