The times., 1898-07-15
ALAsKA.s GOLD FIELDS.
Mr.. Becker OF the Geological Survey
Gives Interesting IpformatfOn


Gives Interesting Information.
Some historical notes on Alaskan gold
have been prepared by George f. Becker
of the Geological Survey, who was as
signed by the S5irector of the Geological
Survey to Investigate the gold and coal
resources ofssAaaska.
In his rS'oft, Mr. Becker says that
if the early Spanish, Russian and English
explorers of me Alaskan Coast found
gold in that region they seem to have
omitted all mention of the fact. and, as
the discovery would have added to the
Importance of their explorations, 1t may
be assumed that they failed to detect
the presence of the metal. According to
c. p. c. Fleurieu, who wrote in the last
century, Juan de F'uca reported gold. sill
Yer and pearls in Puget Sound but little
credit seems to have been given to the
statement.
In 1S49, A. Erman published in a Rus
sian journal a map of the world show
ing the distribution of gold, which fails
to indicate any auriferous region in
Alaska. In 1S4S. the Russian government
commissioned p. p. Doroshln to explore
for mineral resources the country about
Sftka, the island OF Kadiak and the
Kenai Peninsula. He discovered the coal
OF Cooks Inlet and detected gold at sew
eral points. IN 1851 he again visited the
country, but on neither occasion did he
find any gold-bearnS veins or meet with
gravels carrying more than a sixth of
pennyweight in each ton. He was after
rl far
more gold. He claimed that he received
no aid from the natives. They had no
word in their language meaning gold. He
was also unfortunate in the selection of
the areas selected for examination. The
kahu River, which empties into Cook
Inlet at Fort Kenai, and Yakuta Bay,
were among Doroshins localities.
In 1863 there was considerable excite
ment over the gold washings on the Sti-
kline River. which, however, were entirely
in British territory.
Gold was reported on the Taku River,
not far from Juneau, as early as 1867
In 1873. a gold quartz vein was found on
Silver Bay, ten miles from Sitka. Fruit
less prospecting had been done. some
years earlier, in the same region. The
placers of Silver Bow Basin were discov-
cred in $780, and those OF Douglas Island
in 1881 In working these last. a large
quantity of low grade quartz was laid
bare. which was soon acquired by John
Treadwell. The famous Alaska Tread
well milne is opened on this body Of
quatz. Sheep Creek came into notice in
1888. and rich ore was discovered IN Sum
dunn Bay in 1859. In this year only as
Sessment work was done al Berner's Bay
On TurHagain Arm, at the head of Cook
Inlet. there are auriferous stream gravels
At Bear Creek, active operations We're
begun in 1894. In August, 1895. further dis
coveries were made near the head of the
| arm. 41i
The beach sands at Yakutat Bay, on the
west coast-of Hadiak and In O her I.cal-
tiles contain gold, and small parties Of
miners sonetines engage in its extrac-
ton, but without brilliant success To
che west of Kadiak. the Apollo Consoli-
dated Mine is the only one which has
yielded any large quar,ity Of gold. It
was opened In 1856. Prospecting has been
done at Unalaska and 10 some extent.
on the Alaskan peninsula with different
success. m
On the Yukon gold was first discovered
by members OF the Western Union TeIe-
graph expedition. The first mention OF
this gold field is by f. Whymper. in 1868.
| It was also referred 10 by William Dali
in 1870 The first mining excitement on
| the Yukon was in 1886.