ALASKA AND THE KLONDIKE. 175 



period of little more than a year it has gathered to itself, besides the 

 usual class of merchants, representatives of a number of professions, 

 such as doctors, lawyers, chemists, and assayers, most of whom, espe- 

 cially of the first two classes, appeared to be doing at least fairly 

 well. Mine brokers, or simply venders of claims, are numerous, but 

 their service does not in most cases sustain confidence; the display 

 of posters announcing " bonanzas " in mining properties may be 

 effective at times, but ordinarily the investor turns either to the 

 Mining Exchange, a reasonably well-conducted private enterprise, or 

 to claim-holders on the ground. The auction of claims at the Ex- 

 change was always largely attended at the times of my visits, and the 

 bidding was frequently very spirited. The allowance of a time limit 

 of ten days in which to make an examination of properties purchased 

 and of the titles thereto before payment, beyond a forfeit of ten per 

 cent, was exacted, naturally inspired confidence in the method of the 

 transaction, and there is no question that a considerable number of 

 good properties were parted over the boards here, and with eminent 

 satisfaction to the purchasers. 



The practice of medicine is necessarily governed by the laws 

 which are in effect in the Dominion of Canada, and it requires the 

 possession on the part of the practitioner of a diploma properly ac- 

 credited from some recognized college of medicine in Canada. 

 Graduation with diploma from the best medical schools in the United 

 States is not considered to meet the requirement nor, for that mat- 

 ter, is the diploma of any but a British school. This restriction also 

 applies in the case of professional trained nurses. A number of cases 

 closely bordering on litigation, and at one time even threatening to 

 bring about international complications, have arisen in connection 

 with practice violating this law ; but despite the overwhelmingly large 

 number of foreigners who are resident in the region, and who, it was 

 thought by some, had the right to consult practitioners of their own 

 nationality or choice, there is noAV a peaceful submission to the 

 reading of the statute. The exaction is in no way intended to legis- 

 late against foreigners, but is simply a provision of the Dominion 

 laws, similar to that which requires a " Dominion surveyor " who 

 intends doing official survey work in British Columbia to be properly 

 accredited with a special paper of that section of Canada (as distin- 

 guished from the Northwest Territory, etc.). Like the physicians, 

 all surveyors giving out work under their names must be officially 

 licensed from the Dominion, although those not thus certificated are 

 permitted to do office or field work for others who are. 



A field of labor that has already been entered upon by women is 

 stenography and typewriting. There has been considerable demand 

 for this kind of work, and there will continue to be much more, but 



