The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-09

| 10 Qeptn OF more tnan forty 1eets VIII
labor costing 81 an hour 1t is impossible to
| thaw out this ground and work 1t at q
profit
| Within the last week grave diggers
have been preparing graves in the pub
| lie cemetery for three men who were muir
| dered. The cemetery is situated In the
| Tundra. Each blow Of the pick was as II
| 1t had been delivered against flint, ana yet
this Is the ground which Eastern and
Western mining men were assured could
easily be worked during the less than four
/ months time In which 1t is possible to
| work mines in this part of eiwor!d-
! Nome is practically shut Of from the rest
OF the world by ice between November and
| June. SO that outside purchasers OF proper
| ty here had no means OF verifying the
| statements made by the plausible persons
| who infested New York and other cities
| with Nome property to dispose Of by send
, ing experts here to make personal inves-
tigation. i5t9t
Much adverse comment is heard concern
ing the official report upon the Cape Nome
gold region by two offcials of the United
States Geological Survey and by the De-
partment of the Interior in April last. In
this report a glowing account is given of
the Nome region and the inference is
made that the Tundra is rich in gold, but
not the slightest reference is made to the
fact that tie Tundra Is frozen solid for
dozens Of feet
Many mining men from the East and
West, and who have brought in large out
fits with the intention Of working Tundra
claims. declare that they would never have
invested a dollar had they been placed on
their guard by statement in the Geologi-
cal Survey report that the Tundra was
frozen.
The publication of this report was await
ed most anxiously by companies which
were formed in the East for the purpose
of selling stock in beach and Tundra
claims here. One company in particular
organized in New York last spring. pur-
posely delayed issuing its stock until the
report Of the Geological Survey was pub
lisbed. so that suitable parts Of 1t might
be Incorporated in the company's prospec-
tus and the sale Of stock thus facilitated
The stock was soon afterward sold. Since
then Congress has decided that the beach
claims are open to everyone to work.
Crime on the Increase.
Murders are becom ng frequent. Early
in the week Hank Lucas, who Jump
ed lot near the Alaska Commercial
Company's lot. shot Charles T. Lyme, a
Waterman for the company, when warned
not to begin the erection of frame build
ing upon the ground. Lyme fell internal
ly wounded but shot Lucas through the
heart and fired five more shots into his
body.
Lyme died the following day. The shoot
ing took place in the main street. while
hundreds of persons were passing. On the
following evening man was shot and in
stantly killed in the Grotto saloon by
gambler, who fired at another man for re-
fusng to lend him money. He arrived
here by steamship on the day previous
and is in Jail.
Up to this time no serious Illness has
developed in the camp. The steamship
Ohio and the steamship Yananda, from
Seattle, which arrived here last week with
smallpox on board, are still in quarantine
at Egg Island, near st. MichaePs. Two
of the forty passengers, who succeeded in
escaping from the Ohio before she was
quarantIned here, have developed smallpox
and are isolated in tents two miles from
town. Every effort is being made to pre-
vent the disease spreading. Several deaths
have occurred from typhoid fever and
pneumonia. -t,-,~ /
The public should accept with much
reservation the glowing reports Of the
richness and prosperity of this camp that
will undoubtedly be disseminated through
out the States by those now here who have
selfish interests to serve.