Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-27
Ottumwa Boy Tells of Life in the
Gold Country.
WAlERMELONS SOLD FOR $3.50 EACH
William c. Hirst Relates Many Inter-
esting Experiences in and About
Nome-Located a Claim and Be.
Ieves in it's Future.

on Division street, returned last Fri
day from Nome, Alaska, in the heart of
the gold country. He has had inter-
esting and odd experiences, and, I'M
like many returned Alaskan visitors,
believes there is much to be gained in
the northern country, but he says that
the great mistake SO many make is in
going there with just enough money to
cover expenses for few days after
their arrival. Encouraged by eXtrava-
CANT reports, a great many have gone
to Nome in an almost penniless state,
expecting as Mr.. Hirst expresses it,
to shovel the gold from the beach"
This they find to be impossible, and as
a consequence, there are thousands in
the city who are dead broke" and the
government is providing means of
transportation out of the region.
Mr.. Hirst is well known in Ottumwa,
having lived here several years. He
is a baker, having been employed by
B. P. Ballagh for about two years prior
to his departure for the west. He left
this city last November, going to San
Francisco. After staying there few
and made the trip to Nome on the
San Pedro" leaving San Francisco
May 16, and arriving at Nome month
later. He spent some time in pros
pecting, and met with fair success, al
tho he did not become rich. He owns
claim near Nome, and may return to
the country, altho that is not definitely
settled, as yet He left Nome on July
%, and reached Seattle Sept. 16, hav-
ing spent fifty-six days on the water,
much of the time in most severe
storm. The return trip was made on
the Louisa d" which was overtaken
by storm at Bristol Bay Anchors
were lost and much trouble was en-
countered, but no lives were lost, and
the party reached Seattle in safety.
Mr.. Hirst came home as soon as posi-
be, arriving in the city Friday morn
ing. He enjoyed the best of health
during the time.
Nome is characteristic mining
town, but few people realize it's i'm
portance as city," said Mr.. Hirst.
Its population this summer was esti-
mated at $4,000, over twice the size of
Ottumwa While it has very many
characteristics which seem odd to
those who live in the states, it is new
ertheless wide awake city. Three
papers are published in Nome, the best
and most popular one being The Nome
Daily News This is well printed
sheet of four pages, and contains very
interesting matter"
The Courier is indebted to Mr. Hirst
for copy of this publication, bearing
the date of July 81. That a
local paper is a novelty there is ap-
no hn f.,o hot ha
page announces that the News is the
pioneer paper of Nome and that the
issue in question is the twenty-second
number of the first volume. In the
columns of the publication are to be
seen, among other things, announce
ments of meetings of Nome Aerie No.
rs, F. o. E., which is being organized;
an announcement to the effect that the
1. o. o. F. lodge of Nome meets every
Thursday evening, so it will be seen
that lodge matters have not been over
looked. Prominent among the adver-
tisements, which are plentiful,
are those of several saloons
and lodging houses. The Arctic Ice
company and the Nome Water Co., the
latter being an incorporated institu-
ton, each have an announcement, as
have also several transportation COM
panies, including aside from the steam
ship lines, the Northern Pacific, the IL
linois Central, and the Chicago and AL
ton railways. The Congregational,
Presbyterian and Episcopal churches
have representatives in Nome, and
their announcements appear on the
front page of the newspaper.
Mr.. Hirst says that the prices on ev-
erything in Nome are high, and this
is illustrated by the fact that the pa
per above mentioned is sold for 20
cents per copy, the subscription price
being $35 per year or $50 for six
months. Two ounce loaves Of bread
sell for 25 cents each, and drinking
water comes at cents per bucket, be-
ing sold altogether in lots of five or
more buckets. The smallest amount
of money considered in that region is
25 cents, and that will buy very little.
Cigars of the poorest variety have a
good sale at 25 and SO cents apiece.
At one time this summer, an enter
s.ising merchant imported some small
watermelons, and the citizens of Nome
eagerly paid $3.50 for small specimens
of the fruit, which, in this part of the
country would find little or no sale.
The sale of milk is carried on in a
most original manner. A woman
drives her COW down the street, and,
when hailed by customer, stops and
milks a pint or quart, as the case
may be, receiving rs cents per pint
therefor. One of the merits of this
system is that the milk is pure, and
free from the authorizations which the
milkmen of the states are charged
with using.
The hauling is done almost entirely
with dogs, as there are only about 25
horses in the city. Cattle are also
scarce. The fresh meat is almost en-
tirely raindeer meat. Very little
fruit is seen in Nome, except when i'm
ported for private use. The ground is
very barren, and nothing can be grown
on it. A railroad five miles in length
is one of the improvements in that re-
gion. 1t was built by Charles D. Lane,
of San Francisco. The fare for the
We miles is one dollar, and the road is
well patronized, as it extends over the
tundra,or marshy land from the beach
inland, and walking there is very diff
ficult.
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