Ruby, AAA
June 28

Dear Sister

Received your letter of June 11th today. Arrived in Ruby sooner than you expected, I landed on June 9th.

Believe me, I have learned a lot, in the time that I landed here, to date. I will explain it all to you. On arriving here I had good fortune enough to meet Bower in town so, on the same day, we started to tramp the forty miles to the mines. As soon as we reached the camp I was put to work at $5 per day. And let me tell you I worked. Pitch shovels full of muck and rock into a string of boxes eight feet from the ground for ten hours per day and you will realize what the worst slavery really is. I was willing to work, forever, and put in four and a half days. I was then laid off because they struck low pay and could not afford to employ labor. A few days after they reached better dirt so I expected to return to work. But no. I did not see it but Bower told me he had a word fight with his partners about me. They did not want to employ me at the regular wage saying that I did not have experience enough. There were other reasons however. Bower and his partners do not agree. I, myself, do not like his partners. They are the hardest of workers, but that is all - "Strong in the back and weak in the head". They cling to the old fashioned method of mining - a string of boxes and a strong arm. Bower does not agree with them; he wanted to put in a small engine and raise the dirt from the cut into the boxes by power. It would do the work of five men and in much better fashion. Everybody agrees with Bower as to that excepting his partners, and since there are two to one, Bower's opinion dies not carry much power.

So, Now I am not working. Bower told me that if I wanted he could force his partners to employ me but I told him I did not want him to resort to extremes. He told me it would be better for me to come to Ruby and live in his cabin so I did. I may find work here but the chances are very slim. Alaska is not like it used to be - there are two men to a job. I will write the truth though and tell you (although I did not voluntarily quit my job) that I hate manual labor like poison when it is a matter of working for wages.

I pity Bower. He is prematurely aged. His sickness (diarrhea) last winter has weakened him and he is barely able to stand up before a day's work. Persons, acquaintances of Bower, to whom I have spoken speak well of him. They say, and I believe it, that he is a hard worker and no shirker. But he has led a wrong life, he has played the game too long. The mining game is all work and no pleasure. Usually what is earned in summer is spent in winter in one way or another.

I have thirty dollars to live on. That is not much but I do not think it will cost much to live here. There is some flour, salt, sugar, etc in the cabin so I do not need to buy much. I have been here two days and have not spent a cent. Yesterday I went over to "John the Greek". He is a fisherman who keeps Bower's dogs during summer. He let me have his boat and I went down to his fisher wheel and picked up a Dolly varden trout and a whitefish. They will make four meals. Am going to have baked whitefish for supper. But I do not like this loafing and wish I were back on the old job where I could expect $60 every month.

Alaska is at a standstill. Ruby has seen its day and is slowly dropping backward. There will be opportunities in the country but just now they are not evident. Everyone is literally holding his breath. No one knows which way to move. From what I have seen and heard Juneau is the only good town in Alaska; Fairbanks is dull.

Tell Todd that I talked with a sheet metal worker up here. He said that if one establishes in a good, permanent town it is the best business in the North. He worked for Lecke 16 years ago. He knows Pa. But as I said, nothing is good now.

I have thought a great deal while here and this is the decision I have come too. Some fellows who roam about make money, but in the majority of cases and especially in mine "a rolling stone gathers no moss". The best thing for me to do is to go to some young town that I think will grow and settle into some business and dabble in politics. In short, be a townsman. There is nothing brilliant about such a career but it is sure and more pleasant. I used to have great personal expectations but, lately, I have come down from my perch.

If Bower breaks down completely he said he would want me to go to the camp and take his place.

This fall Bower wants me to go with him about a hundred miles southwest of Fairbanks where he thinks there is some good quartz ground. He has chased too many rainbows to suit me but if I have no money and worst comes to worst I suppose I shall have to go with him. I dislike to return home with rags on my back and not a copper in my pocket.

Am in excellent health but stiff as a board. The entire country here is covered with moss a foot thick. It is rough and full of waterholes and by the time I have ploughed through thirty miles of such country in ten yours I do not care to move for a day. Am disgusted but not discouraged.

I hope that everybody is in good spirits and health.

Your loving brother
Raymond

PS How is Ed getting along? Best hopes. Let ma see this letter. I have written everything in this. Will write her in a week or so.