Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-02-19
REPORT ON THE sTEKEEN
COUNTRY.

Harry Fish has received by letter a
amy OF an interesting official report on
,hs S.ekeen country, which wa are rer-
uited to transfer to our columns:
,rosr OF AN EXPLORATION OF THE CAS-
STAR DISTRICT.
To the Honorable. the Chief Ccmmis-
sioner Of Lands and Works, British Col |
uubia, sir: From Fort Wrangle to the
mouth OF the Stekeen river, the distance
is about Ave miles; from the mouth Of
the river to the Big Bend, distance about
eighteen miles and the average course
east. From the Big Bend to the Great
Glacier is seven miles; average course,
north By east. From the Great Glacier
10 the Hudson Bay Company's post, dis
,ance about 80 miles; average course,
north by east. A portion of this part of
the river is greatly cut up by sloughs,
shaggy and shallow ia the Fall OF the
wear. From the Hudson Bay Company's
post to Salmon Creek, six miles; average
course, west. Also portion of this part
Of the river is cut up by soughs, shaggy
and shallow. From Salmon Creek to
Little Canyon, about seventeen miles;
average course, north by east. From
Klutchman' Canyon. nine miles; aver
age course, north by east. From Klutch-
mans Canyon to Clearwater river, is
about fourteen miles; average course,
northeast by north. From Clearwater
river to Collins Bar, eight miles; aver
age course, north by east. From Col
!ius' Bar to Shakesville. about seven
miles; average course, northeast by
north. From Shakesville to Miller's
Bar, about nine miles; average course,
northeast by north. Three and n half
miles above Shakesville is one rifle, not
navigable for steamboats, at low water.
With high water it is good, and with
middling stage boats can 60 through the
slough, leaving the rifle to your right.
From Miller's Bar to Telegraph Creek,
at foot of the Great Canyon, distance
nine miles; average course. north north
east. The ice leaves the river from the
2ith of April to the 9th or 9Th OF May
From that time suitable river steamers
can run the river until the 1st or middle
Of October; some seasons they may run
later from Collins Bar to the first North
Fork.
Vegetables aud potatoes are raised to
good advantage. From the Little Can
yon up, the snow falls light, from two to
four feet. From the canyon down, snow
lays after it has settled from five to
eighteen feet in places on the river bot
toms. On the Upper Stekeen the Spring
opens early. The snow disappears in
the latter part OF March or first Of April.
The weather from the first of May, and
through the Summer months is at times
excessively warm.
NV sons and / arrived at the foot
of the Great Canyon on the 22d of
May, 1873, where we expected to get an
Indian for guide. After a day or two
delay we started without u guide, as there
are no Indians on the Stekeen at that time
of the year. We could get here very little
information about the trail. The trail
follows the Stekeen for about 25 miles
along bench country, cut up by numer.
Gus deep gulches, including the first and
second North Forks. At the second
North Fork we were detained two and
u half days building a bridge. Then the
the country is tolerable level and dry fol
20 miles; then travelling through the
swamps for II or IA miles further, We
came to mountain which we wer'
obliged to climb. We travelled on thes'
mountains for 10 miles, and found our
selves getting into slate range, whlcl
we followed for 10 mile or more. Thi
ridge of mountains runs about north aE'
south. The waters of these mountains
as YOU will perceive by the map, run int
the second and third North Forks OF th
Stekeen river. Then coming to larg
valley, running northeast by north, W
followed this valley for IL or IA miles
There is large creek running throug
the center OF this valley, with numerou
small creeks and gulches emplying Int
it. I have since proved that this cree
Is the head-waters Of Dease's Greer
Not knowing the exact locality OF til
lake, we turned little more to the eas
ward, and struck Dease's Lake abot
midway between Dease's Creek and tt
head of the lake, on the 18th OF Jun'
with double packs to each man. da
or two before we got to the lake, v
crossed creek, which prospected an
found few fine "colors;' cached OF
provisions; went up TO the lake on
started back to the Stekeen through II
valley; arrived at Miler's Bar on Il
18th Of June. The first 40 miles on Il
road to Dease's Lake, from Stekeen, Il
feed for animals is good and e1tensiv
but the balance of the way the feed
not SO good; and limited.
Left Miler's Bar on the goth for 4
lake. with double packs each. Anxio
to find out the best pack trail, to!
the mountain trail, eastward OF the thl
North Fork (which is the trail the
diaus travel to Dease's Lake,, to I
Upper Stekeen; I found this part OF
country much higher than anticipate
and also numerous swamps and de
moss; patches of snow lying along I
trail in the first part of July. We
rived at the lake again on the 7th OF Ju
On the 9Th we started down the lake.
On the afternoon Of the 9th we arri'
at the lake, mouth of Thilbert Creek.
went up short distance and prospect
little, found few fine colors,
came back to camp. Next morning
started to pack our provisions up
creek, which took us several days.
the 18th Of July we located our clal
on Thilbert Greek, aud got ready
work. On the 25th and my son w
prospecting on creek which we
Delure Creek, which empties into ~
bert Creek. prospected there until
3Oth; found little gold. but not in P
ing quantities. run cut in one pls
found little gold in the gravel
none on the bedrock, as the rock
smooth.washed. In other places co
not get to the bedrock on account
water, Ms the creek was high.
Thilbert Greek has turned out
good, but there is a great drawback
this creek-that is frost-in some pia
on the shady side of the creek the gro'
Is frozen right down to the bed rc
The Rath Company, Collins Compaa
discovery Company. and the Waio
Company are considered the best cla
on Thilbert Greek. The companies D
made from two to four ounces a da
the hand; all working with rockers,
'cept tho Waldron Company, who
sluices.
Not being we'll. and having sore