The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 2, No. 24, June 16, 1898 | Page 8

water than ever, especially as all of their money in the Bank of Montreal has been seized as security.
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A very interesting account of life in Skaguay, Alaska, has recently been received. The account is written by a Wisconsin woman who, with her husband, went to Alaska to open a restaurant and hotel in Skaguay. She writes: "I never felt so lonesome in my life; I never worked so hard, but have never been so happy; money comes in so fast that we do not know what to do with it. At first, when there was no bank, we were obliged to hide the money in all parts of the house, and we were in constant terror. We had paper money, silver money, gold money, gold dust, and every form of currency that can be imagined hidden all over the house; and as the town was full of people who were without money, and who would not hesitate to cut one's throat for a dollar, we did not have a single moment free from anxiety. Early in the winter we did succeed in sending a number of thousands of dollars to Seattle, and were very much relieved when we received a receipt from the bank.
"The transportation companies are swindlers. They are persuading thousands of people to come to this awful country who will never be able to go back, and all for the sake of making the profit on transportation.
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"Flour that we had shipped from Seattle, and which cost over $5 per barrel, cost as much more for freight to this place. But as we sold it for over $40 a barrel before it left the dock, we had nothing to complain of; and it was very poor flour at that, not fit for bread, and hardly suitable for the plainest kind of cooking.
"As for our restaurant, we started it with the idea of giving people good home cooking, and we can hardly serve the people, they come so fast. The restaurant is open day and night, and the tables always full. At first we got a good price for our meals, that is, from $1.50 to $2.50 for a dinner. But there is more competition now, and prices have gone down.
"The town is still filled with gamblers, and is a mining town in every sense of the word, although the troops keep the rough element in fairly good order. The town is particularly lonely for refined women, as there are very few here, and very little in the way of amusement for them.
"It is not so very cold. I have seen as severe weather in the States; and the thermometer rarely goes below 15 degrees below zero, and that is not so bad. But there is very little sun, and this we miss the most. We work by lamplight day and night.
"Whatever people may say about the Klondike, there is still plenty of gold there; and although we are making a barrelful of money here at this business, we will very probably 'up stakes' and go to the diggings. Every boat that arrives is loaded with gold-hunters, and Skaguay is crowded. Hundreds of people are camped between here and Chilkoot Pass, and are scattered all along the trail. This year will bring many improvements in the line of travelling, and, in consequence, there will be less hardship."
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Much interest has been awakened by the report of an interview with Se?or Moret, ex-Secretary of the Colonies of Spain. He is reported to have said that "the Government does not know where it is going. There is no person in Spain who can tell the outcome of the present situation. The Government is not a fixed one, and allows matters to run in their own course heedless of the effect; in other words, matters are allowed to drift their own way. It is useless to conceal the fact that the Cabinet is not solid. Its members are working at cross purposes, the ministers lack energy, and, in fact, are absolutely incompetent, and simply trust to chance to get out of their present troubles.
"A campaign in favor of peace has been begun, and is progressing among the people. I am convinced that if the people were allowed to state their wishes, even the soldiers would advocate peace.
"It is difficult to say whether the regency will be overthrown, nor can I say what will happen to a country that is without guidance and with a foreign war on its hands. If the regency is overthrown it will be an immense misfortune to Spain. The affairs of Spain are in complete disorder."
This report comes by way of London, and would seem to confirm reports previously published as to the condition of matters in Spain.
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