Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-06

There is no doubt but what this !
country is rich in gold, as everything |
indicates, and if claim owners had
offered liberal inducements hundreds
of new mines would have been opened
up and Nome and the surrounding
country would have seen a boom oil
prosperity that would have in every
particular justified the great stampede
this summer. When miners were
confronted with the condition | have
mentioned q very large per cent. Of
them became discouraged and took the
back tracks for the states Some
came with only enough money to land
them here, thinking, from the accounts
that they had read and heard OF this
country, that all they had TO DO was 70
set here and they would wake up in
the morning with money in their
pocket. 1t was delusiOn and a snare,
and they were lett stranded IN country
whose people were as unfee4.ng as the
went hungry, but people could not ex-
tend to each other any assistance
further than the hospitality OF their
mess box. Not per cent. OF the
stranded could find employment, and |
was informed that 1000 had made ap-
plicatiOn to be taken out On the gov
eminent transport, ROsencranse, on
her first trip out.
AS a last resort, those who re-
NAMED in tackled the beach, which
had been pretty thoroughly worked
out last summer and early this spring
with rockers; and from Snake river,
which emptleS in Boring sea at Nome
for 10 miles up to Penney river, tna
beach is lined with tents and sIuicing
outfits, which in some instances have
paid as high as $40 to $50 per day TO
the man. The beach has been cOnsid-
cred free to all, but last week, the new
commissioner rendered a decision
which declared that the beach cOuld De
staked and claimed same as other
mineral lands. In "A hours tne entire
beach was staked by those on the in
side who were early to get the tip, and
one poor fellow who was trying to get
enough out with rocker 10 pay his
fare home was arrested and placed
under bonds in the tritiing sum 81.
$4,000. HE DeaCn is practically WORTH
less below Nome and above Penney
river, and the 5000 miners VINO are
Y OrIing it would have exhausted it III
another month, but the claim owners
knew as long as miners could make
reasonable wages WOrAIng it Lnere was
no chance TO get them TO work their
lL M.
cent. propositions; so uAere is not
much doubt out what the companies
are back OF the movement to drive t4al
people off the beach. The miners
have thoroughly organized and in
tend to resist a decree that seems IN
just and prompted by the selfish
interests Of the companies. So far
only the one arrest has been maue
and | understand no further effort nas
been made by the beach locatOrs to-
disturb the miners. The town and
district are under military rule, and
lairely good order is maintained.
Nome on the LIST of July was a city
OF about 80, 900 sOuls-25,00 people and
10000 dogs! The hauling was almost
entirely done with dog teams before
the boats began TO arrive in June.
Now there are more teams and wagons
| than can find employment, and a great
many outfits are being sold for less
| than were paid for them in Seattle.
| Labor is down to 40 cents an hour and
board yourself, and very little to be
had at that. Provisions are very cheap
now compared with what they were,
and the four in our little camp live
we'll at 80 cents day. Up until a
week ago the weather had been very
! fine with no rain, and for a week the
| thermometer ranged around s. degrees,
which seemed very warm indeed to US.
! Since a week ago Sunday, however,
! the weather has been abOminable-
tain almost necessarily, with a wind
that has kept the sea dashed into.
! perfect fury, the breakers washing up
| the beach almost to the tundra, and IN
a great many instances driving the
miners back so they could not work
for couple of days at a time. Today,
we are unable to work, and every
wave washes over our pump and
around the foundation Of our engine,
and the probabilities are that when the
sea subsidies We will have a couple Of
days work before we can resume OPP
eratious. We are spending most OF
the day drying our clothes, which have
! been wet for a week.
well, my dear friend, 1 will con-
clude this letter with the earnest re-
quest that, if you have an ambition to
grow suddenly rich, think we'll before
trying it in this country. Profit by
my experience, which you are welcome
to, and try your luck in a country that
has four distinct seasons, where d
portion of the people at least wear an
occasional smile of contentment and
/ where friendship is valued for some
/ thing more than for what money it
will bring YOU"
/ A MUD VOLCANO