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PageText LTR027Dawson City
June 18th 98
Dear Bro.
arrived all O.K. last Mon, 13 days from Linderman. portaged White Horse. its awfull amt. outfits lost there & in 30 mi. River from Labarge to Hootalinqua River. Williams & party are not in yet. but should be in a few days. its all day light no darkness at all. sun was down 11p.m. No snow or ice along route. good grass, poor timber, little game. Town over run idle men. Mines much overestimated. Eldorado best, Dominion fair, Bonanza fair. Hundreds claims not made expenses only a few good ones probably 10 good mines in all. Henderson, Swede Bear, Skookum, Nitty the reported rich men are not so rich. Miners from $1.00 to $1.50 an hr. Will be about 7 or 8$ next winter. grub yourself. Each eats his own grub in same cabin, some did not pay to share in box. others not pay help. 10, 20, 40 & 60 Mile from Circle are only grub stake diggins. Pelly & Stewart Rivs. has to find it yet. some little & Big Salmon, Walsh Creek n.g. was up 25 mil on Eldorado to see two chums been in Alaska since 93 on day last winter. made a small stake are going out got all they want of Alaska. 4 others from Idaho came in last year going out on first boat to night. broke. got all they want of alaska. 4 boats froze in last winter. are in Nome from St. Michaels yet. No Mining till Oct. & its Tough, Gassy & Smoke. Wood scarce at Mines. Ground now all swampy & mossy. of course John Some have done well, mostly those who sold out. Whisky 50 cts. Meals 2.50 to 3.50. Eggs 3.00 doz. Pot. 1.00 lb. onions 1.00 lb. Tob. 3.00 lb. oysters 5.00 can. Those came down Riv. & are luxuries of course. a few made some $ in that line plenty Grub for sale. by Scows, Barges & small Boats now. some as follows: flour 5.00
50 lb. Bacon 30 cts Beans 15 cts lb. Dried fruit 40 cts Coffee 50 cts & so on. out fits selling out going Home again. its over done. you would have to see it to comprehend, but I am here & will give it a while. We think amt people here will surely make some new discoveries below & if so I may be the lucky one. a Sisters Hospital here are putting up a church. I expect to get to work on it 1.00 pr. hr. cant prospect now to soft. it is exactly as I expected. oh there is some savvy fellows I feel sorry for some of them. no stamps British. Will send this out by my friends to be mailed out side. Will write you often, cant figure on prompt mail. Now John, if anything serious should happen Mother, please be considerate enough to keep me in ignorance of same.
Bye bye to all
Your Bro. James

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