The National tribune., 1900-08-09
CAPE NOME.
Description of the Gold Country in 1899.

Description of the Gold Country in 1899.
An interesting description of life at Cape
Nome the first season is given in Hapers'
Bazar by Geo. Edward Adams. He says:
The rivers emptying into the ocean in
the vicinity of Cape Nome have, at the
very least, 200 small tributaries, all of
which, SO far as prospected, produced gold
in paying quantities. Snake River, at the
30 tributaries already supplied with
names. These rivers and creeks drain
large extent of auriferous territory termed
tundra, it being rolling, marshy, mossy
plain. This plain proper extends for a dis
tance of 30 miles parallel with the beach,
and some three to five miles i'll width,
reaching an elevation of about l60 feet
above tide-watcr. at its extreme width.
The tundra terminates in a series of low
lying hills. which increase in hight i'll pro-
portion as the distance increases from the
sea, finally terminating i'll Il low range OF
mountains parallel to the sea beach, and
distant therefrom about 80 miles. The
source of nearly all the rivers of the dis
trict is in this mountain chain and many
think it also the original source of all the
placer gold in the district. 1t is, perhaps,
not unlikely that the sea at no very re-
mote period extended to the base of the
mountains, and, by constant but imper-
gradually receded to its present limits,
leaving gold quite evenly distributed over
the entire extent of country just described
Many seemingly wcl-foundcd theories are
advanced to account for the apparent even
ness of the gold distribution, as 1t Is now
well-known fact that gold has been
found in paying quantities in every part
of the district where prospected. 1t Is,
perhaps, well to say that the tundra is
variously stated to be composed of marine
grayels. derived from the rocks of the
mountains adjacent, and is largely lime
stone. The more nearly one approaches
the mountains the coarscr becomes the
gravel, powders of considerable size being
often met with.
The largest amount of gold produced in
the district during the season of 1899
came from Anvil, Glacier and Snow
Creeks, tributaries of Snake River, and
from Dexter Creek, a tributary of Nome
River. Both rivers find their way from
the mountains to the sea through the very
are navigablc for small steam craft, dis
tance of % miles in the early Summer,
but within two months become too shall
low. Anvil Creek, which joins Snake Riv-
er about seven miles from the beach, was,
by the efforts of Mr.. q. w. Price, the first
to produce any considerable quantity of
gold. II is conscrvatively estimated that
he mined, from n section of gravel - feet
square by six deep, $4,000 worth of gold
in eight days. Mr.. Erich o. Lindbloom.
however, was the first to locate claim III
the Cape Nome district, and Mr.. III. l..
Blake the original discoverer of gold on
Anvil Creek. Mr.. Lindbloom's claims on
Anvil Creek were the pride of the district,
as the former produced over SlOO,0OO
worth of gold in two months, and the lat
ter increased this amount by half in the
same period of time. These claims We're
operated on quite an extensive scale. Near |
ly all the mining on the river and creek
claims was done by system Of sluicing
similar to that largely employed in the |
placer mines of California. The gold was |
much coarser than that of the beach dig |
gings, and often carried nuggets of consid- |
erable size, the claim just mentioned hay |
ing produced two this past season; the |
smaller valued at $315 and the larger at
S435. The general characteristics of all
the river and creek claims are alike, max
ing it unnecessary to mention details of
each.
Although often seen in print, 1t is well
to mention that the output of the Cape |
Nome district for the season of 1899 was
over S2,000,000, well authenticated by |
and private institutions. Esti-
mates for the season of l9OO range from ;
seven to ten millions.
Nome City was a veritable beehive of
1t is astounding when one stops |
to think how, of a sudden, town of hve
or six thousand souls sprung into existence
ON this bleak and barren arctic waste. No
fuel. no timber, no foOdstutfs, were there |
to provide the necessaries of civilization,
as all were imported from base of sup
pig 5000 miles distant. The general public |
bnt family realize the energy and indom-
liable push manifest in the upbuilding of |
this now world-famous town of BehrInS
Strait. Last season lumber was exceed
ingly scarce and sold for $3.50 per 900
feet There was n good supply of general
but prices were very high.
During the open season of 1899 coal Oil
was S2.25 per gallon; sugar, 3O cents per
pound; flannel shirts, 81 each; fresh beef
or pork, 81 % per pound; Goldfish, 80 cents
per pound; -four, 40 cents per pound; can
dies, 80 cents each; oatmeal, 80 cents per
pound; ham, 81 per pound; eggs, % cents
each Exceedingly plain meals ranged in
price from So to S. each. Even a bed |
without blankets in n tent cost S1.2o per
night, and with blankets $3.50. Beer sold
at 80 cents per glass, and other malt or
spirituous liquors in proportion. Nearly |
everyone however, appeared to have sli1l- |
cient gold dust to more than pay prices |
for all necessaries. Lots in Nome
City sold at rather astounding figures, |
as high as $500 some distance
from the beach. A lot 30 feet by 12O, with |
Il shanty thereon, IA by 16 feet, brought |
from 81 800 to $1,000, according TO loca-
ton. Rough board buildings situated on
Nome City's main street have sold as high |
as $1,000. There were plenty Of saloons |
and gambling dens to fleece the unwary |
Of their hard-earned gold dust. and there
were also many schemes TO 'bunco" the |
WY faring man. These matters are usual |
ly incident to q new mining district, but |
no more prevalent in Nome City than else
where in the world.
oath Annual Encampment, GAR, Chicago