The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-08-31
MAIL CLERK
IN ALASKA
Ben. Taylor Returns From
Nome City
Tells Of Postal Facilities In the Far North. Help
ed Establish First Free Delivery. News
From Salemltes.

letter carrier, who has been at Cape
Nome since last May and who returned
Thursday morning, was seen at his home
on Asylum Avenue, by a JOURNAL re-
porter and gave an account of his exper
fences substantially as follows:
lie left here May oath, in company
with his brother, Oscar Taylor, Fred
Lockley, Thomas Holman, the George
Brothers, Billy Wright, Gus, George and
Frank Kaiser, Mrs. Fiester and Mrs
Ingersoll. Had very pleasant voyage
going up and met the iirst ice in Behr.
ing's sea. 1t was the captains first trip
up but he took bis boat through all
all right. At Dutch Harbor the passen.
gers cosled the ship thereby saving the
company about $4,000 for labor. The
Accommodations were good except for
the crowding. They arrived at Nome
June 18th, landing two days later and
pitching their tent on the beach.
Taylor and Lockley went to work i'm.
mediately for Uncle Sam, and under the
supervision OF John Clum, established
the first free delivery system.
The postofIice was a little wooden
building % by 30 feet, one story and
employed 33 clerks. It was the largest
general delivery system in the United
States, and there we're 700 boxes, 20 Of
them for one single letter Of tine alpha.
bet The post office was open day and
night.
Ben had 1900 people to whom to deliver
mail and it took him 20 hours TO make
up his load and go his rounds. 1t was
difficult matter to establish the system,
owing to the fact that all were strangers !;
that there was constant shifting of
location; changes in the streets, tents
coming down and wooden buildings go
ing up as II by magic; and the population
constantly coming and going.
When the free delivery was first start
ed the people would not believe that IL
could or would be done, but when it was
in successful operation, they were inn
mensely pleased. When Ben would
start down street with his sack Of
mail, the whole population would crowd
around him as though he was Santa
Claus, all asking for mail.
The carriers were paid s. a day and
boarded themselves.
For several weeks after his arrival Ben
suffered considerably from the Alaska
grip, which was epedemic amongst the
natives. They were dying by hundreds
and in many cases did not bury their
dead.
Considering the number Of people,
the town was quiet and orderly. To.
ward the last there was some robbery
going on at night from the tents, but not
30 much rs has been represented.
There are good many saloons and
great deal Of drinking but not much
drunkenness. The military is doing good
work in keeping order.
Mr.. Taylor corroborates what has
been reported regarding the former rich.
ness of the beach and its present worked
out condition the fact that all claims are
over staked and in litigation; that too
many people rushed in; that there are
some rich mines being operated. lie
saw one cleanup Of 100000 from two
days run in an ordinary sluice box, the
expense being less than per cent.
There are plenty OF provisions and fuel
and a good many will winter there. The
first rains commenced two weeks ago,
providing water iov the creek claims.
Ben saw nearly all the Salem people
who were up there. Capt, Bert Hatch,
brother Of Geo. Hatch, is running con-
ieotionery and cigar store, Ben Kum-
Ter has built a cabin and will remain all
wiRter. Holt and Reeves left Nome in a
boat, well fixed with provisions and are
probably all right. Arthur, Fred and
Abe West and Jack Harding are retailing
beef at the Oregon Market" and will
come out all right. l.. A. Davidson, for
merly in the Court street fish market
was at Nome. Mrs. Fiester and Mrs.
lngersoll were still at Nome and we'll.
Mrs. Nichols is running her hospital
successfully, Tom Holman, the George
Brothers, b. G, Ward and J.. G. Martin
have a good mine on Hungry creek
Don Truett was met in Seattle on his
way home from Dawson and will be here
in few days.
Ben brought home few nuggets and
many interesting photos of Alaska seen.
cry. lie lost nothing financially on the
trip and is well satisfied with his expert.
enoe lie advises no one 10 20 TO Nome
unless he has a job ready for him there
or claim 10 20 to work on.