The Newtown bee., 1900-09-07

taken out Tor time, but, very much to the surprise and disgust of all claim own CTS, June and July have been most de- lightfully sunny, with scarcely cloud in the sky. The creeks in conse quence have nearly all dried up, 60 that sluicing has had to be suspended all over this section of Alaska. The steady stream of gold which it was expected would pour into the camp not materializing, prices have steadily dropped and business is practically demoralized. There Is still great deal of building going on, and pub lie Improvements are being pushed on large and generous scale.
 Already the sound of the locomotive is in the land and line of railway connects the mines on Anvil Creek with Nome. The town is no longer dependent upon the germ-impregnated Snake River for it's water supply, for fourteen inch "main" now leads the sparkling waters of Moonlight Creek down from reser- voir on the hills to every street.
 Mining on the beach has been decided ly overdone. It Is said that there are ov- CT 100 mining machines on the shore. Some have never been set up. Many have only been run long enough to prove their impracticability, or the paucity of gold in the sands. Some of the less cost ly machines are paying expenses, but 1t is safe to say that tho majority of the men now engaged in extracting the elu- sive ''dust" from the sands of Bering Sea will never get back the money they have invested in their expensive outfits and machines.
 The sitting process has already begun, and every steamer outward bound is crowded with tho faint-hearted and dis. appointed. The mental condition of many who have been caught in the Alas ka stampede is sadly illustrated by the man who, the moment he landed at Nome, stopped down and picked up a handful of sand, not finding 1t full o1 gold, he exclaimed, "It's all lie," and deliberately drew his revolver and killed himself.
 But this "overdone", condition of thinge is incidental to every good mining camp When the kid gloved miners have all gone back and the camp barnacles drop ped away, Nome, with sturdy, deter. mined population of GOO to 5000 souls, will rival Dawson in the production o1 the precious metal.
 lam glad to be able to write that the health conditions are much more favora l h Hoor Tho k{nk were sent out concerning the prevalence of smallpox were greatly exaggerated Wise and careful measures were early taken to prevent the spread of the dis ease, and at no time did it get beyond control of the authorities. Pneumonia has been very fatal, but fortunately the sunshine of these two beautiful months has greatly reduced the number of cases Yesterday the rains set in in good ear nest, miners are jubilant and druggist probably doing correspondingly thriv ing trade. Next month typhoid Is due but we hope and pray the good water and improved sanitary conditions will prevent an epidemic. But, should | come, St Bernard hospital Is ready for it thanks to our many friends.
 The complete hospital equipment, in cluding 50 beds and good stock of med icines, made possible by the generosity of our people, has safely arrived, witt every dollar, including heavy freigh1 bill, paid. This has now all been turned over to the hospital management, ani puts our Congregational hospital. in po sition where 1t can give the poor fret diapensary and the sick the best possible care at the lowest possible cost. A com mittee has already been appointed by the Nome Chamber of Commerce to raise and disburse an indigent fund for the care of the city's sick in connection with this institution.
 Rev Raymond Robins has done, and ii doing, valiant service for the kingdom of righteousness in Nome. All our peo. pie here are eagerly looking forward to the time when they may leave thei, cramped quarters in the reading room and move into their own church home. Next Monday the public school will open under two competent teachers, the Con- gregational church donating it's present audience room for the purpose until such time as public school building can be built. Bishop Romeiopened Episcopal ser. vices in our buildings, but both they and the Presbyterians are now worshiping in tents. So far no other Christian organi- cations have come into the field.