The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-05-20
Description
Of Nome
Its Population Increases Ten Times
Its Normal Size in the
Summer Season.

Summer Season.
Paper Read Before the Chautauqata Circle.
The city is built upon the shores of
the Bering Sc. and was named after
the Eskimo word, nome which
means, 81 don't know" Ocean-going
vessels are able to reach Nome only
during six months of each year. And
for this reason there was great scar
city of fooG during the early days when
gold was first discovered. A large
warehouse was erected and stored with
provisions of all kinds but long before
winter ha passel food became very
scarce. And many who were not able
to pay the enormous prices which were
asked, and not being accustomed to the
severe cold, soon passed away. The
first winter was the hardest one aud
those who had given no thonght to the
future suffered the most. When the
ships reached Nome the following
spring there was great rejoicing. Larg-
er warehouses were built and many
other buildings began to make tEeir
appearance. And this has kept on un-
til today Nome ranks as one of the first
cities in Alaska. Today there are busi-
ness houses of every description, also
banks, a fine post Office, hotels, etc.
| All places of business are kept open
day and night and most of those who
run stores, saloons or any other sort OF
business will tell you that their doors
have no key. When saloon opens its
doors to the public the owner throws
the key into the ocean. Gambling goes
on day and night. No restricts, n is
placed upon most of the games.
Most of the gold mines are located
along Anvil Creek and some of these
are very rich. Water is one of the
greatest drawbacks, as in most places
it has to be pumped from creek OF
small stream some distance from where
the mine is located. When a mine is
worked during the winter the dirt is
put in one large pile. This is washed
in the spring. Some of these mines dc
not yield what is called paydirt until a
depth of 20 or so feet has been reached
At the bottom Of most Of these mines
is what is called bedrock. When this
is reached the miner works what il
called drift or lead. For instance
the miner starts tnnneling toward the
right. After ten or twelve feet Oi
earth has been removed it is ther
wasfei. If it proves to be rich tht
lead is followed until worked out. TheI
another drift is started and so OH unit
the mine is worked out completely
The dirt that was taken from one o.
these mines during the winter wa
washe in a sluice box in the spring
and the first days washing panned on
$276, 10000 in gold dust and fine mug
gets. These mines are all close t.
Nome and for this reason they hav'
been briefly deserted. AS it was OF
, their account that the city of Nom
was built.
: The railroads are pushing their line
, further inland each ) ear. This enable
} those who have mines some distanc
, from Nome to have their supplies ant
} provisions brought within easy reach
This railroad employs number of mel
, the entire year and the wages paid ar
| very high-$5.00 per day is the smalles
! wages paid in any branch of work, wit
) board provided. There is always
chance to work in Nome. It may b
' said that California, Oregon and Wash
/ ington have furnished all the lumbe
out of which the city of Nome has bee
\ built. Very few of the buildings ar
painted. Only that PET which face
] the street is painted. 4Iib other part
f remain the same as when first built.
0 The population of Nome is considere
: to be about $500, but during the sun
: mer months this is greatly increased
J, often reaching as higha as 10000. Thi
8 is accounted for by the many who hav
mines and those who help to work ther