THE 
 
 Gold Fields 
 
 OF 
 
 Cape Nome, 
 
 *ae ALASKA.^ 
 
 By W. A. PRATT. 
 
 
 Entered according to the Act of Congress, February 
 33, 1900, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, Wash- 
 ington, D. C. 
 
F 91Z 
 
 N7 P9 jhE 
 
 Copy 1 
 
 Gold Fields 
 
 OF 
 
 Cape Nome, 
 
 ^ALASKA.*£ 
 
 By W. A. PBATT, ffdM ■personal 
 observation during his two years search 
 for "pay dirt" in the Nome country. 
 
 Card, The Printer, Providence, R. I. 
 
 \ . 
 
co nPLiEDBY YVm A Pratt N g^f Cit y' Alaska - 
 
TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 
 
 library of Ceufm* 
 Offlee of tfes 
 
 APR 1 6 1900 
 
 Kegltt«r of Cepyrlgfctfc 
 
 • -• ••• ... 
 
 
PREEACE. 
 
 This book is published as a means of infor- 
 mation for thoscwho are eager ,to obtain a truth- 
 ful description of the newAlaskan Gold Fields. 
 
 I have endeavored , to dV scribe things as they 
 really are, not as they might be represented by 
 those, whose business it is to boom up the coun- 
 try regardless of truth, and for their own and 
 other benefit. 
 
 If the information herein obtained will be of 
 same value to those who contemplate going to 
 the new fields, this publication will serve one of 
 its objects; another is to make the reader think 
 before he undertakes a trip of privation and hard- 
 ships of the severest kind, and if I can prevent to 
 some extent, a repetition of the Klondike excite- 
 ment, caused by exagerated newspaper accounts 
 and which proved so disasterous to thousands of 
 people, I will feel that this book has not been in 
 vain. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 Providence, R. I. 
 
The Nome Gold Fields 
 
 Gbe Cape 1Nome BtetriCt is situated across 
 Norton Sound in a north westerly direction, on 
 the coast of Alaska, on the Behring Sea, and is 
 about 125 miles from St. Michaels and across from 
 Nome, almost due West is the tail of Siberia. 
 Two years ago, the eminent scientist, Prof. 
 Davidson, made extensive geological researches 
 in Alaska, and in an article published in one of 
 the San Francisco papers, he said, among other 
 things, that the gold bearing belt of Alaska was 
 undoubtedly very extensive in area, that he be- 
 lieved the Auriferous strata would in the future 
 prove to run across that section of this continent 
 down to the coast, to disappear in Behring Sea, 
 emerging again to continue its course in Siberia. 
 
 The thousands of prospectors, whom the 
 Klondike excitement sent to Alaska two years 
 ago, have proved that Prof. Davidson's theory 
 was correct. This gold bearing belt seems to be 
 confined to the great stretch of territory compris- 
 ed within the 64, 65, 66 degrees North Latitude, 
 and as far as yet known, commences about the 
 128 degrees longitude, west of Greenwich, finding 
 its way across, into Siberia. 
 
 Gold in paying quantities has been found 
 right along in the territory above mentioned. 
 
6 6old fields of Cape Nome* 
 
 There is gold at Mackenzie River, Stewart, 
 Sixty mile, Klondike, Forty mile, Eagle City 
 District, Circle City District Kuvokuk, Minook, 
 the Norton Bay Rivers, Golofin Bay, Fish River, 
 and the Cape Nome district, and finally, all along 
 the coast as far north as Cape Prince of Wales. 
 
 All along the coast from the mouth of the 
 Yukon River the Country is barren and sterile 
 for a hundred miles inland, with the exception 
 of Norton and Golofin Bays. The- coast moun- 
 tains are low and somewhat rounded, gently 
 sloping towards the sea; there is not a tree to 
 beautify this desolate region, not a single bird to 
 cheer up the lonesome path of a broken down 
 prospector. Nothing but rocks, moss and small 
 willow brush whose branches are not substantial 
 enough to, serve him for the purpose of prepar- 
 ing a cup of coffee. A more desolate and inhos- 
 pitable country it would be difficult to find on 
 the Globe, but there is hidden the most "sought 
 treasure of Mother earth. 
 
 The water in the creeks and rivers is gener- 
 ally dangerous to the human system, consisting 
 for the most part of decomposed vegetable mat- 
 ter, carrying germs of disease. Along the coast 
 a good supply of water soaked drift wood is wash- 
 ed up by the ocean waves, this being the only 
 available fire wood. Up on the high mountains 
 there are IMiarnigans, a bird of the grouse family 
 
6old fields of Cape Nome. 7 
 
 in abundance, and among the willow brush plen- 
 ty of rabbits and some valuable foxes. There is 
 a rich growth of grass on the hill sides, which af- 
 fords good pasture for Cattle. In the creeks 
 some mountain trout are found, and some of the 
 rivers are literally swarming with salmon during 
 the summer months. Fish is therefore the only 
 source on which the prospector can really rely to 
 replenish his stock of provisions. The Summer 
 is short, cold and wet, the rainfall being similar 
 to that of western Oregon and Washington. 'I he 
 mosquito, that horrible plague of Alaska, is fully 
 as well represented here as in the interior. In 
 fact, the whole Country is a living torture for 
 man and beast, and it takes men with more than 
 ordinary energy and perseverence to spend a few 
 years among the barren and storm infested moun- 
 tains, looking for the precious metal. The Beh- 
 ring Sea and Norton Sound generally freeze up in 
 December, and navigation opens in the middle of 
 June. The Winter is very severe, with strong 
 winds, and at times 60 to 70 degrees below zero. 
 The lowest temperature on record last winter was 
 58 degrees below, and it is no fun to winter up 
 there with the thermometer registering 30 or 40 
 degrees below, and a raging gale blowing at the 
 rate of 60 miles an hour, with a scant supply of 
 water soaked drift wood and a poorly built cabin. 
 
 The discovery of gold in the Cape Nome min- 
 ing districts dates back several years, gold being 
 
8 6old fields of Cape Nome. 
 
 found by the natives many years ago, but they 
 were either in ignorance of its value, or kept the 
 secret to themselves. Some years after the Swe- 
 dish American Missionaries commenced work 
 among the Indians at Golofin Bay and Unalaklik 
 one of the natives told missionary Hulberg that 
 there was gold found in the rivers emptying into 
 the ocean at Cape Nome. 
 
 In January, 1898, Mr. Hulberg went on a 
 prospecting trip to Sinook and Penny Rivers but 
 on account of the cold weather was not able to do 
 much work, although good indications of gold 
 was found there, and this fact he told some of 
 his acquaintances at Golofin Bay. Some time in 
 August, 1898 as a consequence of this informa- 
 tion, a party of six men consisting of Messers 
 Hulberg, Bryntsen, Hegelin, Blake, Porter and 
 Kember, started on a prospecting trip to Sinook 
 river, some thirty miles northwest of Cape Nome. 
 A strong south wind compelled them to put to 
 shore in the neighborhood of Snake River, so 
 they decided to go up that river. But very little 
 work was done, more on account of the small 
 amount of provisions brought along, than lack of 
 encouragement. After two days stay on Snake 
 River, they returned to the boat and set sail for 
 Sinook River, where they prospected live days 
 with good results. Provisions were riming short 
 and the prospectors decided to return to Golofin 
 Bay. Mr. Hulberg then made arrangements 
 
6old fields of Cape Nome. o 
 
 with three Scandinavians, Messers Lindeberg, 
 Brynteson and Lindblom, to go over to Snake 
 River on a second trip, and this part}- arrived 
 there the 15th. of September, and a more system- 
 atic way of prospecting was commenced. The 
 following creeks were prospected with more or 
 less satisfactory results; Anvil, Mountain, Snow, 
 Rock, Lindblom, Boulder, Glacier, Dexter and 
 Dry Creeks. On Anvil, the best prospect was 
 found, consisting of an 80 ounce nugget and 
 some coarse gold, which went $25.00 to the first 
 pan. After two weeks prospecting, they return- 
 ed to Golofnin Bay, arriving there the first of Oc- 
 tober. As a result of the discovery of gold, a 
 party of six prospectors was made up, and an 
 $800.00 outfit secured. In the Mission schooner 
 they left Golofnin Bay on the 12th. of October, 
 and came over to Snake River for the third time, 
 arriving there about the 15th; before leaving Gol- 
 ofnin Bay they were joined by Dr. Kettleson and 
 Mr. Price. Having the requsite number, the 
 Pioneer Mining Co., of Nome, was organized and 
 Dr. Kettleson was elected recorder, for the new 
 district. 
 
 Leaving the schooner near the mouth of the 
 river and taking along two rockers and ample 
 provisions, they went up Anvil Creek where they 
 immediately commenced rocking. On number 8 
 above Discovery, three men rocked out $700.00 
 in four days, and on number 7 they took out 
 
i o 6old fields of Cape JVome* 
 
 $100.00 On number 1 Snow Gulch, three of the 
 party rocked out $900.00 in five days. Bed rock 
 was found at different depths, varying frcrn one 
 to four feet. Finally cold weather set in, pre- 
 venting them from further work and on the 3rd. 
 of November the prospectors broke camp and 
 went down to the mouth of the river, where the 
 schooner was frozen solid in two feet of ice. Af- 
 ter the boat had been securely made fast to the 
 shore, they made for an Indian village, situated 
 13 miles east of the river. From the natives of 
 that camp they secured a dog team, and started 
 for Golofnin Bay, but after having traveled a dis- 
 tance of some 25 miles, they met Missionary 
 Anderson, who, being provided with reindeer 
 teams, conducted them safely to the Mission Sta- 
 tion. On the 25th of November, Dr. Kettleson 
 and Mr. Lindberg went to St. Michaels and re- 
 ported the discovery of gold, while Mr. Bryntson 
 and party went to the Unalaklik mission station 
 where the}' wintered . Ever}' able bodied man 
 from both places went out stampeding, and the 
 news spread like wild fire all along the coast, and 
 people flocked over the ice to Cape Nome by the 
 hundreds. All along the Yukon, in a short time 
 the camps were all deserted, and, before the end 
 of the following summer the people of Dawson 
 City and vicinity, were at the new diggings. It 
 is estimated that there were over four thousand 
 people 011 this stampede. There was gold every- 
 where, of course, and the land must be secured 
 
6old fields of Cape Ncme, 1 1 
 
 at all hazards. Snake-River, a very appropriate 
 rrame for this golden stream is from 35 to 46 miles 
 long, and at the mouth is about 200 ft. wide, and 
 is navigable with a light draught boat for thirty 
 miles, and is not, what the prospectors term a 
 swift stream having but few rapids. Some ten 
 miles from the mouth it receives from its left 
 limit one of its largest tributaries, the celebrated 
 Anvil Creek. This Creek is the richest of them 
 all, and was where gold was first discovered, the 
 bed rock running from 1 to 15 ft. deep. A good 
 deal of work was done on Anvil Creek during 
 last Summer, considering the difficulties in 
 opening up the mines. Lumber for sluice boxes 
 had to be brought over from St. Michaels; freight 
 rates were very expensive, and naturally it was 
 a great draw back to the mine owners, in develo- 
 ping their claims. 
 
 It is very hard to estimate the gold output 
 for last season, bul I have gathered the follow- 
 ing information from several persons who work- 
 ed on the different creeks, thus being in a posi- 
 tion to know something about the clean up. An- 
 vil Creek takes the lead. From 1 below discov- 
 ery to 11 above, distance of only 3 miles $1,185 
 000 was taken out. The next largest output was 
 on Snow Gulch, the clean up being taken from 
 only three claims, which yielded $450,000 No. 4, 
 on the same gulch sold to Mr. Lane of San Fran- 
 cisco for the sum of $40,000 before a pick had 
 
1 2 Gold fields of Cape ]Vome. 
 
 been stuck into the ground, and is inore of a 
 bench, than a creek claim; I have heard that the 
 pay streak is nine feet thick on this claim. On 
 Glacier Creek, $i 25,000 was taken out, and the 
 benches on the left limit also show good pay. 
 Several other creeks have shown up well, princi- 
 pally Rock, Dry, Onega Russell, Buster and Jess 
 Creeks. 
 
 On Nome River, a stream of about the same 
 lenght as Snake River, and situated four miles 
 east of that river, with headwaters from the same 
 mountains, very little prospecting has been done. 
 The principal tributary as far as gold producer is 
 concerned, is Dexter Creek, which heads from 
 the east side of those mountains which constitu- 
 tes the headwaters of Anvil Creek. A good deal 
 of developement work has been done on three 
 claims, and some $150,000 taken out, but lack of 
 water prevented the miners from proceeding with 
 their work. As for the other creeks in the Nome 
 mining district, very little is known; in fact the 
 thousands of claims staked out, have never been 
 touched by pick or shovel. Prospects have been 
 found on several of the Creeks and next season 
 will bring to light their qualities as gold pro- 
 ducers. 
 
 When work was begun last spring, the miner's 
 wages were fixed at $5.00 a day and board, this 
 being the customary wages adopted by every 
 
Gold fields of Cape JVotne. 1 3 
 
 mine owner in the district. In July, gold was 
 found in paying quantities on the beach just be- 
 low Nome City. The men working on the Creeks 
 at $5.00 a day, refused longer to work, and as a 
 consequence the mine owners had to raise their 
 wages. But men at this advanced rate of $8.00 a 
 day and board, were difficult to secure to do the 
 work. What miners wages will be during the 
 next season, depends wholly on the beach dig- 
 gings, and the number of men available. It is 
 safe to predict, however that the wages will not 
 exceed $5.00 a day and board. 
 
 When I left there (the 22th. of October) 
 wages were $2.00 an hour for any kind of work, 
 and hard to find men even to work for this en- 
 ormous wage. 
 
 There have been several quartz ledges loca- 
 ted and recorded, among them the Anvil quartz 
 mine, at the head of Anvil Creek, and the Eldo- 
 rado quartz mine, in the same locality. Both of 
 these ledges contain a rich body of ore, and are 
 the property of their discoverers, Mr. S. Siljan, 
 Mr. J. L. Leedy, a well known mining man, who 
 has also located some quartz mines, at the head 
 of Snow Gulch and Mountain Creek. An excel- 
 lent prospect was taken from a six foot ledge. 
 H. M. Dalton, an old Klondike mining man has 
 also located quartz, up the coast which he be- 
 lieves when assayed, will show a fine prospect. 
 
14 6old fields of Cape JVome. 
 
 There will also be several other discoveries made 
 before the Winter is out. 
 
 The news of the discovery of gold on Snake 
 and Nome rivers, brought a large crowd of dis- 
 appointed Klondike prospectors to the new dig- 
 gings and naturally some of them cast their eves 
 towards the beach, in curiosity, more -than in 
 hopes of striking anything. It was during the 
 early part of July that the first good prospect 
 was made, just below the present site of Nome 
 City and it was'nt long before the beach was 
 alive with people digging, panning* and rocking 
 from morning until night. The beach diggings 
 embrace a space of land sixty feet wide and two 
 hundred miles in length, and run along from the 
 east side of Golofnin Bay, along the coast to 
 Cape Prince of Wales. Just in back of the beach 
 is the tundra, that continues from one hundred, 
 to three hundred feet towards the foot-hills and 
 which some had previously been staked in twenty 
 acre placer mines. t This ground is much higher 
 than the beach. Since gold was found in paying 
 quantities on the beach, several of the owners of 
 the adjoining tundra claims near Nome City tried 
 
 ♦PANNING. — This is by means of a broad 
 shallow iron or copper dish, into which is placed 
 the gravel and sand and which is filled with 
 water, then shaken, which settles the gold on the 
 bottom on account of its greater weight. 
 
(3ctd fields of Cape ]Vc me* 15 
 
 their best to prevent the beach diggers from fur- 
 ther working, by claiming that the beach belong- 
 ed to them, and also one of the company s laying 
 claim to the same ground, at the same time. 
 
 Finally the U. S. soldiers put in their ap- 
 pearance and arrested the miners. The supposi- 
 tion was, that they would be sent either to St. 
 Michaels or Sitka for trial, but when the restau- 
 rant keepers were asked how much they w T Ould 
 charge per man to feed the prisoners, the answer 
 was five dollars per day, and as the blankets for 
 bedding for so many men, might also have cost a 
 few dollars, and a ship to take them to St. Mi- 
 chaels or elsewhere for trial, would also cost 
 something, the company or Company 's( It is sup- 
 posed to be the Nome Mining & Trading Co. ) 
 seemed to realize that they had an elephant on 
 their hands, and quite a large one at that. They 
 found it to be to their advantage, to release all 
 of the men unconditionally and this ended the 
 matter for the time being. Whether there will 
 be a second act to this huge farce, remains to be 
 seen. 
 
 It is very hard to even approximately esti- 
 mate how much gold was taken out of the beach 
 
 tCreek and Bench claims as well as the tun- 
 dra claims in the Nome district are 1,320 feet by 
 660 feet and cover an area of the same space of 
 ground . 
 
1 6 Gold fields of Cape Nome. 
 
 last summer. Some claim it was $2,000,000,000 
 others to about #900,000. I have given this mat- 
 ter serious consideration, and have come to the 
 conclusion, that of the two thousand people, who 
 worked on the beach, the average for each man 
 will amount to #600 for six weeks work, making 
 a total of #1,200,000. I know of but one instance, 
 where two men cleaned up #11,000 for two 
 months work. I have heard of many instances, 
 where the miners have taken out from #100 to 
 #500 a day, also of many who made only from 
 $6. co to #1.50 a day. The fact remains however, 
 that hundreds of dollars worth of gold was taken 
 out of the beach last Summer, by men who were 
 disappointed elsewhere and dead broke and to 
 them the beach diggings have been a blessing, 
 and many a home has been made happy through 
 this God-send. 
 
 The Beach has literally been turned upside 
 down for a distance of thirteen miles north of 
 the Snake River, and several miles on the north 
 side of Penny River. Good beach diggings have 
 been found all along the coast. Next Summer 
 there will no doubt, be extensive prospecting 
 done on the beach, but if diggings like those 
 worked last summer will be found, remains to be 
 seen. The beach gold is very line and hard to 
 save, and is found in streaks of form one to six 
 inches in thickness, on top of a clayish bed rock 
 at various depths of from one to six feet. There 
 
Gold fields of Cape JVcme* 17 
 
 are several streaks of red ruby sand and a blueish 
 clay, running through the formation, which hold 
 some of the very finest kind of flour gold. By 
 the crude process employed by the use of rockers, 
 it is safe to say that a great amount of gold is 
 lost, although quick-silver is used in amalgamat- 
 ing the same. Instead of using woolen blankets 
 in the rockers, as most of the miners did last 
 summer, blaukets made of rough, cheap brussels 
 carpet material, would seem preferable as the 
 fine gold would have a chance to settle down 
 between the small crevices, and would be preven- 
 ted from being washed out. It is also a necessity 
 to have an amalgam silver plate, some two feet 
 long, placed at the outer, bottom end of the rock- 
 er, to catch that gold which will not lodge on the 
 blankets. t 
 
 For the information of those contemplating 
 a trip to the new gold fields, I will endeavor to 
 explain how to proceed in extracting the fine 
 gold from the beach sands. The rocker should 
 be live feet long by eighteen inches wide in the 
 bottom, with an amalgam plate some two ft. 
 long, covering the entire outer end. The re- 
 ceiving box or hopper should be two feet long, 
 and the rocker plate punctured with one quarter 
 inch holes, one inch apart. Two aprons placed 
 diagonally under each other, covering the size of 
 the hopper will suffice to catch the gold. At the 
 clean up take out the aprons and wash them well 
 
1 8 Gold fields of Cape jVctnc. 
 
 in a tub of water. Put the contents of the clean 
 up in a prospecting pan, and put the quick-silver 
 in; stir it well until all the gold in the sand is 
 amalgamated, then pan carefully till there is 
 nothing left in the pan but the amalgamated gold. 
 Put this amalgam in a piece of cloth or buck-skin, 
 and squeeze out all the quick-silver possible, 
 what is left in the cloth is gold; save from day to 
 day till 30U get enough to retort. A simple way 
 of retorting is to put enough gold, with the quick- 
 silver that still adheres to it, in a gold pan: hold 
 the pan over a good fire, stir it well, and the 
 quick-silver will soon evaporate, leaving the pure 
 gold in the pan. The use of a rocker in extract- 
 ing gold from the sand, is a comparatively slow 
 process, and it will not pay, unless the diggings 
 are rich. With an average of ten cents to the 
 pan, one can manage to rock out from #15.00 to 
 #20.00 a day, by steady work, but the stripping 
 of the ground takes considerable time especially 
 if the pay streak is found at a depth of six feet. 
 
 The only profitable and proper way of working 
 the beach diggings and placer mines in general, 
 is by the use of sluice boxes. Where a person 
 has no steam pump the method following would 
 be feasible. This method requires a good supply 
 of water, but is always employed when possible. 
 One to one and one-quarter inch lumber is placed 
 in the form of a box with slats or pole riffles on 
 the bottom, or shallow holes bored in the bottom 
 
Gold fields of Cape jNotne. 19 
 
 in such a way as to catch the gold. After turn- 
 ing on the water at the upper end of the sluice- 
 box the gravel and sand is now put in and wash- 
 ed down by the force of the water, the gold set- 
 ling atove the slats or in the shallow holes. On 
 the beach, where no running water is obtainable, 
 a steam pump is the only way of obtaining the 
 necessary water for the sluice boxes. 
 
 Last season four pumping plants were opera- 
 ting on the beach close to Nome City, and they 
 took out in a short space of time a considerable 
 amount of gold. One of them cleaned up at one 
 time l5,ooo in a twenty-four hours run. The 
 steam pumps used, however were not of the right 
 kind, and were not strong enough to furnish the 
 necessary amount of water. With a good strong 
 steam pump, the boxes furnished with alternate 
 sets of string riffles, and Hungarian riffles, to- 
 gether, with the Brussels carpet material at the 
 bottom and copper plates, or still . better, silver 
 plates previously prepared with quick-silver, in 
 step like succession at the end of the last box, re- 
 ducing the chance of losing the gold. By this 
 process dirt can be sluiced with profit that other- 
 wise would not yield a man with a rocker #2.00 a 
 day. Next season there will be many a steam- 
 pump in operation on this golden ruby sand. 
 
 During the first week of July last, a few hun- 
 dred prospectors had pitched their tents on the 
 present town-site of Nome City. Shortly after 
 
20 Gold fields of Cape Nome* 
 
 the news of the rich beach diggings were known 
 Over the country, people flocked in by thousands 
 town lots were laid out, taken posessiou of, and 
 jumped, over and over again. The big Trading 
 Companies secured suitable locations by the 
 block grasping process, and commenced erecting 
 store and warehouses. A ship load of timber ar- 
 rived in July and an activity in building began, 
 the like of which was never seen before in Al- 
 aska. The United States barracks and hospital 
 were finished in August; the City hall and hun- 
 dreds of private shacks sprang up as if by magic. 
 Lumber was at a premium, and at my departure 
 from Nome the 22nd. of October, it sold for $250 
 11 thousand. 
 
 At an election held in September, the muni- 
 cipality of Nome was created by a vote of the 
 people, and the following officers were elected; 
 F. D. Cashel, Mayor; J. F. Rudd, Treasurer; Al- 
 onzo Rawson, Munincipal Judge; D. P. Harrison 
 Munincipal Clerk; Dr. Gregg. Health Officer; 
 Key Pitman, Attorney; D. K. Glenn, Surveyor; 
 W. M. Eddy, Chief of Police; \Y. J. Allen, Chief 
 of Fire Department; Geo. X. Wright, Wm, Rob- 
 ertson, C. P. Dam. A. J. Lowe, Chas. Pennington 
 and J. \Y. Donovan, Councilmen. Active steps 
 have been taken by the Munincipal authorities 
 to establish and maintain law and order, to in- 
 sure protection from the ravages of lire, and for 
 
Gold fields of Cape Nome. 21 
 
 the preservation of public health and other mat- 
 ters. 
 
 At the regular meeting of the Nome council 
 on Tuesday, October 10, Mayor Cashel submitted 
 a memorial, prepared by Judge Clark, for pre- 
 sentation to President McKinley, setting forth 
 the extent and richness of the mineral deposits 
 of this section, and asking the President to re- 
 commend in his forth-coming message to Con- 
 gress, legislation adequate to the growing needs 
 and requirements of Alaska; the division of the 
 Territory into two Judicial Districts; the exten- 
 sion of the civil and criminal codes and that the 
 acts of the Municipality of Nome be ratified and 
 confirmed, when not in conflict with written law. 
 
 Wm. J. Allen, formerly of Dawson City, was 
 appointed Fire Marshall, by Mayor Cashell, and 
 he immediately, with commendable energy, star- 
 ted forthwith to institute such public safeguards 
 against fire, as were possible. He distributed at 
 prominent points about town, a doze'n hand fire 
 extinguishers, of three gallons each, two dozen 
 hand grenades and some fire axes; he also se- 
 cured two pull-down hooks and an alarm bell, 
 and made arrangements to use the Price & Lanes 
 well; and Claflin Bros.' two 150 gallon reservoirs, 
 both of which are connected with pumps, and 
 supplied with several hundred feet of hose. A 
 detachment of U. S. Soldiers, under th" com- 
 mand of Lieut. Crogie is stationed at Nome, and 
 
22 6old fields of Cape Nome. 
 
 also a U. S. Commissioner and Deputy U. S. 
 Marshall. The Masonic Fraternity in Nome is 
 represented by upwards of fifty members, we al- 
 so having three religious denominations, which 
 will look out for the spiritual needs of the Nom- 
 ites, one Presbyterian, one Roman Catholic and 
 one Congregational Church, serving that purpose. 
 
 The support of Congregational home mis- 
 sionary work in Alaska has so far come from the 
 contributions of Christian Endeavor societies. 
 We have all been thrilled with the published ac- 
 counts of the adventures of Rev. L. L. Wirt and 
 party in their recent journey to Nome. There 
 are two Endeavorers in this heroic company, 
 Miss Rosa Lamont of Bethany Congregational 
 church, San Francisco, and Miss Elizabeth Ben- 
 ton of Plymouth Avenue Congregational church, 
 Oakland. Rev. Wirt's work as the Congrega- 
 tional Home Mission superintendent for Alaska 
 is to superintend the establishment of a hospital 
 and reading-room, besides regular church ser- 
 vices. The expenses of this establishment will 
 amount to about £12,000 this winter. 1 his 
 amount has been raised by subscription among 
 the people of the town . 
 
 There is pressing need for this work. There 
 were nearly 200 cases of typhoid fever in Nome 
 when the party arrived, and a great clamor for 
 some place besides tents in which to put the sick. 
 The people of Oakland who responded to Mr. 
 
6old fields of Cape jNfcme* 23 
 
 Wirt's call for books can hardly realize how pre- 
 cious these will be during the long winter in that 
 city of gold. The need of religious work cannot 
 be overestimated. All the loose element of Daw- 
 son has moved to Nome, including many promis- 
 ing young men, who must be kept from sin and 
 ruin. 
 
 The far frozen north needs the prayers and 
 moral support of us all. Congregational Chris- 
 tian Endeavorers especially are asked to remem- 
 ber their missionaries in Alaska in their progress 
 and to help the Congregational Home Missionary 
 Society to keep up the support of a missionary 
 there. 
 
 The landing of goods from the Steamers is 
 conducted with great difficulty. There is abso- 
 lutely no harbor whatsoever, and the Steamers 
 are entirely at the mercy of the strong winds that 
 generally prevail during the time of navigation. 
 When the weather permits, the steamers anchor 
 some two miles off shore, and unload their car- 
 goes in lighters and small boats, which are at- 
 tached to a line running from the uuloading ves- 
 sel to the land. As soon as the heavy wind 
 comes up, the steamers have to run further out 
 from shore, to anchor. Sometimes they have to 
 wait from four days, to two weeks before unload- 
 ing. In similar cases, the sailing vessels make 
 for the open sea, and cruise about until the wind 
 settles down. There is always a rough surf, ow- 
 
24 Gold fields of Cape JVotrte. 
 
 ing to the fact that a sand bar runs all along the 
 shore for a distance of many miles, which makes 
 a heavy swell. 
 
 The health conditions of Nome City were 
 very bad last summer. The ground is swampy, 
 and the evaporating moisture is dangerous to the 
 human system. One of the practicing physi- 
 cians told me, that on the 15th, of October over 
 100 people were sick with typhoid fever, and a 
 good many others afflicted with various diseases, 
 principally of the stomach. I hadn't landed 
 there three days before it took a firm grip upon 
 me and it stayed with me until after I arrived at 
 San Francisco. The cause of so much t: ouble 
 was the bad water and the wet ground, on which 
 people, living mostly in tents, were sleeping. 
 Water for drinking purposes should always be 
 boiled before using. 
 
 The military hospital was occupied to its 
 fullest capacity, also the City hospital, which 
 was to be re-built and enlarged. The Rev. L. L. 
 Wirt arrived on the steamer Homer, the second 
 week of October, with lumber, materials and 
 necessary supplies, as also a full staff of nurses, 
 for the new hospital. In the meantime the pa- 
 tients are temporarily located in one of the Al- 
 aska Transportation Co's. warehouses, and those 
 in the City hospital were removed to these quar- 
 ters, until the completion of the new building. 
 Much sickness and suffering art- the lot of the 
 
6old fields of Cape Nome* 25 
 
 few who are spending the long winter months in 
 this severe and inhospitable country. 
 
 The supply of fresh water is mostly taken 
 from Dry Creek, but people living in town have 
 to carry their water from this Creek quite a dis- 
 tance across a swamp}-, soggy, marsh land. 
 Mess. Trice & Lane sunk their well in the heart 
 of the Town, the water being pumped by means 
 of a steam pump, and it is dished out to the 
 miners at the price of 25c. for two bucket fulls. 
 
 Fuel and provisions were the vital questions 
 at Nome. Coal was $151x00 per ton and was for 
 sale by the Alaska Commercial Co., only. Later 
 on the Steamer Portland brought up some 600 
 tons from Dutch Harbor, it being the only sup- 
 ply at Nome, the 18th. of October. This amount 
 \\ ill not be half enough to supply the demand for 
 so many people during the long winter. Just be- 
 fore I left there, coal took a jump to $250.00 a ton 
 and in a day or so, the restaurants had the re- 
 maining coal all bought up. Some drift-wood 
 will be used by the Town people, who will have 
 to pay a high price for that water-soaked dead- 
 wood, which burns well enough, if dried, but is 
 lacking in life and heat. All the drift-wood a- 
 lound Nome City, for a distance of 15 miles has 
 been piled up by the thousands of people who 
 spent the summer there. There are now a few 
 hundred people at Nome, mostly those early ar- 
 rivals who gathered up the wood supply. A 
 
26 6old fields of Cape JVcme. 
 
 large amount of this drift-wood has been utilized 
 for building purposes; hundreds of cabins have 
 been erected along the shore and far up Snake 
 River, and Dry Creek, besides, much of the wood 
 has been piled up by the Trading Go's., and a 
 few individuals for the purpose of speculation, 
 and has thus been monopolized. By next Sum- 
 mer, it is safe to say that not a stick of drift- 
 wood can be had within twenty five miles of 
 Nome City. 
 
 Provisions were quite expensive when I ar- 
 rived there; flour was quoted at $12.00 for 100 lbs., 
 sugar 50c. per lb., bacon 35 to 50c. per lb., beans 
 30 to 40c. per lb., butter $1.50 per lb., milk 75c. 
 to $1.00 a can, potatoes 50c. per lb., dried fruit 35 
 to 50c. per lb., and other eatables in proportion. 
 After two days stay in Nome, grub ran entirely 
 out, which compelled many of us, to eat in the 
 restaurants, although I had a years supply, but 
 was unable to cook the same, on account of t he- 
 scare ity of wood and coal. 
 
 The restaurants were doing a land office bus- 
 iness for awhile, or until they ran out of food. 
 The following was the bill of Fare up to the 22nd. 
 of October; corned beef hash $2.00, pickled pigs 
 feet $2.00, canned oyster stew $2.00, canned lob- 
 ster $2.( o, club sausage ^2.00, toasted cheese #1.00, 
 cold bain ;m><\ fried ham $ I. 50, canned salmon 
 $1.00, hamburg steak 52.50, clam chowder #1.00, 
 hot cakes, with maple syrup, 75c., sardines per 
 
Gold fields of Cape ]Nome* 27 
 
 box $1.00, chicken tamales $1.00, pork and beans 
 $2.00, cheese with any order 25c, sirloin or rein- 
 deer steak $2.50 to $3.00, ham and eggs $2.50 to 
 $3. go, 3'eggs any style $2.50, mush and milk 50c, 
 and fruits and jams 50c. per dish. 
 
 The business fraternity of Nome City is re- 
 presented as follows: Wholesale and Retail 
 Dealers in General Merchandise: — Alaska Com- 
 mercial Co. North American Transporatiou and 
 Trading Co., Alaska Exploration Co., Simpson 
 & Co., Kimball & Co., Claflin Bros. Besides 
 these wholesale and retail houses, there were 
 five grocery stores, four drug stores, eleven res- 
 taurants, two photographers, eight lodging-hou- 
 ses, six bakeries, one watchmaker and jeweler, 
 four second-hand stores, one shoe shop, one tin 
 shop, four barber shops and eighteen saloons, 
 which sell whiskey and beer at 50c. a glass. 
 There are seven lawyers, five physicians, two 
 dentists and three real estate and mining brok- 
 ers. 
 
 On the 9th. of October the first newspaper, 
 "The Nome News" was published by Major 
 Strong, a very able newspaper man, from Daw- 
 son City. 'Another plant was brought up by Mr. 
 Cole, of San Franciso, who, at my departure was 
 busily engaged in fixing up "The Gold Digger" 
 Still another newspaper plant was sent up by 
 Mr. Geo. Story, of Dawson City, but the entire 
 outfit went to the bottom of the sea, during: a 
 
28 6old fields of Cape Nome, 
 
 storm, while on board a scow in the harbor of 
 St. Michaels. The Nome post office is in charge 
 of Mr. J. H. Wright. Just before I left there 
 some arrangements were being made for a winter 
 mail route over the ice, by the way of Dawson 
 City to vSt. Michaels, thence to Nome City, and 
 which at the present time is in operation. 
 
 Prospecting in Alaska is connected with priv- 
 ations and hardships of every kind. This is true, 
 when the prospector, goes into a Country where 
 wood is plentiful and some game obtainable to 
 replenish his stock of provisions, and thus enable 
 him to have an occasional change of diet. But 
 how much more severe is prospecting in a Coun- 
 try like the Great Peninsula on which the Nome 
 Mining district is situated, one can hardly sur- 
 mise. There is no wood, nothing with which h; 
 can put up a cabin, or shack, to shelter him from 
 the severe cold and icy winds of nine long win- 
 ter months and the rainy, disagreeable climate 
 of the summer. Add to this the fact that his 
 provisions consist principally of canned goods, 
 such as corned beef, mutton, roast beef, evapora- 
 ted potatoes and all kinds of evaporated and 
 condensed stuff, put up perhaps in years gone 
 by, why, the Alaskan prospector needs a d'g.st- 
 t!ve apparatus made to order for the Alaska 
 trade, that is strong enough to digest even the 
 material in which all goods are packed. No 
 wonder people in Alaska are so frequently sub- 
 
Gold fields of Cape JVome. 29 
 
 ject to that dreadful disease, scurvy. Army beef 
 is'nt in it with long kept Alaskan beef. Another 
 difficulty encountering the average prospector, is 
 his inability, and in man)* cases, his carelessness 
 in preparing his food in a proper way. I have 
 seen men living like hogs, in dirt and mire, cook- 
 ing their food in such a careless manner that no- 
 body, but, well, themselves would attempt to eat 
 it. Such people, do not, as a rule stand life in 
 Alaska ver} T long. I have seen men eat out of 
 the same plate time and time again, without 
 cleaning the same. Absolute cleanliness with 
 dishes, in the cabin, or tent, together with strict 
 attention as to how the food is prepared, are es- 
 sential to the preservation of health, and that 
 luxury, which in civilized countries is termed, 
 comfort. 
 
 The question may be asked, is it advisable to 
 go to Cape Nome? I would answer in the nega- 
 tive, simply on the ground that every placer 
 claim in 1he Nome Mining district is taken, and 
 no chance left for the new comer. But the sur- 
 rounding country is large, and its resources as a 
 mineral producer seems to be favorable. 
 
 The Golofnin Bay or Fish River district is 
 situated about 75 miles north of St. Michaels 
 and is 60 miles in an easterly direction from 
 Nome City, and was prospected fo - he first time 
 during the fall of 1896. Prospects were very en- 
 couraging but the first discovery of gold in pay- 
 
30 6old fields of Cape JVotnc. 
 
 ing quantities was made on Ophir and Melsing 
 Creeks, tributaries of Neuckluck river, where 
 they struck from $1.85 to $22.00 to the pan. The 
 Neuckluck river is a tributary of Fish river. 
 
 Gold in paying quantities has also been found 
 on Sweetcake, Casa de Parga, Gold Bottom and 
 Warm Creeks. Placers in this district should be 
 easy to work, as bedrock is reached at a depth of 
 from 3 to 8 feet. Very little prospecting has 
 been done on these rivers as yet; the preference 
 in prospecting on the Norton Bay rivers consists 
 principally in the fact that good timber is found 
 all along the different creeks in that district, 
 which comprises hundreds of square miles of 
 territory. The largest timber (which is about 18 
 inches thick and from 40 to 60 feet long) can be 
 secured a short distance north of the Neuckluck 
 river. Claims in this district are 1,320 feet by 
 660 feet and Council City is the headquarters of 
 the recorder. Farther east from Golofnin Bay, 
 around Norton Bay, in the latter part of last sea- 
 son, a few prospectors proceeded to various 
 points, but up to the time I left, no authentic! 
 reports were received. Before my departure, 
 gold in paying quantities was reported found on 
 some of the tributaries oi Kuyok River. A party 
 of four from Nome City secured a boat and went 
 across the water to prospect 011 the above men- 
 tioned river during the winter. Again gold has 
 been found on the vSinook River, thirty miles 
 
Gold fields of Cape JVcme* 31 
 
 northwest of Nome, as also in the Ruby, Cape 
 York, and as far north as Cape Prince of Wales, 
 in all of which places gold was reported to have 
 been found. 
 
 Cape York is situated about 90 miles north- 
 west of Nome City and it is thought the Ouoha- 
 ouk district, of which York City is the recorder's 
 headquarters, will prove to be very rich. Little 
 as yet is known regarding the creek and tundra 
 claims in this district, although prospects show 
 indications that the ground is rich in gold. The 
 claims in this district are 500 feet up and down 
 creeks, by 660 feet wide. Tundra claims are 1, 
 320 feet by 660 feet. 
 
 Besides these districts, there are the Fair 
 View, Eldorado, Flambore and Bonanza, Dis- 
 covery and Blake districts and also Cripple, 
 Penny, and the Solomon river districts, of which 
 very little has been staked and recorded. 
 
 In Bonanza district a few locations were 
 made last season on Flambeau, Eldorado, Bon- 
 anza and Solomon rivers and their numerous 
 tributaries, where it is said they have found 
 from ioc. tp $5 to the pant Creek, bench and tun- 
 dra claims in this district are 1,320 by 660 ft; Port 
 Safety is the mining recorder's headquarters for 
 the district. The United States Coast and Ge- 
 odetic vSurvey, advise that there is a channel of 
 
 JThere are about five pans to a cubic foot. 
 
32 Gold fields of Cape JVome. 
 
 six feet of water at low tide, over the bar at Port 
 Safety, and that it is considerable deeper inside 
 the harbor. 
 
 I have gathered the following extracts from 
 the Nome papers which may interest some of yon 
 who are contemplating journeying to the new 
 diggings; 
 
 As high as $4.80 to the pan was found on In- 
 dependence creek and Fair View district. 
 
 Moose Creek forty miles from Nome and fif- 
 teen miles from the coast pans out from 5c. to 60c. 
 
 A fabulously rich strike is said to have been 
 made on the Siberian coast, and a number of 
 people are preparing to go over there and inves- 
 tigate. (I believe the Russian Government is 
 considering the advisability of opening up that 
 section of the country to the American miners, 
 and with liberal mining laws as on the Ameri- 
 can side. There will no doubt be some rich 
 strikes made there the following summer. 
 
 W. I. King, Hill Newman and Ceo. Dody, 
 who have been in this section for the past year, 
 say that Camp Creek, in the Sinook district, 
 prospects better than any part of Anvil Creek, 
 and the latter creek is known to be all light. 
 
 W. Thompson, Mining Recorder for the Sin- 
 ook district, and Deputy Recorder for the Fair- 
 view district, who is in the citv, savs that both 
 
Gold fields of Cape jVome. 33 
 
 these districts promises well and that extensive 
 development work will be done next season. 
 Considerable prospecting will also be done on 
 tht tundra ground, back from the coast, where, 
 it is believed, exists rich deposits of gold. 
 
 On Moss Creek, a tributary of Nome River, a 
 Buffalo Co., has opened up discovery claims with 
 flattering results, and work will be vigorously 
 prosecuted next season. Bed rock has been 
 reached at a depth of three ft. and as high as $2. 
 to the pan has been found. There are only eight 
 claims on this Creek. 
 
 On a claim on Extra Dry Gulch owned by 
 Hoxie <S: Co., $90.00 in nuggets and coarse gold 
 was picked up in the frozen ground a few days 
 ago. 
 
 Frank Harkin has a nugget impregnated 
 with quartz, which he found near the head of 
 Snake River last July, worth $103.00. It is a be- 
 autiful specimen. 
 
 P. J. Lauritzen has secured a three years 
 lease of No. 3 Below r , Anvil Creek, and his son 
 Lauritz has gone to the States, where he will pur- 
 chase a pimping plant, sluicing machinery, as 
 well as horses, ploughs and scrapers, to work 
 the claim on a large scale next season. 
 
 F. McQuillan and B. B. Earle, owners of No. 
 1 1 on Dexter, have gone outside to winter. No. 
 11 is a promising claim and it is said $10,000.00 
 
34 Gold fields of Cape JVome. 
 
 was refused for it, just previous to the departure 
 of Messers McQuillan and Earle. They will re- 
 turn early iu the spring, bringing with them a 
 number of burros and pack horses. The result 
 of recent prospecting gives assurance of the rich- 
 ness of Minnesota and Shovel creeks, of this dis- 
 trict, and the output next summer is expected to 
 be large. Fifty cents to the pan can be had any- 
 where on discovery, on Minnesota. This is 
 owned by A. F. Ray nor, who also owns some of 
 the richest ground on Shovel Creek. 
 
 S. E. King, of Council City, is in town from 
 the Golofnin Bay country; having spent last win- 
 ter in that section. He says that some of the 
 creeks are promising. Mr. King local ed on 
 Ophir Creek last March. The creeks on which 
 prospecting has been done, besides Ophir, are 
 Sweetcake, Crooked, Dutch, Balm' of Gilead, 
 Skukum, and several others. The best prospect 
 has been found on Crooked Creek, where 54.50 
 to the pan has been found, with a fifty-two foot 
 pay streak. Balm of Gilead has yielded from 2 
 rents to 60 cents to the pan. 
 
 I). W. Walker of San Franciso, who recently 
 returned from a trip to Cape York, is well ple- 
 ased with the prospects of that place. Mr. Wal- 
 ker is located on Bituck and Kaizerook creeks. 
 A good strike has been reported across the divide 
 from the Anacovik river, where the prospects 
 are said to be even better than on this side. Mr. 
 
Gold fields of Cape f^ome* 35 
 
 Walker thinks that three men lost their lives in 
 a small boat last week at Cape York; they were 
 blown out to sea and he is of the opinion that 
 they perished. He emphasizes the need of life 
 saving stations between here and Cape York; one 
 at Port Clarence and another at the sand-pit. 
 
 Rich discoveries are reported at Nagowyok, 
 in the Cape Prince of Wales district near Cape 
 York, about ioo miles north of Nome. A stam- 
 pede has been in that direction for the week 
 past, but owing to the lack of fuel, most of the 
 stampeders returned. In the past ten days some 
 Powers of Attorney have been made out, to be 
 used in the new districts. 
 
 While gold has been found on the beach in 
 that vicinity, most of the prospecting has been 
 confined to the creeks, in some of which coarse 
 gold is alleged to have been found in good quan- 
 tities. It is estimated that fifty people will win- 
 ter at Cape York and in that neighborhood. 
 
 Extracts also from the Nome papers: 
 
 The outlook for Nome during the coming 
 winter months is not roseate; indeed, it is the re- 
 verse. Much sickness and death prevail at the 
 present time, and it is to be feared that a serious 
 condition of affairs will maintain the entire win- 
 ter. The prevalence of disease and death is a 
 concomitant of all new towns where the condi- 
 tions are such as exist here. In a rush such as 
 
36 Gold fields of Cape jVome. 
 
 lias characterized the discovery of rich gold fields 
 in this district, and especially at this late season 
 of the year, privation, want and suffering are al- 
 most certain. It is to be greatly regretted that 
 so many people have flocked into the camp with- 
 out due forethought or preparation for what is 
 before them, but such being the case the situa- 
 tion must be met and faced unflinchingly. While 
 there may be no danger of actual starvation the 
 fact remains that the food supply is limited, and 
 the scarcity of lumber and timber prevents peo- 
 ple from houseing themselves as they should in 
 order to withstand the cold of a sub- Arctic win- 
 ter. The sick will have to be cared for and the 
 dead buried. The burden, which promises to be 
 heavy, cannot be borne by a few self sacrificing 
 men and women. It is- the common duty of all. 
 
 It is no use to temporize or inveigh against the 
 folly of coming here at the most inclement sea- 
 son of the \ear, or the recklessness or improvi- 
 dence, or what not, that has left them without 
 friends or sick and friendless. As many of the 
 ute as possible should be sent out of the 
 i ountry, and organized effort is necessary to take 
 care of the sick. Desultory or individual action 
 will accomplish but little. There should be a 
 through organization, and relief measures should 
 be conducted as efficiently and economically as 
 possible. The tax will be a heavy one, but it is a 
 condition and not a theory that confronts ns. 
 
Gold fields of Cape Nome* 37 
 
 \\Y are face to face with a serious problem and it 
 must be met manfully and courageously. 
 
 Let the people of Nome keep a stiff upper lip. 
 After clouds comes sunshine. It is always well 
 to take a cheerfull view of things. Nothing is 
 quite so bad but that it might easily be worse. 
 
 The recent spell of soft weather has had the 
 effect of again starting up work on the beach dig- 
 gings, and the creak of the rocker has been 
 heard on all sides once more. 
 
 We will probably after all, have mail com- 
 munication with the outside world, the indiffer- 
 ence of our Uncle Sam to the country, notwith- 
 standing. 
 
 Sorrow may endureth for a night, but joy 
 cometh with the morning. So with Nome; the 
 coming winter may be hard and severe, but with 
 the advent of Spring will come plenty and pros- 
 perity. 
 
 Specimens of gold quartz which have been 
 exhibited in Nome recently, indicate that fab- 
 ulously rich ledges exist in this vicinity. 
 There is lijttle doubt that rich quartz mines will 
 be developed in this district in the near future. 
 
 Now that the period of winter isolation is 
 fairly upon us, we will have ample opportunity 
 of helping one another and improving ourselves. 
 In a community such as this, the utmost good- 
 
38 Gold fields of Cape Nome. 
 
 fellowship is eminently desireable. Let us be 
 neighborly. 
 
 Since Uncle Sam has "gone roving in his 
 proud old ship of state" to quote from Mr. Sam 
 Dunham's excellent poem, and is bent on colo- 
 nial extension, we respectfully suggest, that the 
 "colony" of Alaska is fairly entitled, by virtue 
 of patience, long siiffering and its great natural 
 wealth, to receive a large degree of consideration 
 at our Uncle Samuel's hands. 
 
 We want a laud office here in Nome. Let 
 the people work for its establishment and we 
 will get it. The great gold discoveries in this 
 section, will cause Alaska to receive more atten- 
 tion at the hands of Congress, than ever before. 
 And we may reasonably expect some legislation 
 adequate to our needs. 
 
 A good solidly built, flat bottomed, and deck- 
 ed sail boat, with centre board, is a necessity for 
 prospecting along the different rivers emptying 
 into Norton Sound and the Bering Sea. The sea- 
 son is short and it is necessary to use every means 
 for making quick trips, as the distance between 
 each river system is rather great. The United 
 vStates mining laws permit the staking and re- 
 cording of a placer claim, or a mineral bearing 
 lode, for non-residents, through what is called a 
 Power of Attorney, which has been used to a 
 great extent on the Nome country. It is a good 
 
Gold fields of Cape JNfcme. 39 
 
 law in one way, giving the people in the States a 
 chance to acquire property without any hardships 
 etc. On the other hand, it does not seem fair, as 
 it prevents people up there from acquiring this 
 same property, which by rights ought to be theirs. 
 They endure the hardships and labor, and spend 
 their hard earned money, all the time hoping 
 they will make a rich strike somewhere. It is 
 a law which should be altered somewhat, but un- 
 til then, it will be taken advantage of by, pros- 
 pectors. 
 
 The following is the form: 
 
 Power of Attorney. 
 
 Know Ale Men By These Presents: — 
 
 That I of the Town of 
 
 County of 
 
 State of , have constituted, ordained, 
 
 and made and in my stead and place, put and by 
 these presents, do constitute, ordain appoint, 
 
 in the Territory 
 
 , to be my true, sufficient and 
 
 lawful attorney for me and in my name and stead 
 and for my use and beneiit to locate and patent 
 mining claims, mill sights and w T ater rights, 
 in any mining district in the territory of Alaska, 
 U. S. A. Giving and Granting unto my said at- 
 torney full power and authority about the prem- 
 ises; and to use all due means, course and process 
 in accordance with the laws of United States and 
 
40 6old fields of Cape JVcme. 
 
 the mining district or districts in which my said 
 attorney ma}- locate mining claims, mill sites 
 and water rights, hereby giving to my said at- 
 tornev full power and authority to do any and all 
 things in the premises that ma}' be necessary to 
 carry out the power herein conferred, to wit: 
 
 The locating and patent thereof said claims, 
 I, said ratifying, allowing and hold- 
 ing firm and valid, all and whatsoever my said 
 attorney- shall lawfully do, in strict accordance 
 with these presents. 
 
 In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my 
 
 hand and seal, at said on this 
 
 day of 190- ... in presence of 
 
 State of 
 
 Countv of 
 
 Be it known, that on the day of 
 
 before me Notary Public and for the 
 
 County of duly commissioned and 
 
 sworn, dwelling in the City of personally 
 
 came and and appeared to me per- 
 sonally known and known to be the same person 
 described in, and who executed the above Power 
 of Attorney, and he acknowleged the above I'>\\ 
 er of Attorney to be his free act and deed. 
 
 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub- 
 scribed my name and affixed my seal of office, 
 the day and year last above written. 
 
 Xotarv Public. 
 
Gold fields of Cape Nome* 41 
 
 The Nome gold fields, are easily reached from 
 the outside and the transportation facilities I be- 
 lieve, by next Spring, will be on an up-to-date 
 basis. It is a different trip to make from going 
 into the Klondike, \ia Skaguay. You go on 
 board a steamer in San Francisco or Seattle, and 
 can sleep until you get there. A person needs a 
 good outfit of grub, cooking utensils, clothing 
 ect., and a good pair of lungs, to stand the heavy 
 atmosphere in the winter time. 
 
 'J he selection of an outfit is of great impor- 
 tance; nothing but the best quality of provisions 
 should be procured, and the goods packed in 50 
 pound waterproof sacks, with name and contents 
 marked on the outside of each sack. 
 
 The following is a list of provisions for one- 
 man, intending to stay one year. 
 Flour, 400 lbs. 
 
 Beans, (Lima and Bayo) 100 lbs. 
 Bacon, 150 lbs. 
 Dried Beef, 25 lbs. 
 Canned Meats, 50 lbs. 
 vSalt Pork, 75 lbs. 
 Soap, 25 lbs. 
 Rolled Oats, 50 lbs. 
 Apples, evaporated, 50 lbs 
 Prunes, 25 lbs. 
 Peaches, 25 lbs. 
 Apricots, 25 lbs. 
 Potatoes, sliced, 60 lbs. 
 
42 6old fields of Cape Nome. 
 
 Peas, split, 25 lbs. 
 Sugar, 150 lbs. 
 Coffee, 25 lbs. 
 Tea, 5 lbs. 
 
 Condensed Milk, (Eagle Brand) 50 cans. 
 Rice, 25 lbs. 
 Salt, 15 lbs. 
 
 Vegetables, compressed, 25 lbs. 
 Hard Tack crackers, 25 lbs. 
 Baking Powder, (Royal) 10 lbs. 
 Butter, 75 lbs. 
 Yeast Cakes, 4 dozen. 
 Lard, 25 lbs. 
 Spices, assorted, 4 lbs. 
 Vinegar, condensed, 2 bottles. 
 Matches, 2 cans. 
 
 Delacasies, canned goods, etc., to suit the 
 taste and idea of the individual. 
 
 For clothing, a person needs: — 
 
 2 Light Flannel Shirts. 
 
 2 Heavy Woolen Shirts. 
 
 1 Arctic Fur Cap. 
 
 1 dozen Pairs Heavy Woolen Socks. 
 
 1 Heavy Sweater. 
 
 2 Pairs Mocassins. 
 
 2 Pairs German Socks. 
 2 Suits Heavy Woolen Under Wear. 
 2 Suits Heavy Balbrigan Under Wear for 
 Summer use. 
 
 4 Suits Heaw Closely Woven Silk Under 
 
6old fields of Cape j^cme, 4* 
 
 Wear with elastic neck piece and elastic ristlets. 
 ( Quite necessary owing to various pests of Alas- 
 ka. ) 
 
 i Heavy Canvas Suit, lined on the inside 
 with Gutta Percha and Heavy Flannel. 
 
 r Working Suit for Summer use. 
 
 2 Pairs Overalls, brown. 
 
 i Prair Oil Skins. 
 
 i Pair Hip Rubber Boots, (Gold Seal. 
 
 i Fur Robe. 
 
 2 Pairs Heavy Woolen Blankets. 
 
 2 Pairs Rubber Blankets. 
 
 i Pair Buckskin Mitts. 
 
 i Pair Double Woolen Mitts. 
 
 i Pair Artie Rubbers. 
 
 i Pair Alaskan Mucklets, (for sale at St. 
 Michaels or Cape Nome.) 
 
 i Pair High Top Boots. 
 
 i Pair Shoes. 
 
 i Pair Arctic Rubbers. 
 
 r Tent. 
 
 r Stove. 
 
 i Coal Oil Stove and some 15 gallons of coal 
 
 oil 
 
 1 Sled. 
 
 1 Galvanized Bath Tub. 
 
 1 Gold Pan. 
 
 2 Picks. 
 
 2 Shovels. 
 
 1 Cross-cut Saw. 
 
 1 Long Saw. 
 
44 Gold fields of Cape Nome, 
 
 i Axe. 
 
 i Hatchet. 
 
 i Double-barrel Shotgun. 
 
 Fishing Tackle. 
 
 Cooking utensils, etc. 
 
 In conclusion I wish to impress upon the 
 public the fact that prospecting in Alaska is one 
 of the hardest occupations in life, one where even 
 the strongest of men have met with premature 
 death, since the discovery o r gold in the Klon- 
 dike. All that glitters is not gold, and ^he in- 
 tending Alaska prospector should always bear in 
 mind that, his life and experiences in Alaska will 
 not be a bed of roses, but should always expect 
 the worst kind of hardships and disappointments. 
 
 Numerous Transportation companies will ad- 
 vertise sailing dates in April and early May, 
 but I would advise no one to leave 'Frisco or 
 vSeattle for the gold fields, before the last of May 
 or the first of June, as a persons life would be 
 endangered on account of the dangerous ice that 
 will be encountered in Behring Sea by leaving 
 earlier. Government officials who have naviga- 
 ted boats in the Behring Sea, have advised the 
 miners, that under ordinary conditions the above 
 date would be about the safest to start, but there 
 is a possibility of the ice breaking up and mov- 
 ing out of Behring Sea a few days previous. 
 
 I would advise no one to leave a comfortable 
 home and a good situation, for a speculative trip 
 
Gold fields of Cape Nome. 45 
 
 to the Alaskan rivers and mountains; but to 
 those who "care not," to those who have no one 
 to depend upon them for support, and to those 
 who cannot improve a miserable existance in a 
 civilized community, I would say — go, and try 
 vour luck. 
 
 THE END. 
 
Hppendix. 
 
 extracts from the JVome papers. 
 
 We call attention to the unusually interesting 
 article in the issue of "The Gold Digger" writ- 
 ten by Herbert Murray, on the mineral wealth 
 of Nome. Mr. Murray is an educated and ex- 
 perienced mining man, who is unusually care- 
 ful in estimating the wealth of a camp. 
 
 Advantages of Nome. 
 
 F)as immense stores of Gold 
 easily and cheaply extracted* 
 
 Herbert Murray on the countless things 
 indicating this as a great camp. 
 
 To the editor of the "Gold Digger" 
 
 DEAR SIR; 
 
 Before twenty-four months from the date 
 of discovery the Cape Nome mining district, 
 Nome will have a population of 30,000 souls 
 and be the greatest commercial center north 
 of Seattle ; within three years Cape Nome 
 will be the greatest mining center in the 
 
Gxtracts from JVotne papers* 47 
 
 world. Why? Because Nome has all the 
 features that go to make a great mining 
 camp. 
 
 To become great a gold field must be 
 easy to reach ; there must be a large extent 
 of ground rich in gold: the claims must be 
 shallow; there must be water to work them 
 and the gold must be in such a condition that 
 a large per cent of it can be saved. 
 
 Nome posesses all these advantages and 
 will become great because she has immense 
 stores of gold that can be extracted without 
 much of a loss, quickly and cheaply, conse- 
 quently the gold will be divided among a 
 large number of men, and the result will be 
 prosperity to all. 
 
 It is not alone how much gold a claim 
 contains that determines its value, it is how 
 much of the gold that the claim contains can 
 be saved, and how much it is going to cost 
 to save it. What is left after paying the ex- 
 penses of working the claim is profit. Nome 
 gold has been pronounced by all mining men 
 as exceptionally pure. It is bright, very clean 
 and amalgamates perfectly on plates. 
 
 Nome being on the coast can be reached 
 easily and directly by large vessels ; conse- 
 quently men, supplies and machinery can be 
 
48 extracts from jVome papers, 
 
 • 
 
 shipped here speedily, cheaply and safely. 
 There will be no tedious transfers and costly 
 freighting overland on men's backs at $400 a J 
 ton, as has occnred at other places. 
 
 Nome is under our own government, 
 which imposes no unjust royalties and our 
 officials have been free from the corrupt prac- 
 tices which have characterized the Canadian 
 officials in the Klondike. 
 
 The most valuable feature the Nome pla- 
 cer posesses is its similarity to the early Cal- 
 ifornia placer. They are shallow, hardly 
 ever exceeding five feet to bedrock. This | 
 means that the ground can be easily and rap- 
 idly prospected; and that the gold can be ex- 
 tracted quickly and at all small expense. 
 there being very little non-paying dirt to re- 
 move and to get rid of before reaching the 
 pay- streak. 
 
 Nome's beach diggings alone have pro- 
 duced about $2,000,000 already and will pro- 
 duce many millions more before they are ex- 
 hausted. This beach, which runs from 75 to i 
 200 feet wide, has been prospected for over 
 sixty miles and every mile of it will pay. 
 
 Every one of the hundreds of men who 
 )•(>( ked has averaged an ounce of* gold a dav. 
 Numbers of expert oldtimers have made from 
 
6xtracts from JVcme papers 49 
 
 I $50 to .$300 a day, and occasionally a clean- 
 up of from $1,000 to 1,500 bas been reported. 
 Tbe pay streaks runs clown to the waters 
 edii - e and bow ranch further no one has been 
 ! able to work to find out. 
 
 These beach diggings, a small part only of 
 
 which have been worked, make Nome the 
 
 superior of any mining camp in the world, 
 
 i because between high and low water mark 
 
 i no title can be had to any claims, consequen- 
 
 i tly anyone at any time can work anywhere on 
 
 the beach; and, if everything else fails, the 
 
 Nome miner can always go to the beach and 
 
 make a grub stake. 
 
 The resources of the beach are so vast, 
 that, notwithstanding that the camp is a year 
 old and bas contained more than 3,000 peo- 
 ple, neither the tundra, creek nor quartz 
 claims have been given any attention save in 
 isolated cases, and these few cases have 
 proved bonanzas. 
 
 The tundra diggings, which prospect as 
 rich as the beach diggings, extend from the 
 j beaclr'three or four miles to the foot-hills ; 
 but so far no work has been done save to 
 prospect, owing to the richness and to the 
 proximity of the beach diggings to water, 
 rendering them the easier to work. 
 
 Three or four miles from the beach lie 
 
50 extracts frcm J^otnc papers. 
 
 the foot-hills, containing many creeks and 
 streams. That many of these streams are 
 immensely rich has been proved beyond a 
 doubt by the little work already done on 
 them. Of the few claims already worked 
 numbers have pa d over $10') a day to the 
 man, and one claim has a record of two hun- 
 dred and fifty thousand dollars for two 
 months' work. 
 
 On these as on the tundra claim work 
 has been postponed, everyone turning his at- 
 tention to the beach where only a rocker was 
 needed with which to work. 
 
 Besides the placer diggings, numerous 
 ledges of high grade quartz have been locat- 
 ed, but as yet no one has prospected systema- 
 tically for lode claims. 
 
 Next year, with the big inrush of people 
 which is bound to occur, then- will be enough 
 men to work not only the beach but tundra 
 and creek claims. Hundreds of men who 
 left at. the end of the season have gone out 
 lor the purpose of purchasing mining ma- 
 chinery with which to return and work their 
 claims next summer; and in luOO Nome will 
 produce more gold than has ever come out of 
 any camp in a year since '49. 
 
 Besides the Nome district there are other 
 districts which have been discovered recent- 
 
Gxtracts from J\cmc papers. 51 
 
 ly in adjoining territory which promise as 
 well as Nome. This winter when the ground 
 gets hard enough to enable traveling there 
 will be hundreds of men out exploring new 
 regions with the result that undoubtedly 
 other rich districts will be discovered. 
 
 HERBERT MURRAY 
 Nome, Oct. 28, 1899. 
 
 Hdditional Gxtvacts* 
 
 The steamer Aloha, which left for San 
 Francisco a few T days ago, had aboard about 
 1,000 bags of beach sand which while used as 
 ballast, is to be amalgamated and used in 
 connection with amalgamation tests, in order 
 to ascertain what machines are best for treat- 
 ment of this sand. The Albion will take 
 about 3,000 sacks. J. H. Caldwell, of the N. 
 A. T. Co., St. Michaels, who reached here a 
 few clays ago on the Portland bringing im- 
 portant letters has been frozen in and in all 
 probability will have to spend a good part of 
 the wrrfter here. 
 
 While no developement work has been 
 done on the creeks in the Cape York district, 
 it is certain that good prospects have been 
 found and the new district will no doubt prove 
 rich. 
 
52 Gxtract© from jVome papers. 
 
 Not more than thirty-two or thirty-three 
 years ago this country was derisively called 
 u Sewards Ice Chest" but the illusions held by : 
 the wise men of a generation ago are pretty 
 nearly dissipated, and the worth of this great 
 territory is gradually becoming known. 
 
 The question of trusts promises to be a 
 leading one in the next campaign. Politi- 
 cians and statesmen of every stripe are airing 
 their views from the rostrum and in the 
 press. Up here in the " Wilds of Alaska" we 
 can give our brethren in the State a pointer; 
 There is no trust, everybody pays cash. 
 Thus we are twice blessed. 
 
 Chas. D. Lane, the well know California 
 mine owner who recently visted Nome, made 
 several extensive purchases of claims while 
 here, the amount paid for his holdings being 
 about $90,000. 
 
 Bacon and Beans are all right if one has 
 a good digestion. 
 
 Wm. Snyder, famed as a rocker maker 
 in the Klondike, has taken up his residence in 
 Nome. 
 
 Nome is a winner. Now just watch the 
 town grow. At the recent municipal election 
 a total of 1,418 votes were cast. Not a small 
 vote for a town a few weeks old. 
 
Bxtracts from jHcrnc papers 53 
 
 Nome is neither wild nor lawless. Good 
 order is maintained and a gun plays" are sel- 
 dom seen. And vet it is a '•Ted hot town." 
 
 The beach diggings are practically closed i 
 for the winter although here and there a hardy j 
 miner may still be seen rocking on the sea- j 
 shore. 
 
 The scarcity of lumber has seriously re- 
 tarded building operation in Nome and many 
 people will have to hustle lively to get winter 
 quarters. 
 
 The Pacific coast cities will be the home 
 of many men with '■'well filled pokes" this 
 winter. But most of the owners of the af- 
 oresaid pokes will come back to replenish 
 them next spring. 
 
 Col. O. V. Davis arrived from Daw r son 
 last week and will engage in business here. 
 The Colonel, as is well know is devoted to 
 secret societies and while at St. Michaels 
 lately he organized the order of u Sour 
 Doughs," which he purposes to implant at 
 Nome.'' 
 
 D. J. McKinney has secured a lot just 
 south of the A. T. Co.. store on which he 
 purposes erecting a three story hotel in the 
 spring. The building will be brought from 
 Seattle in sections. 
 
54 Gxtracts from JNfomc Papers 
 
 The Hobo Kid is said to have celebrated 
 his arrival from Dawson City by winning 
 several hundred dollars at faro and thresh- 
 ing a fellow who insulted his best girl. 
 
 Sam C. Dunham, who has been assigned 
 to the duty of taking a census of the nortben 
 division of Alaska, has appointed Mr. Becker 
 to be the enumerator for the district of Nome. 
 The gentleman will comence his work im- 
 meadiately after the freeze up. 
 
 A celebrity know as Mission Bill, who 
 had previously made a fortune in the Klon- 
 dike, left for the states on the Portland -with 
 a big poke of Nome gold, rocked by himself 
 and partner Cummings from the ruby sand 
 of the beach. 
 
 Judge W. T. Hume, has gone to the out- 
 side, to his old home in Portland, Oregon to 
 spend the winter : and the Judge is said to 
 have a poke containing $20,000, the result of 
 his hustling abilities during his residence in 
 Nome. 
 
 Dr. Reninger, of Dawson, lias cast his 
 lot with the metropolis of Behring Sea. lie 
 was ai Sheep camp during the terrible snow 
 slides, where he rendered valuable service to 
 
 the rescued victims. 
 
Bxtracts from JNome papers 55 
 
 Mr. Sain C. Dunham, whose excellent poem, 
 "Alaska to Uncle Sam" appears below, is the 
 posessor of a broad and comprehensive mind. 
 There is not a resident of Alaska who will not 
 appreciate the lines, although the truths that 
 tluy eo.itain may prick the hides of some. 
 
 The Nome News. 
 
 Alaska to Uncle Sim* 
 
 By Sam C. Dunham. 
 Sitting on my greatest glacier, 
 
 With my feet in Behring Sea, 
 1 am thinking, cold and lonely, 
 
 < i the way you've treated me. 
 Three-and -thirty years of silence! 
 
 Through ten thousand sleepless nights 
 I've been praying for your corning, 
 
 For the dawn of civil rights. 
 
 When you tore me, young and trusting. 
 
 From the growling Russian Bear, 
 Loud you swore before the nations 
 
 I should have the Eagle's care! 
 (Never yet has wing of eagle 
 
 Casta shadow on my peak . 
 But I've watched the flight of buzzards 
 
 And I've felt their busy beaks.) 
 
 Your imposed cross-roads statesmen 
 
 (What a motely, sordid tra ; n! 
 Come with laws conceived in closets — 
 
 Made for loot and private gain! 
 
These the best that you can furnish? 
 
 Then, God help the heathen folk 
 You have rescued from the burden 
 
 Of the rotten Spanish yoke! 
 
 I'm a full grown, proud-souled woman, 
 
 And I'm getting very sick — 
 Wearing all the cast-off garments 
 
 Of your body politic. 
 Tf you'll give me your permission, 
 
 I will make some wholesome laws 
 That will suit my hard conditions 
 
 And promote our country's cause. 
 By the latest mail you sent me 
 
 (Nearly all your mails are late) 
 Conies the news that you've gone roving 
 
 In your proud old Ship of State, — 
 Dreaming with a sunburnt siren, 
 
 By the sultry southern sea-;, 
 Where the songs of your enchantress 
 
 Swoon upon the scented breeze. 
 You are blind with lust of conquest 
 
 And desire for foreign trade, 
 Or you'd see the half drawn dagger, 
 
 With its brightly burnished blade, 
 Sticking in the loosened girdle 
 
 Of the black brute by your side — 
 If you treat her as I'm treated 
 
 She will stiek it through your hide.) 
 Curb your taste for sun-killed countries. 
 
 Where the natives loaf and shirk! 
 Come to richer northern regions, 
 
 Where the people think and work. 
 
If you want a part of Asia 
 
 When the Chinamen are killed, 
 
 Run a railroad up to Behring — 
 (I will show you where to build.) 
 
 Come next spring and count my treasures 
 
 And don't stop at Glacier Bay, 
 Like the many high commissions 
 
 You have started up this way. 
 You will see my wooded mountains. 
 
 With their citadels of snow, 
 Gleaming in the purple distance 
 
 Through a pcarl-hued alpen glow. 
 
 Standing on my flower-strewn hillsides, 
 
 Where my mighty rivers meet, 
 Gazing o'er my verdant valleys, 
 
 vSt retching seaward from your feet. 
 You will see the sun-lit splendor 
 
 Of my moonless midnight skies, 
 Gilded with the light supernal 
 
 vShining straight from Paradise,. 
 
 If you stay till hoary winter 
 
 Has entomed the silent land, 
 You will read celestial sermons, 
 
 Written by the Master's hand 
 On the azure walls of heaven, 
 
 Wher^- Aurora's tinted light 
 Weirdly flits like summer lightning 
 
 All the ghostly Arctic night. 
 
 When you come I'll show you wonders 
 
 That will cause you great surprise, 
 And if gold is what you're seeking, 
 
You will open wide your eyes. 
 (Drive away your Wall street schemers, 
 
 With their coupons and their nerve, — 
 Then, while you extend your commerce, 
 
 I'll expand your gold reserve.) 
 You will find a magic city 
 
 On the shore of Behring Strait 
 Which shall be for you a station 
 
 To unload your Arctic freight, 
 Where the gold of Humboldt's vision 
 
 Has for countless ages lain, 
 Waiting for the hand of labor 
 
 And the Saxon's tireless brain. 
 You shall have a cool vacation, 
 
 Hunting for the great white bear, 
 And you'll soon forget Manilla 
 
 And the trouble you've had there; 
 For, as in the morn of nations 
 
 Every highway led to Rome, 
 You and all your restless rivals 
 
 Will be sailing straight to Nome, 
 
 Staking Claims, 
 
 Take six poles along with you, with the bark 
 cleaned off and ready for use for your stakes; 
 make them 4 inches square by 6 feet long, num- 
 bering them as in cut below and on arriving at 
 your destination, commence staking, by placing 
 stake No. 1 in the centre of the creek; measure 
 off with a tape line 330 feet to the right to stake 
 No. 2; thence 1,320 feet at right angles to stake 
 No. 3; thence 330 feet to the left to stake No. 4; 
 
Hppendix. 59 
 
 thence 330 feet to stake No. 5; thence 1,320 feet 
 at right angles to stake No. 6 and 330 feet back 
 to stake No 1. 
 
 porm 1. Discovery JNotice. 
 
 The lode, discovered by 
 
 190 claim feet and feet from discov- 
 ery. 
 
 The above form may be used b}^ prospectors 
 who cannot, at the time of discovery run the 
 lines, and definitely describe the location; within 
 a resonable time (thirty days) the lines should 
 be surveyed or definitely located, and a new loca- 
 tion notice posted. (See form below.) 
 
 ■porm 2. JNotice of Location. 
 
 Notice is hereby given that the undersigned 
 having complied with the requirements of chap- 
 ter 6, title 32, Revised Statutes of the United 
 States, and the local customs, laws and regula- 
 tions, has located linear feet on the 
 
 lode, situated in mining district, in 
 
 County, State of ; described as 
 
 follows 
 
 Discovered Located Locator 
 
 ■porm 3. JNotice of Location. 
 
 Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, 
 in compliance with the requirements of the Re- 
 vised Statutes of the U.S., has this day located 
 the following described Placer Mining Grounds, 
 commencing at 
 
6o * Hppendtx. 
 
 situate in the Mining District 
 
 of This claim shall be known 
 
 as the Placer Mining Claim. 
 
 Located day of 190 
 
 Care must be taken to describe the claim ac- 
 curately by references to natural objects, such as 
 mountains or spurs, and the boundaries must be 
 also distinctly marked on the ground to show 
 the extent and location of the claim, being suit- 
 able monuments. Should be as nearly as practi- 
 cable as the following diagram: 
 
 No. 6 . No. 5 
 
 No. 
 
 1 
 
 Discovery Stake (•) 
 
 Location Stake (•) 
 
 No. 
 
 4 
 
 No. 2 No. 3 
 
 form 4. Location Certificate— Lode 6laim. 
 
 Know all men by these presents, that I 
 
 .... of the County of State of 
 
 claim by right of discovery aud location fee t . 
 
 Linear and horizontal measurement, on the 
 
 Lode, along the vein thereof, with all its dips. 
 variations and angles; together with •• ■ feet in 
 width on each side of the middle of said vein at 
 the surface, and all veins, lodes, ledges, deposits 
 
Hppendtx* 61 
 
 and surface ground within the lines of said claim 
 
 feet on said lode running from the 
 
 center of the discovery shaft. 
 
 Said claim is situated in the of 
 
 in mining district, County of 
 
 State of and bounded and described as 
 
 follows 
 
 Date of discovery 190 Staked and 
 
 located 190 Date of certificate 190 
 
 Attest. 
 
 As a part of this form and in addition to the 
 data therein given, the claimant is required to 
 state the names of adjoining claims, and if none 
 adjoin, the relative positions of those nearest, or 
 show by affidavit or otherwise why this is not 
 done. This is an essential requirement. 
 
 This notice must be recorded in the office of 
 the mining recorder and in the office of the au- 
 ditor of the County in which the claim is situate. 
 
 ■porrn 1 o. Hpplication for patent. 
 
 County of ss. 
 
 Application for patent for the mining 
 
 claim. To"the Register and Receiver of the U. 
 vS. Land Office at being duly sworn accor- 
 ding to law, deposes and says, that in virtue of a 
 compliance with the mining rules, regulations 
 
 and customs, by himself the said • arid his 
 
 co-claimants (residence of each should be stated) 
 
6z Hppendix. 
 
 applicants for patents herein, ha 
 
 become the owner of and in the aciual, 
 
 quiet and undisturbed possession of linear 
 
 feet of the vein, lode or deposit, bearing 
 
 together with surface ground feet 
 
 in width, for the convenient working thereof, as 
 allowed by local rules and customs of miners; 
 said mineral claim, vein, lode or deposit and sur- 
 face ground being situated in the mining 
 
 district, County of and of 
 
 and being more particularly set forth and descri- 
 bed in the official field notes of survey thereof, 
 
 hereto attached, dated day of A. D., 190 
 
 and in the official plat of said survey, now posted 
 conspicuously upon said mining claim or prem- 
 ises, a copy of which is filed herewith. Depon- 
 ent further states that the facts relative to the 
 right of posession of himself (and his said co- 
 claimants hereinbefore named) to said mining 
 claim, vein, lode or deposit and surface ground, 
 so surveyed and platted, are substantially as fol- 
 lows, to-wit: 
 
 (Trace the history of the lode fully. ) Which 
 will more fully appear by reference to the copy 
 of the original record of location and the abstract 
 of title hereto attached and made a part of this 
 affidavit; the value of the labor done and im- 
 provements made upon said claim, by 
 
 himself and his grantors, being to the sum of live 
 hundred dollars, and said improvements consist 
 
Hppcndix. 63 
 
 of (describe fully). In consideration of which 
 facts, and in conformity with the provisions of 
 Chapter Six of Title Thirty-two of the Revised 
 Statutes of the United States, application is here- 
 by made for and in behalf of said for a 
 
 patent from the Government of the United States 
 
 for the the said mining claim, vein, 
 
 lode, deposit and the surface ground so officiallv 
 surveyed and platted. 
 
 Subscribed to and sworn to before me this 
 
 day of A. D., 190 and I hereby 
 
 certify that I consider the above deponent a 
 credible and reliable person, and that the fore- 
 going affidavit, to which was attached the field 
 
 notes of survey of the mining claim, 
 
 was read and examined by him before his signa- 
 ture was affixed thereto and the oath made by 
 him. (Official Signature.) 
 
 Note — The above is slightly changed in ap- 
 plying for placer mines. 
 
 JMining Laws in Hlaska* 
 
 placer Claims. 
 
 The general mining laws of the United States 
 apply to Alaska. Claims usually called "pla- 
 cers" are subject to entry and patent under Uni- 
 ted States mining law. No single individual 
 can locate more than twenty acres of placer land, 
 and no location by an association of persons can 
 
64 Hppctidtx. 
 
 exceed one hundred and sixty acres. These arc 
 the maximum amounts which can be located by 
 a person or association, but smaller areas can be 
 located, and this has been done in several cases 
 in Alaska where there is not sufficent ground 
 to allot full sized claims. The price per acre of 
 placer claims is $2.50 
 
 When a placer contains veins or lodes, the 
 coi5t per acre for such included vein or lode, with 
 twenty-five feet on each side thereof, is #5 per 
 acre, the remainder, the ordinary price for placer 
 land. If the claim be all placer ground, the fact 
 must be stated in the application and corrobora- 
 ted by accompanying proofs. If of mixed placer 
 and lodes it should be set out with a description 
 of all known lodes, seperately, situated in the 
 boundaries of the claim. A specific declaration 
 as to each lode intended to be claimed must be 
 made, any other lode known to exist within the 
 limits of such placer claim, and not covered by 
 such declaration, is by the silence of the appli- 
 cant, excluded by law from all claimed by him 
 of whatsoever nature, possessory or otherwise. 
 
 When a new district is discovered, miners 
 may select a Recorder of Claims, providing no 
 regular government official, authorized to per- 
 form such duties, is within convenient distance. 
 All locations must be distinctly marked on the 
 ground, and the official survey thereof is required 
 
Hppendtx. 65 
 
 to be identical with or within the lines of the re- 
 corded location. 
 
 Lode Claims. 
 
 A lode location may contain an area of 
 twenty and sixty-six hundredths acres. It may 
 be fifteen hundred feet in length and six hun- 
 dred feet in width, but no more. The end lines 
 of a location must be parallel. The location 
 must be distinctly marked on the ground The 
 official survey of same is required to be identical 
 with or within the lines of location. The price 
 for a lode claim is #5 per acre. 
 
 patent. 
 
 A patent for land claimed or located under 
 the United States Mining Laws applicable to 
 Alaska may be obtained in the following man- 
 ner; 
 
 Any person, association or corporation, en- 
 titled by law to locate mineral lands, having a 
 valid location on placer ground or vein or lode, 
 wishing to make entry of same must first have 
 an official survey of it. The survey niust be ex- 
 ecuted by a duly appointed United States Deputy 
 Mineral Surveyor. Th first step to be taken to 
 secure this end is to obtain a certified copy of 
 the location notice from the Recorder of the dis- 
 trict in which the claim is situated, of the claim 
 sought to be surveyed, and forward same to the 
 Unites States Survey General with an application 
 
66 Hppendix. 
 
 for survey, together with a request that an esti- 
 mate of the cost in connection therewith be fur- 
 nished. If the location conforms to law and reg- 
 ulations thereunder, the estimate will be furni- 
 shed. The applicant will then deposit the 
 required amount in some United States Deposit- 
 ory, and upon receipt of the duplicate certificate 
 of deposit by the Surveyor General, he will issue 
 order for survey. 
 
 Upon approval of the survey by the Surveyor 
 General, the applicant will be furnished with 
 two approved plats and a certified copy of the 
 field notes thereof. The claimant will then post 
 one of the plats, together with a notice of appli- 
 cation for patent, in a conspicuous place on the 
 land embraced in such plat. The claimant will 
 then file the other plat and the certified copy of 
 the field notes with his application for patent in 
 the proper U.S. Land Office, together with the 
 affidavit of, at least, two persons that the proper 
 notice has been duly posted on the claim, and 
 shall file a cop}- of said notice in such Land office 
 and shall thereupon be entitled to a patent to the 
 land in the following manner: 
 
 The Register of said Land Office, upon the 
 filing of such application, plat, field notes, notices 
 and affidavits, shall publish a notice that such 
 application has been made, for a period of sixty 
 days in a uewpaper, to be by him designated as 
 published , nearest to such claim, and he shall 
 
Hppcndtx. 67 
 
 post such notice in his office for the same period. 
 The claimant at the time of filing such application 
 or at any time thereafter, within sixty days of 
 publication, shall file with Register a certificate 
 of the U.S. Surveyor General, that $500 worth 
 of work has been expended, or improvement 
 made upon the claim by himself or grantors; 
 that the plat is correct with such further descrip- 
 tion of natural object by reference to natural ob- 
 jects or permanent monuments as shall identify 
 the claim and furnish an accurate description to 
 be incorporated in the patent, at the expiration 
 of the sixty days of publication, the claimant 
 shall file his affidavit showing that the plat and 
 notice have been posted in a conspicuous place 
 on the claim during the period of publication. 
 If no adverse claim shall have been filed with 
 the Register of the Land Office at the expiration 
 of said sixty days, the claimant is entitled to a 
 patent, upon the payment to the proper office of 
 $5 per acre in the case of a lode claim, and $2.50 
 for a placer. 
 
 The Act of Congress of May 17, 1884, provid- 
 ing a civil government for Alaska, provides that: 
 "The laws of the United States relating to min- 
 ing claim§ and the rights incident thereto, shall, 
 from and after the passage of this act, be in full 
 force and effect in said district." The further 
 mining laws applicable are as follows: 
 
 United States Revised Statutes, Sec. 2318. 
 
68 Hppcndtx. 
 
 In all cases lands valuable for minerals shall be 
 reserved from sale, except as otherwise expressly 
 directed by law. 
 
 Sec. 2319. All valuable mineral deposits in 
 lands belonging to the United vStates, both sur- 
 veyed and unsurveyed, are hereby declared to be 
 free and open to exploration and purchase, and 
 the lands in which they are found to occupation 
 and purchase, by citizens of the United States 
 and those who have declared their intention to 
 become such, under regulations prescribed by 
 law, and according to the local customs or rules 
 of miners in the several mining districts, so far 
 as the same are applicable and not inconsistent 
 with the laws of the United States. 
 
 Sec. 2320. Mining claims upon viens or 
 lodes or quartz or other rock in place, bearing 
 gold, silver, cinabar, lead, tin, copper, or other 
 valuable deposits heretofore located, shall be 
 governed as to length along the vein or lode by 
 the customs, regulations and laws in force a' the 
 date of location. A mining claim located after 
 the tenth of May. eighteen hundred and seventy 
 two, whether located by one or more persons) 
 may equal but shall not exceed, one thousand 
 five hundred feet in length along the vein or 
 lode; but no location of a mining claim shall be 
 made until the discovery of the vein or lode 
 within the limits of the claim located. Noclaim 
 shall extend more than three hundred feet on 
 
Hppendix* 69 
 
 each side of the middle of the vein at the surface 
 nor shall any claim be limited by any mining 
 regulation to less than twenty-five feet on each 
 side of the middle of the vein at the surface, ex- 
 cept where adverse rights existing on the tenth 
 day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy two, 
 render such limitation necessary. The end lines 
 of each claim shall be parallel to each other. 
 
 Sec. 2322. The locators of all mining loca- 
 tions heretofore made or which shall hereafter 
 be made, on any mineral vein, lode, or ledge, 
 situated on the public domain, their heirs and 
 assigns, where no adverse claim exists on the 
 tenth day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy 
 two, so long as they comply with the laws of the 
 United States, and with States, territorial, and 
 local regulations not in conflict with the laws of 
 the United States governing their possessory 
 title, shall have the exclusive right of possession 
 and enjoyment of all the surface included within 
 the lines of their locations, and of all the veins, 
 lodes and ledges, throughout their entire depth, 
 and the top of the apex which lies inside of such 
 surface lines extended downward vertically, al- 
 1 hough such veins, lodes or ledges may so far 
 depart from a perpendicular in their course 
 downward as to extend outside the vertical out- 
 side lines of such surface locations. But their 
 right of posession to such outside parts of such 
 veins or ledges shall be confined to such portions 
 
70 Hppendix. 
 
 thereof as lie between vertical planes drawn 
 downward as above described, through the end 
 lines of their locations, so continued in their own 
 direction that such planes will intersect such ex-' 
 terior parts of such veins or ledges. And no- 
 thing in this section shall authorize the locator 
 or posessor of a vein or lode which extends in its 
 downward course beyond the vertical lines of 
 his claim to enter upon the surface of a claim 
 owned or posessed by another. 
 
 Sec. 2324. The miners of each mining dis- 
 trict shall make regulations not in conflict with 
 the laws of the United States, or with the laws of 
 the state or territory in which the district is sit- 
 uated, governing the location, manner of record- 
 ing, amount of work necessary to hold possession 
 of a mining claim, subject to the following re- 
 quirements: The location must be distinctly 
 marked on the ground so that its boundaries can 
 be readily traced. All records of mining claims 
 hereafter made shall contain the name or names 
 of the locators, the date of the location and such 
 description of the claim or claims located by ref- 
 erence to some natural object or permanent mon- 
 ument as will identify the claim. On each claim 
 located after the tenth day of May, eighteen hun- 
 dred and seventy-two, and until a patent has 
 beetl issued therefor, not less than one hundred 
 dollars' worth of labor shall be performed or im- 
 provement made during each year. On all 
 
Hppendtx* 71 
 
 claims located prior to the tenth of May, eight- 
 teen hundred and seventy-two, ten dollars' worth 
 of labor shall be performed, or improvements 
 made by the tenth of June, eighteen hundred 
 and seventy-four, and each year thereafter for 
 each one hundred feet along the vein until a pat- 
 ent has been issued therefor; but where such 
 claims are held in common, such expenditure 
 may be made upon any one claim; and upon fail- 
 ure to comply with these conditions, the claim 
 or mine upon which such failure occured shall 
 be opened to relocation in the same manner as if 
 no location of the same had ever been made: pro- 
 vided, that the original locators, their heirs, 
 assigns, or legal representatives, have not re- 
 sumed work upon the claim after failure and be- 
 fore such location. Upon the failure of anyone 
 of several co-owners who have performed the la- 
 bor, or made the improvements, may, at the ex- 
 piration of the year, give such delinquent co- 
 owner personal notice in writing or notice by 
 publication in the newspaper published nearest 
 the claim, for at least once a w T eek for ninety 
 days, and if at the expiration of ninety days af- 
 ter such notice in writing, or by publication, 
 such delinquent should fail or refuse to contrib- 
 ute his proportion of the expenditure required 
 by this section, his interest in the claim shall be- 
 come the property of his co-owners, who have 
 made the expenditures. 
 
72 Hppendix. 
 
 vSec. 2-- 
 
 sect or cross each other, priority of title shall 
 govern, and such prior location shall be entitled 
 to all ore or mineral contained within the space 
 of intersection; but the subsequent location shall 
 have the right of way through the space of inter- 
 section for the purposes of the convenient work- 
 ing of the mine. And where two or more veins 
 unite, the oldest, or prior location shall take the 
 vein below the point of union, inclnding the 
 space of intersection. 
 
 ■Sec. 2325. A patent for any land claimed 
 and located for valuable deposits may be ob- 
 tained in the following manner. Any person, 
 association or corporation authorized to locate a 
 claim under this chapter, having claimed and 
 located a piece of land for such purposes, who 
 has, or have, complied Avith the terms of this 
 chapter, may file in the proper land office an 
 application for a patent, under oath, showing 
 such compliance, together with a plat and held 
 notes of the claim or claims in common, made 
 by or under the direction of the United States 
 Surveyor-General, Showing accurately the boun- 
 daries of the claim or claims, which shall be dis- 
 tinctly marked by monuments on the ground, 
 and shall post a copy of such plat, together with 
 a notice of such application for a patent in a con- 
 picuous place on the laud embraced in such plat 
 previous to the filing of the application for a pat- 
 
Hppendix. 73 
 
 ent and shall file an affidavit of at least two per- 
 sons that such notice- has been duly posted, and 
 shall file a copy of such notice in such land office 
 and shall thereupon be entitled to a patent for 
 the land, in the manner following: The register 
 of the land office, upon the filing of such appli- 
 cation, plat, field notes, notices, and affidavits, 
 shall publish a notice that such application has 
 been made, for the period of sixty days in a 
 newspaper to be by him designated as published 
 nearest to such claims and he shall also post 
 such notice in his office for the same period. 
 
 The claimant at the time of filing this applica- 
 tion, or at any time thereafter, within sixty days 
 of publication, shall file with the register a certi- 
 ficate of the United States Surveyor General 
 that five hundred dollars' worth of labor has 
 been expended upon improvements made upon 
 the claim by himself or grantors; that the plat is 
 correct, with such further description by such 
 reference to natural objects or permanent monu- 
 ments as shall identify the claim and furnish an 
 accurate description, to be incorporated in the 
 patent. At the expiration of sixty days of publi- 
 cation the claimant shall file his affidavit show- 
 ing that the plat and notice have been posted in 
 a conspicuous place on the claim during such 
 period of publication. If no adverse claim shall 
 have been filed with the register and the receiver 
 of the proper land office at the expiration of the 
 
74 Hppendix* 
 
 sixty days of publication, it shall be assumed 
 that the applicant is entitled to a patent, upon 
 the payment to the proper officer of live dollars 
 per acre, and that no adverse claim exists; and 
 that thereafter no objections from third parties 
 to the issuance of a patent shall be heard, except 
 it be shown that the applicant has failed to com- 
 ply with the terms of this chapter. 
 
 Sec. 2327. The description of vein or 'lode 
 claims, upon surveyed lands, shall designate the 
 location of the claim with reference to the lines 
 of the public surveys, but need not conform 
 therewith; but where a patent shall be issued for 
 claims upon unsurveyed lands, the Surveyor- 
 General, in extending the surveys shall adjust 
 the same to the boundaries of such patented 
 claims; according to the plat or description 
 thereof, but so as in no case to interfere with or 
 change the location of any such patented claim. 
 
 Act of Congress of January 22, [880. — An act 
 to amend sections twenty-three hundred and 
 twenty-four and twenty-three hundred and 
 twenty-five of the Revised Statutes of the United 
 States concerning mineral lands. 
 
 Be it enacted, etc., That section twenty-three 
 hundred and twenty-five of the Revised Statutes 
 of the United States be amended by adding here- 
 to the following words, "Provided. That where 
 the claimant for a patent is not a resident of or 
 
Hppendix. 75 
 
 in the land district wherein the vein, "lode, ledge 
 or deposit sought to be patented is located, the 
 application for patent and the affidavits required 
 to be made in this section by the claimant for 
 such patent may be made by his, her, or its 
 authorized agent where said agent is conversant 
 with the facts sought to be established by said 
 affidavits: and provided, that this section shall 
 apply to all applications now pending for pat- 
 ents to mineral lands.' 1 
 
 Sec. 2. That section twenty-three hundred 
 and twenty-four of the Revised Statutes of the 
 United States be amended by adding thereto the 
 following words: "Provided, That the period in 
 which the work required to be done annually on 
 all unpatented mineral claims shall commence 
 on the first day of January succeeding the date 
 of location of such claim, and this section shall 
 apply to all claims located since the tenth of 
 May, anno Domini eighteen hundred and sev- 
 enty-two." 
 
 Act of Congress of February n, 1875. — An 
 act to amend section two thousand three hun- 
 dred and twenty-four of the Revised Statutes, 
 relating to the development of the mining re- 
 sources of the United States. 
 
 Be it enacted, etc.. That section two thous- 
 and three hundred and twenty-four of the Re- 
 vised Statutes be, and the same is herebv amen- 
 
76 Hppcndix. 
 
 ded to that where a person or company has, or 
 may run a tunnel for the purpose of developing 
 a lode, or lodes, owned by said person or com- 
 pany, the money so expended in said tunnel 
 shall be taken and considered as expended on 
 said lode or lodes in order to hold the same as 
 required by said act. 
 
 United States Law. — Sec. 2323. Where a 
 tunnel is run for the development of a vein, or 
 lode, or for the discovery of mines, the owners 
 of such tunnels shall hare the right of possession 
 of all veins or lodes within three thousand feet 
 from the face of such tunnel on the line thereof, 
 not previously known to exist, discovered in 
 such tunnel, to the same extent as if discovered 
 from the surface; and such locations on the line 
 of such tunnel of veins or lodes not appearing 
 on the surface, made by other parties after the 
 commencement of the tunnel, and while the 
 same is being prosecuted with reasonable dilli- 
 gence, shall be invalid; but failure to prosecute 
 the work on the tunnel for six months shall be 
 considered as an abandonment of the right to all 
 undiscovered veins on the line of such tunnel. 
 
 placer Claims. 
 
 Sec. 2329. Claims usually called "placers" 
 including all forms of deposit, excepting veins 
 of quartz, or other rock in place, shall be subject 
 to entry and patent, under like circumstances 
 
Hppendtx- 7J 
 
 and conditions, and upon similar proceedings, 
 as are provided for vein or lode claims; but 
 where the lands have been previously surveyed 
 by the United States, the entry in its exterior 
 limits shall conform to the legal sub divisions of 
 the public lands. 
 
 United States Law. — Sec. 2330. Legal sub- 
 divisions of forty acres may be subdivided into 
 ten acre tracts; and two or more persons, or asso- 
 ciation of persons, having contiguous claims of 
 any size, although such claims may be less than 
 ten acres each, may take joint entry thereof, but 
 no location of a placer claim, made after the 
 ninth day of July, eighteen hundred and seventy 
 shall exceed one hundred and sixty acres for any 
 person, or association of persons, which location 
 shall conform to the United States surveys; and 
 nothing in this section contained shall defeat or 
 impair any bona fide pre-emption or homestead 
 claim upon agricultural lands, or authorize the 
 sale of improvements of any bona fide settler to 
 any purchaser. 
 
 Sec. 2331. Where placer claims are upon 
 surveyed lands, and conform to legal subdivi- 
 sions, no futher survey or plat shall be required, 
 and all placer mining claims located after the 
 tenth of May, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, 
 shall conform as near as practicable with the 
 United States system of public lands surveys, 
 and no such location shall include more than 
 
 L.ofC. 
 
78 Hppendix. 
 
 twenty acres Tor each individual claimant; but 
 where placer claims cannot be conformed to le- 
 gal subdivisions, survey and plat shall be made 
 as on unsurveyed lands; and where by the segre- 
 gation of mineral lands in any legal subdivisions 
 a quantity of agricultural laud less than 
 acres remains such fractional portions of agricul- 
 tural lands may be entered by any party qualified 
 by law, for homestead or pre-emption purposes. 
 
 pUcer GUims containg Lodes. 
 
 United States Law. — Sec. 233$. Where the 
 same person, association or corporation is in pos- 
 session of a placer claim, and also a vein or lode 
 included within the boundaries thereof, applica- 
 tion shall be made for a patent for the placer 
 claim, with the statement that it includes such 
 vein or lode, and in such case a patent shall 
 issue for a placer claim, subject to the provisions 
 of this chapter, including such vein or lode, up- 
 on the payment of five dollars per acre for such 
 vein or lode claim, and twenty-five feet of sur- 
 face on each side thereof. The remainder of the 
 placer claim, or any placer claim not embracing 
 any vien or lode claim, shall be paid at the rate 
 of two dollars and fifty cents per acre, together 
 with all costs of proceedings, and where a vein 
 or lode, such as described in section twenty-three 
 hundred and twenty, is known to exist within 
 the boundaries of a placer claim, an application 
 itent lor such placer claim which does not 
 
Hppendix* 79 
 
 include an application for the vein or lode claim 
 shall be construed as a conclusive declaration 
 •that the claimant of the placer claim has no 
 right of possession of the vein or lode claim; but 
 where the existence of a vein or lode in a placer 
 claim is not known, a patent for the placer claim 
 shall convey all valuable mineral and other de- 
 
 United States Law. — Sec. 2332. Where such 
 person, or association, they and their grantors 
 have held and worked their claims for a period 
 equal to the time prescribed by the statute of 
 limitations for mining claims of the State or Ter- 
 ritory where the same may be situated, evidence 
 of such possession and the working of the claims 
 for such period shall be sufficient to establish a 
 right to a patent thereto under this chapter, in 
 the absence of any adverse claim; but nothing in 
 this chapter shall be deemed to impair any lien 
 which may have attached in any way whatever 
 to any mining claim or property thereto attached 
 prior to the issuance of a patent. 
 
 United States Law. — Sec. 2321. Proof of cit- 
 izenship, under this chapter, may consist, in the 
 case of arrindivual, of his own affidavit thereof;, 
 in the case of an association of persons unincor- 
 porated, of the affidavit of their authorized agent, 
 made on his own knowledge, or upon informa- 
 tion and belief, and in the case of a corporation 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 80 
 
 organized under tl ^j 2g7 ^^ c 
 or of any State or ' .' -. 
 
 of a certified copy of their charter or certificate 
 of incorporation. 
 
 L 
 
 Correction* 
 
 Through a mistake in the typewrittc 
 copy, the date of my leaving Cape Noil 
 is printed as October 22. It should ret 
 October 29. The AuTho 
 
r 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS