The San Francisco call., 1897-07-20

of the several branches of Stewart River, on
which some prospecting has been done this
summer and good indications found, but the
want OF provisions prevented DEVELOPMENT.
Since my last the prospects on Bonanza Creek
and tributaries are increasing in richness ana
extent, until now it is certain that millions
will be taken out of the district in the next
few years. On some OF the claims prospected
the pay dirt is OF great extent and very rich
One man told me yesterday that he washed
out single pan of dirt on one of the claims
on Bonanza Creek and found $14 25 in it, OF
course, that may be an exceptionally rich
pan, but So to 81 per pan is the average on
that claim, 1t is reported-with five feet pay
dirt and the width yet undetermined, but 1t IS
known to be thirty feet. Even at that figure
the result, at nine TO ten pans to the cubic foot
and 500 feet long, is 81 O00,0 at $5 per pan.
A fourth OF this would be enormous. Enough
prospecting has been done TO show that there
are at least fifteen miles of this extraordinary
richness, and the indications are that it wl!I
have three or four times that extent; II not all
equal 10 the above, at least very rich.
There are several cases of hardship now for
the want of proper court. Miners meetings
have lost their power, though one was held III
Forty-Mile q day ago to settle the disputed
ownership of placer claim, thing perfectly
within the power of the agent here, and why
court to satisfy the necessities OF the people Ill
business here is not at once established seri-
Gus inconvenience Will result The officer ap-
pointed will require 10 be hale, vigorous per-
son, for it is probable that he will have TO
make Journeys of considerable length across
unoccupied country in the discharge OF his
duty. ] have in previous reports intimated
that some sort OF legal machinery is abso-
lutely necessary for the trial of cases of con-
~ Hnbt nd IO-
dicial interests OF the country.
A quartz lode showing free gold in paying
quaint titles has been located on one OF the
creeks, but I cannot yet send particulars. l
am confident from the nature OF the gold
found in the creeks that many more OF tnem m,
and rich too, viii be found. have just heard
from a reliable source that the quartz men,
toned is rich, as it tested over 800 10 the
ton. The lode appears to run from three to
eight feet in thickness and is about nineteen
miles from the Yukon River. l viii likely be
called on to survey it and will be able to re-
port fully.
John Dalton informed me he has found good
prospects on a small creek nearly midway be-
tween The coast range and Selkirk on his
route. His man showed me some coarse gold,
q bout dollars worth, he found on the head
of branch of the Alsek River, near the head
of Chi.kat Inlet which is, of course, ins de
tne SummlG OF the coast range and, OF course,
in our territory. From this you will gather
that we have very large area, all more or
less gold bearing, and will all yet be work ed.
Good quartz has been found IN places just
across the line on Davis Creek {See my map OF
the 141st sent you). but of what extent is un-
known, as it is in the bed of the creek and
covered with gravel. Good quartz is also re-
ported on the hills around Bonanza Greek
but of this will be able to speak more fully
after my proposed survey. 1t is pretty certain
from information have got from prospeetors
that all or nearly all of the noTtheI4y branch
OF White River is on eur side o: the line, and
copper Is found on ii, but more abundantly
on the southerly branch, of which great deal
of it is in our territory also, 1t is probable
we have that metal also.
/ have seen here several Jumps of native cop
per brought by the natives from White River, |
but just from what part is uncertain. 1 have |
also seen a specimen OF silver ore said to have |
been picked up in creek flowing into Ben |
nett Lake, about fourteen miles down it on |
the east side.
Placer prospects continue more and more |
encouraging and extraordinary; it is beyond |
doubt that three PANS of different claims on |
FL Dorado turned out 1904, 1912 ana $2I6, |
but it must be borne in mind that there were |
only three such pans, though there are N any |
running from SO 10 $50. l think this is !
enough to show that we may look forward |
with confidence to fairly bright future for
this part of our territory