Douglas Island news., 1908-10-14

Cery stores are TOT Sdle' ANealAy S'oAS man you talk to, if he has anything, he wants to sell and go outside.
 The carpenters union does not hold meetings any more For the last six months the carpenter work that has been done would not require two men, and outside of navigation and drays there is no work to be had in town that is outside work. Even the lawyers complain. l met Mir. Day, who was John Heid's partner in Juneau, and he told me he was not making office eX- penses. You can see all kinds of trades men walking the streets. Last winter there were 1900 men who were fed here. The first part of the winter they had two meals day, but close to the last they had but one-on bread and beans. This spring about 1900 men came in on the Valdez trail and as many on the boats. There was no work this summer on the creeks owing to lack of water. Tie wages are S5 a day and board, and there are twenty men for every Job The diggings are deep and men are compelled to work on their hands and knees to wheel dirt to the shaft, for it is about three and half feet from the bottom of the drift to the roof A man can't stand drift work very long, and good many get killed by falling rocks and frozen dirt. There are about POO carpenters and 75 paper hangers and painters here and most of them are in debt for their grub, for there has been nothing for them to do since the the fire, and if there was job to be done they would all rush for 1t like mad dogs and do it for nothing. Car penters and painters wages are 75c and Sl per hour-that is, when he has any. thing to do-and he pays 75c for a meal and Sl for bed.
 On the creeks miners get S5 day and board aud the man who runs the hoist and steam points gets S6.5O and S7 and board. The roadhouses on the creeks charge soc for cup of coffee and piece of pie, g for meal and 8 for a bed.
 Now those who live in town have to go to real estate agent to rent cabin and pay from 3lO to 335 per month; SIS per cord for wood; 10 pails of water 1 for SI: 8 loaves of bread, 3l; 6 lbs. spudS or onions, Sl; : lbs. sugar, Sl; small sack of salt, 25c; box yeast cake 2oc; ham and bacon, N4Oc lb.; one quart ot vinegar. 75c; cabbage, l2Iac lb.; butter, S1 per roll; lard, 5,lb. pail, SL25; -four, s3.25 to $3.75 per sack; rolled oats, IO : lbs. Sl: canned meats, soc can; fresh meat, 90 to roc To-; salt pork, 45c I0.; eggs, soc and 75c doZ.; coal oil, S3.to a can; lamp chimney, 5Oc; canned fruit, soc; washing soap, , bars, soc; canned milk, 6 caus, S1; fresh milk, soc quart; apples, oranges, lemons, ? for 25c; small bottle mustard, soc; baking soda, 2o:; coffee, 2.lb. can, 3l and SL25; Blue hl0- bon tea, Sl.25 lb.; nails, l212c per lb.; brooms, Sl; lumber is 835, $50, S6O and slOO per NJ.
 ] This country is all right for man who has business here, or acclaim, though anyone who eau afford to go outside now goes, and many more would go if they could. When the steamboats leave here they get a crew of men who work their way out, and lots of people leave here on the Valdez trail. In two or three weeks it will freeze up here and a good many people are going to strike the trail as soon as the work stops. Last week it rained for two days, so the claim owners have chance to sluice and will employ a good many men from now until it freezes up, but then about 400 or 800 men will hit the trail So you see how it Is here.
 We'll, will have to close with best wishes from your friend,
 H. LOVELY. P. S.-Annie goes to school and she likes it here. There are l36 pupils, five teachers and graded high school.