The Nome nugget., 1959-03-11
Alaska's First Free Mail Delivery Service

were coning money for the owner by carrying trunks at $2 each, or hauling freight at S1O an hour. Added to the confusion the hoarse commands of the lighter bosses to their men, and the "GangWay there" or "Mush on" of the drivers of dog teams.
 Going from the turmoil of the beach up block to NomeS principal street you found you had gotten into confusion confounded-a narrow street, ten or twelve paces from store front to store front so crowded with humanity that could make his way along with considerable diff culty. It was worth a long journey to the eager thousands who feverishly hurrying by. Here French count, Count Jacques des Garrets, looking as though he had just stepped out of a fashion plate, is elbowng his way past a couple of Eskimos clad in reindeer parkees and sealskin muklukS; here old salt with his rolling gait, there a "Sourdough' just in from the hills Miners from all the world here. Two dark-eyed, swarthy visaged Greeks pass talking in their native tongue The delightful brogue of the "Em- erald Isle" mingles with the guttural German. Verify, it is a Tower of Babel. But Greek or Irish, "Cheechaker" or "Sourdough" breadcloth or buckskin, all croWding through the swing ing doors of the innumerable saloons. The quality of much of the Nome liquor was enough to make an ardent prohibitionist of confirmed drunkard.
 We crossed Snake River, spread our blankets on the sand in the lee of the wreck of the Joe Mathews, and got few hours sleep The next day went down the beach few miles. We met some feoW-toWnsrnen who told they were only making from two dollars to three and half to the a day. This dscouragng report was confirmed by dozens of others. 'This beach is -been," said one, undoubtedly it was rich at first but it has been worked and reWorked several times since then, and are only rocking the talings" Within three days discovered that would not be able to make wages the beach. A great many others had discovered the same fact, and applying for work unloading the lighters at dollar hour. Men being refused for longshore work by the hundred, so concluded our show there rather slim
 We went up to the postoffice to get our mail. We took place at the foot of double line more than block long, and during two hours stood in line, I learned that businessmen not being able to spare two hours to obtain their mail, would pay someone to stand in line for them, or do without until they could spare the time. A sudden inspiration came to me- How it would shorten that long line and how greatly it would lessen the congestion of the mail if business delivery of mail established I suggested 1t to my partner, but he told me it could not be done Nome only fourth class postoffice. However, thought it worth trying walked around to the back door of little shanty that doing duty a postoffice, and knocked. Our knock was answered by kindly-eyed gray haired gentleman, who, in response to my inquiry, told me the postmaster was in the States, but that he was in charge of the office To him I stated my suggestion, namely, the establishment of free delivery service He invited in, asked us few searching questions relative to postal work as certained we were letter carriers leave of ab- sence and told to report for duty as soon as had eaten dinner.
 On way to our camp had to pass eral alluring signs which dWelt the merits of the dinner served within at prices ranging from two dollars and half to five dollars. remember which quoted T-bone steak at three dollars and half another, spring chicken at five dollars. We resisted their blandishments, and ate pork, beans and coffee at our own camp. We had each brought old uniform, thinking it would do to mine in, so, putting on our old gray suits, we went back to the office.
 MT. Cum, during absence, had prepared for each of us typewriter letter as follows
 POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT
 Office of Postoffice Inspector,
 John P Cum, Inspector.
 A system of free delivery has been established in connection with the Nome postoffice, which will