Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-23
SOIL IS RICH.
Henry Stoessel's Version of
Alaska.
HARD WORK WILL WIN.
Mr.. stoessel Is an Extensive Owner
of Rich Mining interests in Various
Parts of AIaska-WilI Return to
Tanana This Winter.

bttuSVla
An Ottumwan, who has spent ever
three years in the gold fields of Alaska
and has not only prospected, but has
been connected with the government
service in that country, so that he is
in a good position to know all about
the conditions, has returned to his
home for visit with relatives
Henry Stoessel, who was among
the rst from this part of the state to
start for the gold country, left this
city in July, 1897. He went to Seattle
where he remained until January l of
to Dutch Harbor, and was there until
June, 1898, when he moved on to ST.
Michaels, staying there until fall. He
Their left the coast and went into the
interior of the country, making the
trip from ST.. Michaels to the Klon-
dixie region by way of the Yukon river
and with dog teams. After remaining
q short time in the Klondike country
where he prospected and located a
few claims, Mr.. Stoessel went to the
Tanana district. This is a good coun-
try, and is being worked. Mr.. Stoes-
sci owns four claims in this district.
After time spent in prospecting in
the Tanana country, Mr.. Stoessel re-
turned to st. Michaels. where he was
appointed postmaster. He held this
Office during the summer months, and
was left free to prospect in the win
ter. He was in the Koyukuk district
and located few claims. These
claims extend 300 feet on each side of
the creek on which they are located,
and are 1920 feet long.
In the fall of 1898, the Nome country
became prominent, and Mr.. Stoessel
was one of the first to reach that
place from st. Michaels. He found a
rich country, but the best claims were
staked out by foreigners, who were
not naturalized, but had only applied
for their naturalization papers in or
der to be able to locate claim. This
was decidedly distasteful to the life
long citizens of the United States,
whe were compelled to take the poorer
claims or do without. Litigation was
instituted against these proceedings of
the foreigners, but the cases were as a
rule, decided In their favor.
Mr.. Stoessel prospected in the Nome
country and located some claims there,
none of which, he says are very prom
Using. The paying creeks near Nome
are Anvil, Dexter and Snow Gulch.
These creeks include about thirty
claims, nearly all of which are owned
by the foreigners spoken of above.
There were times when the Anvil creek
diggings yielded $4,000 per day.
This, of course, is not an average
yield, but one of the best This creek
is about the richest place in the dis
trict, altho the other two named are
about on a par with it. Mr. Stoessel
had on exhibition in the postoffice at
St Michaels nugget from the Anvil
creek diggings which measured about
8x4x4 inches. 1t was the property of
one of the foreigners who own nearly
all the claims on this creek.
The beach diggings at Nome were
pected thoroly for distance of sixty
tho average yield per man for the sea-
| sui. NC ICpOlJS VI CllSoc 6OOu ylSluS
brought hundreds of men from Nome
the next year. The same country was
gone over and had ben prospected the
proceeding year, and ten times the
number of men We're on the ground.
so ii Is no wonder that so many were
disappointed.
Mr.. Stoessel says the excitement is
always great over new finds. A great
majority of the reported strikes are
found, upon investigations, to be
worth much less than at first thought
but at the next report. the crowd OF
gold seekers is as large as preceding
ones. Every man seems to have the
opinion that altho he has been disap.
| pointed before, each succeeding find
ma. be rich one. The wisdom OF
this plan is apparent from the exper.
fence of Mr.. Stcessel. In April OF
this year he was invited by three men
to accompany them to the Topkok re,
gion where good find had been re.
ported. He had other arrangements
however, and did not go but three
other men, who went made SIT, 00O
each from the three claims they To-
Gated at the mouth of Topkok creek
One of the characteristics noticeable
in this district is that gold may be
found in exceedingly paying quaint
ties in one place, while only short
distance from this the ground is en-
tirely barren, as regards gold.
| Mr.. Stoessel spent some time al
Nome, ad speaks of it as an interest
ing town of about 10000 inhabitants
The prices of articles there are now
very little higher than in San Fran
cisco. This is the result of keen com
petition, and an over supply of the ne
cessities of life. AS to the inhabi
tants, the rougher element is much il
evidence. This class of people came
to Nome during the first excitement
with very little money, expecting tc
pick gold up on the beach. They We're
o. course disappointed and now being
out of money, resort to dishonest
means in order to make a living.
All of the Alaskan towns of any
size are under military government
Order is well preserved in the main
camps, but of course it is impossible
for the soldiers to be present at all
new mining towns that spring up al
nest every day. 1t is a fact that a
great many people lose their lives in