Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-02-01

and syndlcates and the chances for
the poor man to obtain good claims
in this district are practically gone,
unless there should be new discov-
cries made, which the lay ofthe coun-
try and other indications would seem
to point such to be a possibility; but it
requires much time, as we'll as cost to
explore and prospect in a climate
like this.
On account OF the exodus to Nome
claims can be bought some cheaper
than formerly. There are chances, in
different ways, for the person with
means to almost make fortune here
II one only understands the modus
operandI Some scurvy and typhoid
fever, but not epidemic, as was the
case last year, largely owing, no
doubt, to the great improvements in
sanitary conditions and the pure, good
water obtainable now for loo per gall
Ion.
A good span of horses brings $500
here; dog team, well broken, $3.50 to
$500. A few home grown vegetables
were peddled on the streets the past
season, but Of course at enormous
prices. None but those Of the quickest
and most rapid growth can be raised
here. Lettuce, onions, cabbage, tur-
nips, az well as barley and oats were
raised at Sixty Mile last summer.
There are three newspapers printed
in Dawson now-one weekly, one
semi weekly and one daily. All sell
for 25c apiece. Instead Of employing
boys for agents, as is usually done in
the States, an old man 10 selected
generally some rheumatic old miner
or sailor. The object is TO excite the
sympathy Of the people, the miners In
particular. who are ever ready to help
those in distress. They load him
down with papers and as he hobbies
down the street leaning on his cane he
SCENE 60 truly an object or pity that
but few can reiuse 70 patronize him
as he screams and yells somothiBg Ike
the following: "Dawson daily NetUsI"
GAN about the first marriage over the
wire from the outsidel" "McKinley
called for more volunteersln can
about the Dewey reception in New
York;" "Bryan makes another grand
speechl" --latest from the war in the
Transvaall" "The Queen OF England
slightly indisposedin "Daring hold
on Bonanzal" "Miner freed BY bear
near Gold Hill" ''New strike on
Mosquito creekl" "Boat load of fat
sheep swampsd at White Horse Rap
idsl" and so on, ad infinitum. Who
would not buy under such circum-
stances? In looking over the paper
one is lucky if they flnd one-half of
the news claimed, but the people here
are so eager for any outside news that
the paper goes. All three have
large circulation.
A vast amount Of mining machinery
was shipped in the past year-mostly
thawing machines. The mines are
holding out well and this country bids
fair to be a good mining camp for
years to come. The output was over
s20, ,000, 600 last year and 1t will be still
greater the coming year on account
of machinery and improved methods.
No use to say there is no gold in
Klondyke have several times seen
wagon loads OF the dust, all two horses
could draw, hauling from the COM
mercial houses to government steam
ers, bound for the outside; while 1t is
no unusual sight to see train of pack
mules of 20 or more In number, each
loaded with $50 pounds Of gold dust,
coming in town nNfrom the different
creeks. 1t is useless to say these
pack trains are closely guarded by
soldiers.
Cape Nome is reported by returning
parties TO be very rich, but for how
large an area is not yet known, the
district being exceedingly swampy
and malarious. This, added to the
fact of the great scarcity of fuel
there, viii be the cause of much suf-
fering among the thousands who went
In the fall.
A new trail has been made along
side the Yukon for hauling the mail,
which will be drawn on sleds with dog
teams. The mail lie to leave here every
two weeks, and as q responsible party
has the contract much better mail
service is expected this winter than
ever before.
Many families are coming In and q
good school is greatly needed. The
government has ordered books and
as soon as they arrive we are to have
a good nonsectarian school. We have
not 80 bad q climate as is imagined,
the weather turning cold gradually,
not one day hot and one day cold, as
In Missouri. Our days are very short
just now, Old Sol rising at 10:SO q. m.
and disappearing ct $3.50 p. m. At
night the heavens are beautifully lie
up by the Aurora Borealis, or north
ern lights, which shoot across the sky
in every direction, rising and falling
at short intervals, making II light as
day. Sometimes there seems to form
q half circle over ne which sends out
fiame-like flashes all around, produc-
ing light similar to the electric lamp,
but of far greater msgnitnde. We are
60 far north here the Polar star seems
almost directly over our heads.
VIII say to my friends that now Sc /
am here II my health permits expect
TO remain two or three years longer.
I am ct present In the employment OF
the American Mercantile %. at s. per
day. I know Of only four Of the Pur-
cell party who are here now, Bsckard
and Fioke, Of Montgomery, o. p.
Jones and myself, Farewell and good
wishes 10 all. @. W. wYLDE,