Evening star., 1900-10-05
Anvil and Dexter Creeks.

Anvil and Dexter Creeks.
Leaving the beach, we should first con-
| slider Anvil creek, not only as the greatest
producer up to the present time, but as the
probably greatest producer of the near fu-
ture-at least for the next year There are
eighteen claims on this creek, which have
either produced give promise OF pro-
ducing From these claims l estimate there
has been taken this year about $50 0O0
which may include gold from the benches
along Anvil. 1 estimate that, If the legal
complications were adjusted, these claims
might all be worked out by the end Of next
season. but certainly by the end of the
second season.
ION Dexter creek, which is practically
dry creek, we have a number of very rich
claims. These have not produced largely
this year, owing to drouth and legal entan-
clements. but with the Introduction of the
pumping plant, which Mr.. Chas. D. Lane
of San Francisco is now constructing, they
should all produce well. Snow Gulch, an
other rich creek, has produced only about
$1,000 this season, while last year, l am
told by the same authority, it produced
$1,000 This falling off was due entirely
to a lack Of water. OF the numerous creeks
other than those above named. with the ex-
ception Of Oregon, Twin Mountain and
Mountain creeks and Dry creek. compare
lively nothing is heard. Many men are
prospecting throughout the entire country.
and we can only tell what has been pro-
duced when they come in, as they are very
| SecretiVe In all matters concerning their
productions.
This is DUE no doubt, to the present
legal complications, which are rapidly in
volving all claims Of value in this section.
OF the producing claims. and also those
which produced last year, nearly all are
now in the hands Of receivers, appointed
by the court to conduct the mining opera
tions, under his direction. This naturally
has caused great deal Of comment and
criticism, either just or unjust. But be
that 1t may, the result has been that in
vestments In mines in this locality are at
a standstill, no one being willing to take
the hazard of a lawsuit, In addition to that
Of a mining investment.
TOpkuk Takes the Lead.
"Of the new discoveries since last season,
Topkuk. located on the beach, sixty miles
east Of here, easily takes the lead From
space not over 500 feet in length, along
the beach to the tundra. there was taken
out this spring between $1,000 and $780,
600. all with rockers. At present, much Of
this ground is being reworked with sluices,
and much gold Is still coming from that
locality. In the immediate neighborhood
are several good claims lying along Dan
iels creek, and pumping plants are now
being erected to work them. so that next
year you may look for a considerable pro-
duction from that quarter.
THE latest strike, and one which is at
present attracting most attention, is on the
Bluestone river in the Port Clarence min
ing district, something less than hundred
miles from Nome. One of the tributaries
of this river, Gold run. Is said to exceed in
richness anything known heretofore, it be-
ing no uncommon thing to get from SO to
$40 in single pan. The creek Is entirely
taken up, but little work can be done this
season. though 1t may yet produce a cou-
pie of hundred thousand dollars In my
complete report I will discuss 1t more fully
"A source Of gold which Is attracting
much attention at the present time is the
ancient river beds along the head of Dex-
ter and Anvil creeks; these deposits are
locally known as bench claims, since they
form benches above the present bed of the
creeks. Some of these deposits are fabu-
lously rich, nothing richer having been
found in the Klondike, am told, than some
of the claims along Nickkala gulch The
extent of these deposits, however has not
yet been proven, and another season will
be necessary to demonstrate their value.
Source of the Gold.
ct incline to the opinion that these ancient
channels are the source Of the gold found
in all the creeks on this district, as well as
the gold taken from the beach. and II am
right in this opinion, they should be very
extensive and add many millions to the
worlds production. The general trend of
these channels Is east and west, while in q
general way the present flow OF the streams
Is north and south. thus cutting almost at
places errodtnG them to bed rock for sew.
Aral miles. Some weight Is given to This
purely theoretical opinion by the fact that
40 gold has been found In paying Quanti-
ties IN any rock, 30 far as / am aware In
this or any other adjoining mining districts,
| Of this gold was not the present quartz
laadA but that n uaaaa$ have oorne from