Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1900-09-08
A LETTER FROM NOME
Former Resident of Eureka
Describes Conditions in
That Far-off Land.
MONEY POWER RULES EVEN THERE.
Chas. d. Lane Has Large Hold
ings and Will Clean up
Millions.

EDITOR SENTINEL: Nome is situ-
ated at the mouth of Snake river, on
the northeast arm of the Bering Sea.
The population is about $4,000. Six
weeks ago 10000 would be nearer
the correct number of people, scat
tered for 15 miles along the beach.
There is but one principal business
street, TX miles long, which runs
parallel with the beach, and 200 feet
back from high water mark. On
this street number OF good build
ings Of both frame and corrugated
iron two and three stories high have
been erected this Summer; but as
matter OF fact, the largest part of
Nome is yet composed of tents.
That people have left here and many
returned on the same steamer that
brought them is no fault of Nome.
A majority Of these same people
were thrown upon their own re-
sources for the first time in their
lives, and had 10 experience what
ever in mining camp. They, of
course, could not adapt themselves
to the conditions as they found them,
consequently they met only disap-
pointment.
But the miner who came here
with the understanding that the
beach, like last year, was open to all.
found when te went to work that
companies mad claimed the beach
f,341. Collin Bay TO Port Clarence,
and those who tried to work were
arrested by the military. The com.
panies use the military arm of the
government, and by that means it
costs them nothing to prosecute tres
passers. When the information was
brought here early in June that the
60-foot strip that hitherto had been
open to every one to work was then
subject to location, the companies
got the tip several days in advance
and had the ground staked. That
little move caused 1000 men to quit
work where their earnings ran from
IS to SIS per day.
The best of the creek claims are
tied up in lawsuits. The "sour
dough-" anticipating a rush this
Spring. took his dog team last Win
ter and, armed with power OF at
torney and lead pencil, staked the
country for 100 miles in all direc-
tions. I know Of FIVE people OF my
acq uaintance who own AZ full claims
and the only work done on them 30
far WAS to pay for the recording.
There is no new ground for the
"cheechoka" to prospect. 30 he is
forced to leave. Next year will
change this some. Then assessment
work must be done or the ground
will be open to relocation. Another
year will overcome some OF these
draw backs, and then Nome will pro-
duce millions.
Bluff City, 60 miles east OF here,
this Spring sent to Nome for ship
ment $50 pounds of gold taken from
near the beach by six Swedes, the
result OF three weeks labor. I men
tion this to show that gold is not
confined to one or two spots. Your
corresondent was at shaft half way
up the watershed OF Mount King
and half a mile north OF No. 10 on
Dexter Creek. Bedrock was reached
at a depth of 40 feet. Good pay
gravel was found and the claim sold
for $4,000. Dexter Greek is four
miles in length with good pay from
the mouth to its head. Anvil Greek,
the richest creek Of all. is four miles
long; Glacier, six miles; Dry Greek
is eight miles. II the bench claims
on these creeks are one-half as good
as those that are now open we have
over 40 miles Of good claims within
eight miles of Nome. This is only
q small per cent Of the claims that art
already prospected and proven rich
The tundra is heavy thick moss and
spongy. Beneath the tundra il
found from two to four feet OF ic'
that never thaws. The tundra begins
200 feet from the beach and riseI
oraduallv until the mountains arr