Amador ledger., 1900-11-23
Nome and Northern Alaska.

While the Nome rush, on the whole,
was failure, it is manifestly unfair to
condemn the region on that score, as
several things conduced to that result.
Although too much stress was laid
upon the beach diggings, the latter,
undoubtedly, drew the majority of
those who went to Nome this spring,
and the fact that it would play out was
not figured upon. The beach was
worked until late in December, 1899,
and again early this spring; conse-
quently, there was little left for the
vast majority of new comers, a great
many of whom were inexperienced and
unprepared for such an emergency.
AS result, ''cold feet" became preva-
lent and Generalization generally en-
sued.
Those who had arrived short time
before with high hopes, returned to
the States with those hopes shattered
and thoroughly disgusted with the re-
gion.
Outfits on all sides were sold and
prices nearly touched bedrock. To
those who went up to prospect and To-
cate river and creek claims, additional
difficulties presented when it was found
that the whole country within radius
of from $50 to 200 miles from Nome. had
been staked during last winter.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks,
considerable prospecting aud new work
were done during the season.
While results so far, outside of Snow
Gulch, Anvil and Dexter creeks, in the
Nome district, and at Tapkok, in the
Bonanza district, have not been phe-
nomenal, they have been sufficient to
show that there is gold in paying
quantities in the region, which, when
litigation is settled and things are put
on sound basis, may turn out to be a
large producer.
GoLoVIN BAY DISTRICT ALASKA
The Golovin Bay district, comprising
the Inland, Big Four, Ell Dorado, Dis
covery and Blake mining districts (now
merged into one, with recording Office
at Council City, is drained by the Fish,
Kechabloch, Neukluk andi Casa de
Paga rivers aud tributaries Mining
operations have been carried on princi-
pally around Council City (now called
Golovin City, for the past two or three
seasons. This season principal work
was done on Willow, Ruby, and Ban
ner creeks, in Inland district; on Dixon
creek, Big Four district; on Ophir,
Sweetcake, Elkhorn, Warm and
Crooked creeks, in Ell Dorado district,
and on Melsing creek, in Discovery dis
trict. Results were good-yield aver
aging about $50 to the shovel per day.
| Ophir and Sweetcake are the banner
creeks to date, some of the cleanups
having run from thirty to forty
pounds this season.
A two days run on Ruby returned
S400, four men working the claim.
Council City, with population of
about 1000, is about 800 miles from
Nome overland and 120 miles by water.
1t is on the Neukluk river, 9 miles
above the Fish river, and forty miles
above Chenik, on Golovin bay.
Council lies in belt OF spruce, max
ing fuel and building material at that
point comparatively cheap.
Wages this season were IS per day
and board.
Bedrock, principally mica schist and
shales, is variously found from II feet
down. Values in some cases are found
from surface down, but generally foot
or two of stripping is required before
pay is struck.
While comparatively unknown at the
present time, Anvil and Dexter creeks,
Snow Gulch and Tapkok having oc-
cupied the attention of the outside
world as good producers, those owning
claims in the district figure on an active
season.-Written by returned pros
pector for Mining and Scientific Press.