The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-03

stories told OF the wealth obtained by
those who were first ON the ground
At Goldfeld, the principal camp, TO-
600 people are gathered. They live in
tents, dugouts, cabins and cottages.
There is one brick cottage erected by a
gambler at cost Of $4,000. It is the
finest residence in the city. There are
a few other residences which cost sew
eral thousands each but for the most
part people are content to live in tents
or rude cabins. They came from all
parts Of the world to seek wealth, not
a home.
Citizens Enforce Unwritten Laws.
This city knows no law except that
Of the early day mining camp. A com:
mittee Of five citizens enforces what
ever police regulations are necessary
under q semblance Of authority obtained
from the county commissioners Of Es-
meralda county, county as large as
many states. Is duty consists largely
in looking after sanitary conditions and
fire protection.
There are ffty-six saloons in Goldfeld
and gambling is done in every one Of
them, while new resorts Of the kind are
being added to the list as fast as build
ings can be erected. to accommodate
them. There is no law to restrain sa-
looms and the only license is the govern
ment tax. Yet with all these places
thronged night and day with an i'm
mense crowd of big, strong, rough men,
there is very little lawlessness as law.
1essness is known In the older cities Of
the world. There is more drunkenness,
but that is crime regarded lightly. in
a place like this. Fights are few and
firearms are seldom carried, but dis
turbance once started usually goes on
to q finish. A revolver once drawn must
be used with instant deadly effect or the
drawer bites the dust. Perhaps fights
are few because frontier custom has
established seven rules for the conduct
Of a respectable person attacked by a
rowdy. The first rule is to strike first
and with all your might. have for
gotten the remaining six rules. Drunks
are not arrested or restricted unless
they become violent or offensive. It is
a common sight to see dozen men
/ lying on the sidewalks or In the cutters
sleeping off the effects of their liba-
tions. No one disturbs them; no one
helps. them. The Salvation Army has
not penetrated to the wilds Of Nevada.
To modest woman Is apparently one
Of the greatest ofPenses against the
common law Of the camp, and woe be
to him that attempts it! The red light
district Of the city is largo and pros
porous. .s@
|. But the coarser element does not pre-
dominate everywhere In camp. It is
claimed that university club Of SOC
members could be organized in Gold
field, and have no doubt 1t is true
They have such club in Tonopah. And
there are ladies Of culture and refine
ment in camp in large numbers. They
are everywhere in evidence. Many OF
| the two-room cabins and even some OF
| the tents contain pianos from which
come tho sounds Of Beethoven Sonatas
and Chopin Nocturnes as often az 81
Wish Was in Dixie' or some popular
air taken there from some eastern home
Cost Of Living High.
The cost Of living seems outrageously
high. Decent board cannot be had al
Sny price. Half way decent board costs
about $50 per month. It costs about S.
a day to live at the SWEETEST desert
restaurants and $3.50 per night for q
small bedroom at lodging tent OF
more pretentious hotel. And canned
goodsl Well, that is what they live OF
in the desert and the prices are doubled
There are six cows condemned to serv
ice there. They are owned by million
aire. An hundred thousand cans of con
densed milk from California supply
Goldfeld g needs for few weeks. The
plains about the city are strewn with
millions Of empty cans. A dugout cost
ing 500 in labor rents for $25 month;
a house Of two rooms erected at cost
Of anywhere from 5000 to $4OO rents
for $45 month. At first hay cost $1OC
per ton but the price has gradually de-
creased to $50; and it costs nearly all
Of that amount to keep one horse one
month. Three buckets of water cost %
cents; three very small loaves Of brea6
cost the same amount; and granulated
sugar costs 10 cents pound straight.
But who cares what it costs7 No one
in Goldfeld. The people all seem t.
have money. They could not have gone
there without liberal supply Of it. II
costs $40 to make the trip from Cali
fornia, the nearest civilization. Those
who went and who are going from
Alaska, Canada, Maine, Florida ano
South Africa paid and will pay great
deal more. There is sort Of cam1
pride i'll high prices, and if you pay biz
for what you buy you charge big fol
what you sell.
undermining Town.
In less than two years modern three
story business blocks have been erected
streets graded, electric light system in
stalled, railroads built, power brough
by wire from Bishop, Cal, ninety miles
five ore mills built, brewery ant
slaughter house in operation and tele
phone and telegraph connection mad,
with the outside world. The postoffc,
starting in the lowest class, has jumped
to the presidential class in less than nj
time, and does more business than many
a large eastern city office. There is. /,
waterworks system but the supply, nov
taken from the spring mentioned at thu
opening Of this. article, Is inadequate
and plan is on foot for the piping O.
water from California. All this is in
desert 300 miles from the nearest veg
etation!
/ Nevada, the despised, has been borl
j AGAIN and commands attention