Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-23

were in a hurry to get from st. Mich
aels to Nome. They crossed the bay
in small boats similar to the ones used
on the Yukon river. Hundreds of
lives were lost in this way.
The plan of the government to have
the natives in Alaska raise RENDERS,
and make a living that way, has re-
suited in failure. Mr.. Stoessel says
that of all the Indians in the country,
one alone, called Charlie, was success
full in raising them. Starting in a
small way, he increased his stock of
Gers until last summer he owned five
hundred. At the height of his prosper
ity he died. Many of the natives have
died since the whites have come into
the country. The government forbids
the selling of fire water" to the ma
tives, but they purchase liniments,
and drink poor tea, thus running their
stomachs. They also dress similar to
the whites, having discarded the furs
that they formerly wore. They have
also substituted tents for their warm
er houses. The inevitable result of
such practice is that they loose their
health; many die from pneumonia,
and a great majority have consump-
ton.
AS Mr.. Stoessel was postmaster of
st. Michaels, he knows something of
the governmental affairs of the ter
ritory. At Nome the postoffice has
fifteen clerks and carries, day and
| night shifts. The amount of money
! on hand in the postoffices is necessar-
lily very large. owing to the big money
order business. In Nome $2S0,0Oo
worth of money orders were issued in
three months. At ST. Michaels for
the same period the amount was
$97 900. At the postoffices it was for
merly the practice to take only Cana
dian money. This was taken at a dis
count, because the banks would accept
it. The latter, however. practiced ex-
tortion, and wanted ten per cent.
Since that time the postoffices have
taken gold dust at SIS per ounce.
MIR. Stoessel says that the number
of claimes owned by man does not
indicate the amount he is worth, for
| 500 worth of work must be put on
each claim every year in order to
hold it, and if the owner does not do
the work, he must hire it done. In
| speaking of the success of the pros
pectors, and the varying reports that
| arc received in the states of the
country, Mr.. Stoessel said that many
OF the reports are overdrawn, some
one way and some the other. The man
who goes to Alaska with just enough
money to take him there, expecting
to pick up gold out of the streets or
on the beach, is sadly disappointed,
and says when he gets home, If he is
lucky enough to get there, that every
one should stay away from Alaska.
| On the other hand, when man makes
good strike, the world learns of it,
and Alaska rises in the estimation of
the public. The man with moderate
means who works steadily and is fair
ly prosperous, who comes away from
Alaska with more money than he had
when going in, but is no millionaire, is
the best authority.
Mr.. Stoessel further says that the
country is a good place for young
man with good health and little mon
ey- who is willing to settle down and
work. If that kind of man stays in
the country few years he will be sue
cesful. One of the mistakes too often
made is that of trying to engage in
business and mine, both at the same
time. This almost invariably proves
a failure.
Mr.. Stoessel looks upon the Koy
ukuk district as the coming gold re-
gion. This country has good supply
OF coal and timber, and the diggings
are productive of good results. Tanana
is also looked upon as safe country.
The Klondike region is, of course. a
good field. That part of the country
is populated largely by experienced
miners, who are getting rich surely
but with no such rush as that at some
OF the other places.
The people in Alaska hold political
meetings, at which much enthusiasm
is manifested. The prevailing idea
turnout the country seems to be that
the republican party will be victorious
i'll the coming election.
Mr.. Stoessel saw three Ottumwa
men while in Alaska. John Emerson
and Henry Copple are at Nome, and
Bert Parks works for the Alaska Com
mercial Co., on the Yukon river
They were all well and hearty when
Mr.. Stoessel saw them last summer.
i