AN ARCTIC MINING CAMP
The following contribution to the
Statesman (Salem, Oregon) from the
pen of the Rev. Dr. Bauer, late of our
city, will furnish interesting reading:
This is Nome, Alaska, June 11th,
1»15. According to the miniature
almanac published in this morning's
paper the sun rises 1:21 a. m. and sets
at 10:44 p. m. Most of our days now
have long golden hours of sunshine
and a short silvery twilight, but no
darkness. The tundra grass every
where Is showing a decided green and
the lettuce and radishes are peeping
through the upper coating or creek
sand on my little garden. Our long
winter has, like the Arab, folded its
tent and quietly stolen away.
And how glad we are! Down In the
northern states it is a season of re
joicing when the snow goes and the
radiant life of spring manifests itself;
how much greater the occasion for re
joicing up here!
Out in the lifting lie the steamships
Victoria and Senator. To and from
these boats tugs arc dodging in and
out among the ice floes, bringing to
shore well-loaded lighters of fresh
meat, eggs, vegetables and fruit. Boys
and girls, men and women, anil some
of the Eskimos are celebrating the oc
casion by eating oranges and bananas
unmannerly right out in the main
street of the town. That all these
fresh things are unusually delectable
can only be appreciated by those who
have for six or seven months been de
nied them. Our little gardens have
just started, but here by the aid of the
steamships we have entered into the
gardens and orchards of others. And
it affords us great pleasure that we can
now can the can, after so many months
of canned stuff.
Two weeks ago the revenue cutter
Hear, bucking through many miles of
ice in Bering Sea, brought us over 400
bags of mail, and most assuredly ibis
was an occasion of much rejoicing.
With the postoffice clerical force more
than doubled, it took more than four
days for the distribution of this mail.
First we received our letters, and had
a merry time renewing acquaintances
with our eorrespondents. After the
first-class which consisted of nineteen
bags of letters, came the great bulk of
the other classes, which had been ac
cumulating at Seattle during the win
ter: for only a small part of the hcavx
mail can be sent overland l.y the dog
teams, costing about two dollars pet
pound. What a mixture It was! There
were many Christmas presents, parcel
post hats which are noxv probably out
of date, tons of mail order house cata
logues, armloads of weekly and month
ly papers, and ex'en dailies, and circu
lars and advertisements galore. Each
man having a box was-urged to come
often and clear out bis box in order to
relieve the congestion of the office.
It is a delightful experience to get so
much mail at once, but we regret that
so much of this mall was ancient. We
think that Uncle Sam did well to bring
to us by dog team over 1200 miles of
Alaskan trails about 1000 pounds of
mall each week, beginning January 1st
and continuing till April 1st. We think
that good judgment was used in pro
viding us xvith a few magazines and
papers, and- we did all we could to pass
them around. But we wish that some
cheaper method of transportation
might be found so that we could enjoy
all that Is coming to us, even though
it is t\\fo months old when it arrives.
During the long trying winter we
have had two outstanding events of
noteworthy importance. Most every
day this Northland has its romance,
its unusual features, its worthiness of
being chronicled In our diaries, but
these two big events are mountain
peaks in the high range of the events
of this mining camp.
In Nome the dog is king. He singeth
all night long his song, which at first
seems doleful hut soon becomes a real
classic dog-pnean, and xve like it. He
lies In the middle of our streets and we
always respect his slumbers or rest
by going around him. In wild pucks
he has killed some of our children:
now we keep the children off the street.
But he has earned the prevalent re
spect paid to him. He is a faithful ser
vant more obedient than the horse and
faster over the long snowy trail. His
loyalty to his master is unequnled by
any dumb brute.
For a number of years owners here
have been breeding for speed and en
durance, so It follows ns the day and
night that they must try out these
qualities in the race. It is not strange
that one of the big events of the year
Is the big sweepstakes race which is
run when trails are best and days be
gin to lengthen sufficiently. The race
course Is from Nome to Candle and re
turn, 40R miles. Such a course offers a
test of both speed and endurance on
the part of the dog, and generalship on
the part of the driver. All Nome turns
out to see tho start and finish of this
race, and between the beginning and
the end of the race there arc many bul
letin boards where the progress of the
race can be observed.
This year the race was won by
I.eonard Seppala, a Belgian by birth
driving eighteen Siberian dogs. The
veteran Scotty Allan lost the race by a
small margin, which was due to poor
generalship, the very thing in which
he was supposed to excel.
The other event of the winter which
claimed even more attention than he
big dog race, was an election called by
Judge Tucker to ascertain whether the
people of Nome would grant their con
sent for licensing tlie saloon. Hithe. i
tills consent had been secured by peti
tion which was managed by the saloon
n en, and evidently by fraud and black
mail. This year such a petition was
prepared with 850 names. Some of us
got us a counter petition cnlling atten
tion to the faultiness of the other peti
tion and asking that the matter he
submitted to a vote of the people. The
election was granted and resulted in a
vote of 44(1 against tlie saloon and 515
for it.
While the, drys did not win, it is
generally felt that it was no less a vic
tory. It exposed the fraud of the sa
loon men's petition. It exposed the
saloon business—n drain of over $300,
000 tier year, it put many on the water
wagon, at least for a season. It ar
rayed tlie miners' union against the sa
loon, thus securing the valuable ser
vice of a daily paper. By three big
mass meetings we got the ears of the
public and planted seed that will ripen
some day. When it is understood that
in Nome there are fourteen booze
shops, one for eaeli 100 population, and
that under the present arrangements
the public school sterns to lie depen
dent upon the license tax of the saloon
then the close election shows the
strength of the drys. It was a great
fight, and we won, even if we did lose.
1 am just now completing my two
years’ ministry, which, according to
our federated plans of alternating with
tlie Methodists, is my limit. During
these two years I have been trying to
answer the great conundrum, why is a
mining camp? It is still unsolved. I
know more about mining camps than
1 did before, tint there are deep things
still unsolved. Here are some of tlie
tilings I found out: Nome lias a booze
Di 11 of over $1000 per day: the big days
are Just after tlie fall cleanups, (Jamb
ling, while opposed by city and federal
authorities, is prevalent and damning.
Forty-six painted creatures of tlie un
derworld came in on the boats now in
tlie harbor, overcrowding tlie “i ribs "
coming to prey cm the miner who
strikes it rich. Resides this open evil
we hnve an agnostic editor whose de
light is to hurl his shafts of scorn al
parsons and church pillars.
In opposition to these tilings we hnvu
one little Protestant church, tlie church
of Rome persistently refusing to take
any part in moral crusades, hut re
ceiving much of its support from sa
loonmen. There is a kind of lonesome
feeling for the pastor of the little
church as lie faces the A hazes and
Jesabels. and there are no Juniper trees
to resort to.
Large assortment of latest Victor
Records and Victrolas received on
steamer La Touche. Lomen Bros.
Cheat**** I* tha long run—Nome
Garjf*.
Classified Ads.
All Classified Ads Must be Paid for
in Advanca.
REAL ESTATE.
THE ART OK SELLING FOR CASH,
this little brochure explains fully
how we cun sell your real estate or
business for cuhIi, no mutter where lo
cated. We mean it. Write today de
scribing what you have to sell, buy
or exchange, and receive this booklet
free. B. F. LOOS CO., 403 W. Wal
nut St., Des Moines, Iowa.
NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL
ESTATE AT AUCTION.
IN THE UNITED STATES COMMIS
SIONER'S COURT, IN PROBATE,
CITY PRECINCT, DISTRICT < >F
ALASKA, SECOND DIVISION.
IN THE MATTER OF T11E ESTATE
OF E. R. PATTON, DECEASED.
Notice is hereby given, that, in pur
suance of Orders of the U. S. Commis
sioner and ex-officio Probate .lodge of
the above entitled Court, at Council,
Alaska, made October 14th, 1913, and
June 28th, 1915, In (be matter of the
Estate of E. R. Patton, deceased, the
undersigned, the administrator of said
estate, will sell at public auction to the
highest bidder, and subject to confir
mation by the Judge of said Court, on
Tuesday the 171li day of August, 1915,
at 11 o’clock a. m. in front of the Poft
• •nice in Council, Alaska, all the right
title and Interest of the Estate of E.
It. Patton in and to those certain min
ing claims, situate in the Council City
Recording Precinct, Alaska, and des
cribed us follows, to-wit: an undivided
one-quarter (*4> interest in and to the
Bryan, Fleetfoot, Waeenn. Liquid Air.
Alice and No. 1 Albion Creek. All of
said claims except No. 1 Albion being
and lying between Albion and Crooked
Creeks, together with camp buildings
and appurtenances thereunto belong
ing.
JOHN .1. STICH,
Administrator.
July 12, 19, 26 Aug 2.
GOOD-BY, DOLLAR
Every dollar you send out of town
flys away with a VALUE that right
fully helopg3 to YOUR community.
Spend it at homo, with your home
merchant, where Its value stays with
YOU and helps to build up YOUR in
terests. When you come to think of it
there are only two kinds of dollars -the
"Dollar with W'lngs" and the "Devel
opment Dollar.” The "Dollar with
Wings” goes to build up the Far Dis
tant City, the Rig Metropolis, with Its
vice and crime and low wages and
poverty. The “Deyelopment Dollar”
goes to build up the Homo Town. It
helps build up a nation of real men and
women. Then, let ns make the dollars
we spend "Development Dollars,” horn
town builders, building for us and our
neighbors and our children, making
OT R community more prosperous,
more happy, more eontenter by sub
scribing for the Nome Dally Nugget.
^*P*f!«nced mechanics for your
automobiles.—Nome Garage.
4' 4,4,4,4*4,4,4,4,+4,4
SEND US A PICTURE. *
Volume 6 of the Nugget Mining -X
and Dredging Kditlon will make -X
I its appearance about October 10, -•¥
■ 1915. Preparations are now un- ~X
way for the selection of material 4>
4' and pictures depicting the mining 4<
4* life of the camp and many other 4^
4* interesting stories of this part of 4^
4* Alaska. Any one having good pic- 4*
tures which will lielp to enlighten
•V- and interest outsiders about this ♦
4* wonderful country are asked to ♦
send them to the Nome Nugget #
I* as soon as possible. ♦
+ + 4-+ + + + + *4,+
Professional Cards
IRVING M. REED,
U. S. MINERAL SURVEYOR,
Residence Seiffert Flats.
S.S. VIC ORIA
SAILINGS FOR SEASON 1915.
LEAVES SEATTLE: LEAVES NOME:
JULY 24TH. AUGUST 5TH.
AUGUST 23RD. SEPTEMBER 4TH.
SEPTEMBER 20TH. OCTOBER 1ST.
OCTOBER 18TH. ' OCTOBER 28TH.
I-i-1
TOURIST STEAMER VICTORIA.
Victoria sailing from Nome July 8th, and August 5th, will call at
Unalaska, weather permitting such a call, thence along the southern
shores of the Alaska Peninsula to Seward, Valdez, stopping at the
Columbia Glacier, then to Cordova, remaining long enough for the
passengers to make the trip over the Copper River & Northwestern
Railroad to the Miles and Childs Glaciers leaving Cordova she will
cross the Gulf of Alaska, through the Icy Straits, and Lynn Canal
to Skagway, thence to Seattle through the world famous “Inside
passage” visiting en route Juneau, Treadwell, Taku Glacier and
Ketchikan.
Sailing dates of Freight Steamers from Seattle calling at Nome.
CORDOVA, AUGUST 15TH. LA TOUCHE. AUGUST 15TH
Alaska S. 5. Co.
R. A. CARROLL, Agent.
IBM IMI■III!. ———
S.S. Senator I
Sails Aug. 3
FROM NOME: FROM SEATTLE
AUGUST 3.
AUGUST 15.
AUGUST 30.
SEPT- 24‘ SEPT. 10.
OCTOBER 25.
OCTOBER 6.
THROUGH TICKETS SOLD TO ALL POINTS IN CALIFORNIA
AND EAST. i
THIS COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THIS
SCHEDULE.
9
F. J. O’CONNOR. ALASKA LIGHTERAGE AND COM
Com’l Agent, MERCIAL CO.,
Cor. Front st. Steadman ave. At Dock.
I j
l SEE J
! MAS. L. ROSS!
I i
? For all kinds of
LIMBER
*
r Carpenter, Builder, Contraotor
I B Street Phen# BJack 162
t
xxxxxxx iTininiiiiii TTm
K BOSTON i
s STEAM LAUNDRY 6
H Phone Main 5S. E
m Hava your laundry done up at £
H the up-to-date laundry. Rougn ►
H dry work our specialty*. Give ue H
H u
H a trial and be convincad. £
N 3
Prompt Delivery
j AUGUSTINE 8 KYER i
j ) VICTORIA CHOCOLATE8
BUTTER CRISP !
\ CHOCOLATE DELICIEUX \
ROSE 3
I Candy Store \
Ice Cream and Soda Water. i
t Horseshoe
L Ceo. Hall A Albert Hartman, (
i, Proprietor*. j
I PHONE MAIN 112 '
t LEWIS HUNTER RYE AND
f ATHERTON BOURBON |
Direct fiom Bonded Warehouse
r| RAINIER DRAUGHT BEER
W Finest Brands of Wines, Liquors
and Cigars. |
l. fee ar<^*r*!,^-*£*«*«:^r*t^
FURS FURS FURS il
i »
WE HAVE ON HAND A \\
FINE SELECTION OF PRIME <■
• »
FURS. YOU KNOW HOW !!
LOW PRICES ARE. GET
I THEM NOW AT THE ; |
BESSIE STORE I
¥
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦It I I'M I I ill l|.
I TROJAN POWDER!
Non Freezing No Thawing
Fumeloei No Haadachee
No Nitroglycerin Easily Stored 'I
ZENITH SHOVELS
DARLING & OEAN ij
G0MP1NY
AAAAAMAAAAAAAAAAA^WYWs
| ttbe |
ii Hevada jj
VAAnAAMAiVWAVW.WV'AW
«aigBBmngnsaa»
I THE NOME j
Garage
CARS CLEANED, OILED AND [
REPAIRED
General Bench Work Done
AUTO FOR HIRE.
R. R. MORRISON
|| Proprietor.
ELITE HOTEL AND BATHS
Steam Heated. Electric Lighted. The best service assured guests.
1 he best hotel to stop at while in town. j
\ STEAM AND SHOWER BATHS IN CONNECTION
Moonlight water used throughout. Open all night
COR. FRONT ANO B STREETS. J. M. MONAHAN, Prop.
BARBER SHOP with 2 uhairs and other fixtures for rent at the
| ELITE BATHS.
She lobby 1
THE LARGEST STOCK OF
IMPORTED WINES LIQUORS & CIGARS
Scotch Whiskey, a specially Ol Curio, 20 years old, Win. !V , Haig
Haig • » * * * perfection Johnn e Walker, Mortach, Black and White,
| Dewar's Spaoial, Seattle’s Beat Baer, White and Gold. Smoke M. and
W. Cigars. The beet in the market.
Phone Main 49 J. D. JOURDEN, Prop.
/r:r.T7i.i.vigMBBamiinl.^wli.TFAniPi11 ■> ■». s ■=-,—»r^
CHEAP JOHN STORE
Received on steamship Tampico a complete line of Tents, all sizes,
Mining Hoea, 10 inch, 12 inch, 16 inch, and all sizes of Tarpaulins.
—
Before buying |ie me first. Prices reasonable.
L. SEIDENVERG. Prop.
I tise is sour
BUY A FORD
AND SAVE BOTH
Order now and taka advantR'a ef the |5® dividend allowed mi each
car, etc. Full particular# an raqiest.
ALASKA LIGHTERAGE 8 COMMERCIAL CO.
Parmarly Jahn J. Batman Campany
Agents. Phan# Main 14._