The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-24
royukuk Diggings Give Promise
Of Turning Out Rich.
SOUND BY kLoNDIKs MINERS.
s.1svsstfng Observations Made I'm
- new American Placers by
e~vernment Explorers who Made
psvtsge From the Headwaters of
ne ChandaIar to the Upper koyu-
ksk-From 10 Cents 10 ~ a Pan.

Many prospectors have gone up the
xoyukuk within the last two or three
ysars. upward OF sixty steamers. mostly
ovned BY private parties, having gone in
during the summer OF 1895 with probably
~ persons aboard. To these may be
sd6ed number estimated at not less than
In who went In across country from the
upper Yukon In the fall Of that year. max
~ altogether a considerable throng OF
mn who started In to try their fortunes
slonr this northern river.
Most Of the steamboat parties came out
during the following season, unsuccessful,
and the great majority OF the rest left
re Koyukuk last spring TO Join the Nome
unh, Between $50 and 200 men. how
sver, stayed on the river, and yet for
months longer no reliable news OF dscov-
sries came from that district The first
authentic news Of profitable results there.
d from Frank c. schrader. OF the United
states geological survey. who recently re-
turned TO Washington from an exploring
trp to the district mentioned
schrader's OmciaI Report.
According to Mr.. Schrader's report,
The strike is an unusually rich one.
Ths government party. OF which he
vas leader. went into Alaska via Daw-
son. following the Yukon to the Chan
dalar from the headwaters OF which.
- miles from its mouth. they portrayed
over TO the headwaters OF the Koyukuk,
distance Of fifteen miles. Thus coming
from above down to the Koyukuk gold
region, which 80 far as II has been cx-
p;ored up to the present. centers around
TO mail mountain streams. known as
nake and Myrtle creeks. These are tribu-
tafy TO the headwaters Of the Koyukuk
from the northeast, Myrtle creek finding
- outlet through Slate creek. These
afvams pour their waters into the Koyu-
kuk somewhere near where the Goth
parallel OF latitude intersects the f4sth de-
nee OF longitude Together their length
h about forty miles. Stopping down to
these creeks and to the Koyukuk are
many gulches and canyons. The country
around Is very rocky, most OF the forma-
fion being slate and mica schist
when we arrived" said Mr. Schrader.
'there were not more than seventy miners
dong Slate creek. Going up a little FUR
ther to Myrtle creek we found only few
men there. We were Informed. however
that nearly 200 men are interested in the
GAINS staked out along these streams
4 great many of these had gone down to
the Yukon trading posts for winter pro-
Vision and supplies. ON the western side
= the koyukuk, a little below It's junction
With Slate creek. Is Twelve~Mile creek, a
snail stream. on which few miners have
staked claims.
In the Dimnipg1.
There II no doubt of the enthusiasm Of
the miners over their strike. II Is GER
tain that they have discovered country
Of very considerable area and of great
richness but so far as | was able 10 see.
they have only scratched Il as vet. and It's
Possibilities AS a great gold mining region
remain to be demonstrated IN the future.
Our party remained In the diegings
week During this time | was able 10
watch and observe personally tho results
obtained by tho only crowd that had got
ten into anything Ike working order. This
party. known "a the Elsington party. had
erected 4 sluice on Slate creek and was
averaging each day from $50 to $50 per
man. ! left there on the Goth OF August
During the two weeks prior to that time
the party had taken out $4,000 Some
Of the other miners were obtaining really
remarkable results from banning. but al
most the entire force of the camp was en-
RACED either In building sluiees or IN pre-
pairing for winter.
The gold TN the Slate and Myrtle creeks
region Ii all coarse IL Hes In the beds
Of the streams or In the adjacent valleys
and canyons but little exploration has
been done outside this immediate vicinity,
~ 'nerc mas been mich more room than
Il needed for al claimants M TO the pres
eat
ni~ak Dut HeaithruI.
The gold is found In the gravel and
o. the bedrock. which H. mostly slate.
Fer far around she present gold region
the country Is mountainous and inhospita-
Die. the scenery bleak. the vegetation
scarce, | stouid Say that the koyukuk
region is distant from tho Klondike region
IN straight lire by about 40 miIes As
our experience proved Il Is accessible In