The Nome nugget., 1903-08-05

l SioehN 70 sN''-rf
 Crooked creek is being extensively worked by Scott King, Mr. Lease and MT. Black, and everything looks lively over there. Mir. Black is working his men on four-hour shifts, four hours on and four hours off, and both men and owner are &etter satisfied.
 "The Watterson fraction, adjoining No. 9 Ophr creek, Is running full blast, and good work is being done.
 "Dunn X Carlson are hydraulicking on their bench claims, opposite No. 10 Ophir, and are all smiles at each clean up. They are constructing two mile. more of ditch.
 ''Gabe Price is prospecting the bench of No. Ophir, and is using water from the Guinan X Soderberg ditch.
 Another New Ditch.
 ''Our ditch is now completed from the lower end of No. 10 Ophtr to oppo- site No ,, distance of about three miles. It carries 1,500 inches of water and covers all the present pay below No. 10. Owing to the heavy rock cut and much numing we expended more than originally planned. The ditch cost us about s.5,000. We are furnish ing water to the following mines: Last Chance, Watterson, Sequoia bench, No. :, Rocker bench, No. s, No. 3 and the Rajah group of bench mines.
 'It looks like we had dropped into another little Hot Air mine on Ophir creek. The Rajah group is situated very similarly to the Hot Air mine on Glacier creek, save that the dump is not as good, isss we have less than 15 feet. However, the paystreak is quite wide, over 150 feet, and is prospected about 700 feet in length. The pay streak averages 10 feet in thickness, and pans from one-half cent under the stripping to $4 on bedrock. The prop erty adjoins creek claim No. 3l Ophir, owned by ourselves and J. L. Wilson, Arthur Waters and Castle & Mckee, We are working the travels of the Raiah by means of our ditch, reser- voirs and the old-time self-shooter. | Our Hume is } feet wide and set upon Il grade of ?! inches to 12 feet. This grade works successfully, and enables us to bottom the channel where it would be impossible to do so on ' or S-inch to l2foot grade, such as Is uniformly used in the Nome section, where F and l4-inch boxes are in vogue. Our crew consists of three men on each shift who, with the aid of the water, remove as much ground as could be handled by 75 men.
 towing to the lack of water in Ophir creek, this year exceptionally low, we are not working the Clark bench, Wall berger fraction and No. 6 Ophir, but will let these properties remain idle until next season. Gerald O'Shea, of Trinity Center, Cal, is superintendent of all our properties.
 "rhe de Soto Placer Mining com pany are fast completing their man. moth dredge, located on the Neukluk river, opposite Council City. It will be finished by August b. The dredge is strictly up-to-date in every respect, save that it is not run by electricity. It was built by the celebrated l. B.. Hammond company, of Portland, who have many dredgers at work in the United States. Everyone is eagerly watching the result of this new de- parture in mining up here, and too much encouragement cannot be given this company, in order that everything possible be done to assist them to sue cess. 1 know that dredge is being successfully worked in the Klondike region, where the frost conditions are equally as severe as they are here. From reliable information I gathered that the values of pay do exist on the property to be dredged by the de Soto company. In the event of success it will mean the opening up of an exten- sive branch of placer mining in our country, and capital will eagerly seek investments on an extensive scale in dredging property. One successful dredger this season will, I predict, mean the immediate installation of l5 or 20 more.
 Captain Shutter, of the Northern Light Mining Co.,, has erected large camp at the mouth of Ophir creek. He has turned Ophir creek at the portage, and will, within a few days, bewoplsing in four or five different places shovel ing in his rich pay gravels.
 Council Cityites were somewhat startled about a week ago to seearather large Aat-bottomed gasoline boat tied up at the river edge. It was the "Rough Rider," Capt. Green, from the Panama country. This boat manages to go over all the rifles in the river, and makes the trip to Council compara- lively easy and very quickly.
 ''There is plenty of labor in Council at present, and would not advise any working men to go to Council without first obtaining employment"
 MT. Soderberg will return to Council after few days visit in Nome, look. ing after his numerous interests here. He was accompanied by MT. N. O. Hultberg, who is his associate in all business matters,