The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-06
CAPE nome GOLD FIELDS
DR.. Cabell Whitehead Report to
the Director of the Mint.
Beach DigginEs About Exhausted,
But Creeks Promise We1I-A Pre-
Years the District VIII Produce
Great Quantities of yellow Metal.

has submitted a preliminary report by
mail to George <. Roberts, Director of
the Mint. Mr.. Whitehead confirms the
previous information that the beach dig
gings have been exhausted. He says. how
ever, that the creeks are promising well.
and that the output this year has been
81 800. COO, with a chance that it will
reach 1000, coo by the end of the season.
in my opinion he concludes, "the flu
ture Of this district remains to be proven.
with the chances largely in favor of its
becoming in the next two years very
good producer. and that this production
will be due to the bench claims rather
than to the creek claims, as is in large
measure the case in Klondike."
The report of Dr. Whitehead is in part
as follows:
Nome City, September 3, 1900.
81 have deferred reporting to you since
my arrival in Nome, as the conditions
here were so uncertain that nothing re-
liable could be said as to the future pro-
duction.
LAT this time II is definitely known that
the beach cannot be counted upon, even
as small producer. in the future. When
We arrived TINS summer luS D6dcn udu
already been worked over for the second
time. and the many sluicing plants which
were erected had to content themselves
with the tailings and an occasional rich
spot of ground which had been overlook
ed by previous miners. This condition,
combined with the fact that from thous-
and to fifteen hundred rockers continued
at work, made it impossible for these
plants to more than make wages, and in
many cases they were complete failures.
In one case / recall a sluicing plant
was taking out about $500 per day at an
expense of possibly $50 When this leak
ed out seventy seven rocker men, by ac-
tual count, settled around this plant. and
as the owner of the plant had no claim
to the ground which was recognized by
the rocker men 1t became impossible for
him to hold an area sufficient to continue
operations for a single week. In spite
of all these difficulties, / estimate that
the beach has produced during the pres
ent season between $3.50, 900 and 5000. 900.
The exact amount is difficult to arrive
at. since the beach dust comes into the
banks mixed with the dust from the
creeks. as well as from foreign sources.
AT the time of our arrival l estimate
that fully one-half of all the dust in cir
culation in Nome was produced in Daw-
animation of the fineness of the bars
shipped from this locality during July
and August. The average fneness of Daw-
son gold is $50, while the average fine
ness of Nome gold is $50. The bars ship
ped to the assay Office at Seattle during
the period referred to above were from
.s35 to .S45 fine, which would represent
equal parts of Dawson and Nome gold.
This is the only method that l know of
to arrive at these figures.
Leaving the beach, we should first con-
slider Anvil Creek, not only as the great
est producer up to the present time, but
as the probable greatest producer of the
near future-at least for the next year.
There are eighteen claims on this creek,
which have either produced or give prom
Use of producing. From these claims
estimate there has been taken this year
about 10000, which may include gold
from the benches along Anvil. l estimate
that. II the legal complications were ad-
iusted, these claims might all be worked
out by the end of next season, but GER
tainly by the end of the second season.
= "On Dexter Creek, which is practically u
dry creek, we have a number of very rich
claims These have not produced largely
this year, owing to drought and legal en-
but with the introduction OF
the pumping plant, which Mr.. Charles D.
Lane, of San Francisco, is now construct
ing, they should all produce we'll. Snow
Gulch another rich creek. has produced
only about $1,000 this season, while last
year, / am told by the same authority, II
produced $500, 900. This falling of was dus
to a lack of water. OF the numer-
GUS creeks other than those above named.
with the exception of Oregon. Twin Noun
tain, and Mountain Creeks and Dry Creek.
nothing is heard Many men
are prospecting throughout the entirs
country, and we can only tell what ha,
been produced when they come in, as they
are very secretive in all matters concern
ing their productions.
This is due. no doubt. to the present
legal complications, which are rapidly in
volvlng 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
lions, under his direction. This naturally
has caused a great deal OF comment and
criticism, either Just or unjust. But be
that as it may, the result has been that
investments in mines in this locality are az
a standstill, no one being willing to take
the hazard Of a lawsuit. In addition to that
OF a mining investment.
"Of the new discoveries since last sea-
SON, Tepkuk, located on the beach, sixty
miles east OF here, easily takes the lead.
From a space not over five feet in length,
along the beach to the tundra, there was
taken out this spring between $500. 900 and
$500, 600, all with rockers. At present much
Of this ground 10 being reworked with
sluices, and much gold is still coming from
that locality. In the immediate neighbor-
hood are several good claims lying along
Daniels Creek, and pumping plants are
now being erected to work them, 40 that
next year you may look for considerable
production 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
ng 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.
L being no uncommon thing to get from
$40 to $50 In single pan. The creek is
entirely taken up, but little work can be
lone this season, though 1t may yet pro-
luce a couple OF hundred thousand dollars.
In my complete report l will discuss It
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 febu-
ously rich. nothing richer having been
found in the Klondike, I 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.
II incline to the opinion that these an
eient 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 l am right in this opinion, they