Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-09-06

went to Nome, Alaska, last spring to
find their fortune in the gold fields of
that region was w. H. Carter OF
Chicago, who left that city about
April 20. Mr.. Carter was with the
Chicago City Railway Company for
eight years while that corporation was
under the management of Nj. K.
Bowen, and last year was the manager
of Sans Souci park, corner of 61st
street and Cottage Grove avenue, one
of the most famous resorts OF its kind
in the west.
Mr.. Carter is an intimate friend Of
Joseph Clegg of the Groves-Barnes
Music company OF this city, and writes
him, under date of Aug. 8, very enter
taingly, his observations and con-
illusions about Nome. He says:
LAS | promised in one of my former
letters to give you, as near as possible
for me to do so, description OF Nome
and this portion of Alaska, l will now
attempt to do so. AS l have noticed in
some articles on this country, l would
first describe Nome, as CRATER )
paradise. ShaTpers, Shylocks and
tin-horn gamblers constitute the ma
jority of the legitimate population of
Nome today, and a more anxious lot or
people you never saw. The large conf
mercial companies that obtained a
footing here last year attempted, and
certainly very nearly succeeded, in
corralling everything in sight. Town
property, which could only be held by
squatter's right, was held for them by
menials in their employ. When the
last boats had come in last fall and no
possibility OF more supplies being re-
ceived, they Immediately raised the
price on all kinds of provisions, and
their excuse for so doing was that
there was a limited supply OF pro-
visions in the market and they merely
took a commercial privilege and adj
vanced prices accordingly; yet, this
spring, when other parties began to
arrive with stocks of merchandise,
their stocks were large and they at
once put prices down in an effort to
keep competition at a disadvantage.
This no doubt is legitimate in trade,
but their grasping greed did not end
here. Having control Of the greater
portion OF available real estate it was
impossible for a new conner to get
enough ground on which to establish
business, without paying ridiculous
prices for the privilege. Lots with 80
feet frontage sold in some instances
for from $4,000 TO $4,000.
The commercial companies were not
the only grafters, however, as the
sour doughs' who remained during
the winter had the same lofty am
bition. They were holding town lots
as a speculation, expecting to realize
enough off of the new corners to go out
and live in luxury the balance of their
natural existance. Those who sold
quick realized enough to amply justify
their sojourn here, but the more
greedy, who held for still higher prices.
were doomed to disappointment, as the
'chechaess, as the new conner is called,
soon tumbled to their little game, and
positively refused to be robbed, but
pitched mis- tent along the beach and
was soon doing a thriving business.
The CRATER soon realized his mistake,
but too late, as portion of the bust
ness had been diverted, and lots along
the beach were soon about as valuable
as those along the main streets of the
town. Real estate prices soon dropped,
and now lots can be bought for $3.50 10
5000 that thousands were asked for a
month to six weeks ago. So the graf
ter and real estate speculator is sad,
but consoles himself with the hope
that things will soon look up and
people will soon appreciate the per-
nancy and importance of Nome as a J
mining camp.
The miner, and those who came
expecting to make mining a business
soon found that they had run up
against as tough a proposition as had
the business man. The large COM
panies had had men employed during
he entire winter stalking claims by
proxy and powers-of-attorney until not
: portion of creek, guleh or tundra |
was left. have been informed that
some parties own as many as 400
claims, and that one military officer at
ST. Michael made use of 100 powers-of-
attorney. also using his Office as q
means of Kidding some of his claims of
Objectionable intruders. While this is
/ manifest perversion of the mining
avs in force, the present regime
merely smiles and winks the other eye.
There were. early in the season, and
low, lots of claims for sale at low fig
lres, but they were unprospected and
IN creeks without a reputation, eonse-
luently few of them changed hands.
People began to look on the claim
,wner as fake and CRATER. and no
natter how honest a man was or how
rood a claim he had for sale he was
ooked upon with suspicion. When the
arge holders were approached for
avs all they could offer was an I'M
claim and from so per cent.
o 70 per cent Of all that was taken
,ut This meant that their prospect
I'D -, al