The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-02-07
CAPE NOME GOLD FIELD.
Information Given by the American
Consul at Victoria.
Heavy Eush Expected in the Spring-The
Cost OF Living-SsOO Will Rent y
Small House.

WASHINGTON, D. C. (SpeciaD.
E. Smith, United States Consul at Victoria,
3. c., in Il report to the State Department.
predicts great rush to the Cape Nome
gold field In Alaska this spring. The dis
tance from Victoria to Cape Nome Is $500
miles, entirely BY water, and the transpor-
tatlon agencies have Already booked all
the passengers that can be carried on the
first trips on all the vessels that Gun be OBJ
tanned for the service. At u recent meeting
Of representatives, OF the company it was
computed that $4,000 persons desired to go
to Cape Nome as soon as possible.
The prevailing fnre from Seattle or VIC
toria to Cape Nome Is 800 for frst-class
and $50 for sscond-class passage. The
rate for the transportation OF freight is
$40 ton.
"The reports that had been circulated
last season In regard to the gold discov-
cries ut Cape Nome were quite generally
disputed here" writes the Consul, "tEe
opinion being thatthe Atlin and KIonklke
countries were Smore promising and also
easier OF access. But the last two steamers
from the North effectually dispelled NIL un-
certainties, the passengers bringing with
them indisputable evidence that all along
the beach in the vicinity OF Cape Nome
gold In paying quantities can be had Tor.
"A lumber Of these men have called at
the Consulate. exhibiting specimens OF tho
gold, saying they dug 1t on the beach near
the waters edge; that men with only hand
shovels and the simplest and rudest OF
pans cleared from $50 to 800 and even
$500 per day. while sometimes cleanup
OF from $1,000 to $500 has been reported.
Nuggets worth from $500 to $4OO we're
found near Anvil Greek, and 1t is believed
$500, 900 to S40O, 900 was taken out OF Snow
Gulch last summer; one man, 1t Is SAID,
took out $4,000, while another claims
still more" aw s
Consul Smith reports that there are now
between 5000 and 6000.. people at Nome
City, Anvil City, Cape York, Port Clar-
ence, and other places I'm the vicinity.
housed In buildings OF the most temporary
character. There are two newspapers
printed in the district, from which he e6.
tracts the market quotations current last
fall. Beef and butter we're 81 each pound,
-four $40 hundred, wood from S35 to S5o
cord, tomatoes 50 can, coal So tom,
and lumber $3.50 thousand feet. Restau-
rant prices we're on the same scale. The
charge fog steak was from S1.50 to 80.
For an order ofham and eggs. or three eggs
one had to pay 90. For S1.50 the hungry.
miner could regale himself with pork chops,
mutton chops, boiled mackeral, hambur.:
ger steak, or IN oyster stew. If be desired
to spend only 81 he could have choice OF
corned beef hash, picked pigs feet, O box
OF sardlnes, Welsh rabbit, or cup OF
coffee with bread and butter 8.
The rent OF an eight-room house al. Caps.
Nome ia 5000 per month. but thssQElce Of
labor is in proportion to the scstt4t living.
Longshorelnen receive s2,ah hoqfNd casf
psnters $3.50. The ruling prfca shave
is 81 and for haircut 81. so.
So. Fifty centsas charged tor fa1rd daf&n26
q flannel shirt, seyenty-f yes cents for W. 4
Ing colored linen shirt, Ind "a tor SfeafsSIs!
ilitation OF the rare and ndluxurionsg S5s1
known as the whitesHhirt. Cigars and
drinks cost fifty cents etch.