The Nome nugget., 1904-03-23

for the district, but McNulty seems to
be putting in most of his time eating
steamed oysters.
There seems to be a general DISPOSE
ton on the part of the members OF con-
gress, that | have conferred with, to do
anything possible for Alaska. We GER
tainly have no reason to complain so
far as their good intentions are con-
cerned.
Washington seems to have on hand,
together with its Christmas display, a
fine brand of coughs and colds, that it
delights in handing around to the
Alaskans. | think they must be kept
in cold storage and turned loose at
every corner when any of us approach.
We like it all right; we never kick
about little things like that, but take
all that comes along. 1t looks as if we
might take some back with US and see
what little Arctic air will do with
the measly things.
1t goes without saying that the sour
dough enjoys the novelty of change of
diet and lubricants and things, but l
don't know that | am particularly
stuck on this countryside many peO-
pie. Then there are carriages with
prancing horses, and many without
them, the latter butting along, endan-
gering the quietude of the coughs
meditations with blast out of a fog
horn that would jar the ice in Boring
sea worse than Hannum'S did in 1901.
One never ceases TO wonder at what a
high degree of heat these Salamanders
live in their igloos. They seem to turn
on their steam heat, nail down the
windows and then ask foolish questions
about the "klondike' from man from
Nome. One does not cease to wonder
at seeing so many attenuated figures
and bleached faces when he tries to
breathe the mephitic atmosphere of
the places he has to visit. | have felt
as if | would like to shock them with
about an hour of Arctic air, just to see
'em squirm. And to think of a man
having the nerve to wear fur coat in
this country.
OF course, it's awfully nice to walk
on tiled floors and stone pavements,
but when night comes and you battle
your aching feet in cold water to take
the soreness out you can't help wishing
you had pair of felt shoes or mukluks
to wear. Five-cent beers are inviting,
but you "kinder" wish you had Nome
free lunch to 60 with them. Car rides
are inviting, Dut not nail SO lnVlgOrat-
ing as ride on dog sled.
The ignorance of really intelligent
people about Alaska is something APP
palling-makes a man wish every hour
of the day that he had circular print
ed to hand them. The question that
most amuses me is about the darkness
of the nights in the winter season.
They seem to have an idea that it's
Cimmerean in it's density, and they
can't seem to comprehend that we
have the same moon and stars they do.
can't tell how long | will be here,
but some little time anyhow. | expect
to get off next week all the papers in
the townsite patent case, and shall
then go before the appropriate COM
mittees of congress where our interests
are at stake and contribute what | can
to their enlightenment as To our needs.
There are not enough here yet to have
any understanding as to any concert OF
action, but | apprehend, from all |
have learned. that the Alaskans will
come nearer getting together now than
ever before on the more vital needs OF
the district. The opinion seems TO gen
orally prevail that we will be awarded
a delegate in congress.
p. j. COSTON.