Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-02-24
Cold Miner in the Ice.Bound
North Wants to Come to the
Sunshine Territory.
so DEGREES
BELOW ZERO
Information Furnished Him by Bureau
Of immigration. ..hearst's Tour
Directed His Attention
HitherWard.

Major R. ]. Palen, president of the
First National Bank of this city, has
received letter from a gold miner in
Alaska, who desires to settle in New
Mexico. The letter was turned over
by Major Palen to the Bureau of I'M
migration, which has fully answered
the writer's inquiries and has furnished
him with printed information concern
ing the resources, conditions, climate,
minerals and industries of the Terri
tory. According to the letter, all that
glitters is not gold in that far off de-
pendency of the United States. 1t is
quite interesting reading and rather
clearly shows the difference between
living in Alaska and in sunny New
Mexico The letter reads:
Napoleon Creek, Alaska. Jan. Is, 1904.
R. J. Palen, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
My Dear Sir-Will you kindly give
me any information you may have at
your command regarding the business
opportunities in Santa Fe and the sur
rounding country? l have been read.
ing in the San Francisco Examiner an
aCSOuuL vi IuS SOuSl CSSIOudI
Specials trip through your section,
and as you were mentioned as a men,
ber of the Board of Trade committee
that took part in the reception ten
dered the visitors, concluded you
could furnish me the information de-
sired. This will be my seventh winter
passed in the land of the midnight
sun" and I am thinking seriously of
taking trip through New Mexico
next summer with view of locating
there. I have been following the pa
pers closely and have become very
much interested in the statements
made as regards the resources of New
Mexico. My wife is spending the win
ter in California after living up here
for four years, and l have had about
enough of Alaska, so have about made
up my mind to pull up stakes next
summer even if have to sacrifice my
property in SO doing. We have
ranch of $50 acres in California within
about so miles of San Francisco which
we are now leasing and can sell to ad-
at any time, so everything be-
ing equal we may in the near future
become a citizen of the state of
New Mexico.
Kindly advise me regarding climate,
business opportunities in town and
country and any general information
you can give me in regard to your Sec
ton. What are the gold mining oppor-
tunities in your section?
We have quite a number of Ameri-
cans in Alaska, some have made mon-
ey and some have not, yet l am satis-
fed that if we would put forth the
same efforts in California or any 9TH
er section of the states where mining
Is carried on, we would accomplish
far better results. Our expenses are
fearfully heavy in this country there
tore our ground has to be very rich to
Yield us much in the way of profits.
But aside from this the climate is rath-
er trying one our winters being too
ong and at times rather severe. 1t is
low about 60 degrees below zero and
las been for the past week and is
liable to drop ten or twelve degrees
over before this spell is over. Anoth-
# and great objection to this country
$ that we are too much cut off from
he balance of the world. We receive
nail several times month which
clips us out somewhat but unless Un-
lie Sam encourages some of the pro-
osed railroads the number of people
l the country will diminish instead of
There are many here in
ur section who have become inter-
sted in your state from reading the
apers, and any information you can
i've me will cheerfully give others
le benefit Of What I would like to
now is what the chances are for men
ith money as well as men without
loney but fair supply of brains and
uscles.
Our state board of trade in Califor-
la will cheerfully furnish upon appli-
ltion, information for prospective
,ttlers. So as you are member of
le Santa Fe board of trade presume
lat you can advise me regarding your
.ction
will be greatly obliged to you for
~ information you may be able to
We me and will cheerfully remit for
/ expense you may be put to-
Will be pleased to hear from you at
'ur earliest convenience, as it will
Ike your letter about 30 days to reach
e. With best wishes for the success
the stathood bill, believe me,
Very truly yours.
JAMES s. FRENCH.