The Alaska prospector., 1904-02-04

The gold from this district yields mint assay of $1S.40 to the ounce The output from the few claims worked in 1902 was $275.OOO, and ia 1903 $31OOOO. The gold is fine. That which comes from Miller Gulch. tributary, is coarse and free of nuggets. The mining season in this camp opens June lst and closes about September i5; affording 100 days work at the rate of one dollar an hour. One hundred and seventy-five men were employed on the twenty claims worked during the past sea- son, and it will be ten years at least before the claims now opened will be worked out There is we'll defined pay streak from two to four feet in width, and it is only seven to fifteen feet to bedrock. Only the lower part of the creek has been thoroughly prospected. The benches on the right limit are known to be marvelously rich in gold, and when capital can he induced to put in hydraulic machinery millions will be taken out every year. The camp is in the in- fancy of its development.
 Agricultural Possibilities In The Copper
 River Valley.
 BY R. BLK
 The Copper river valley is estimated to contain at least 5O,OO0 square miles of ag- ricultural land. The time is near at hand when thousands of homes must te estab- lished there. Here are broad acres of al- luvial soil capable of producing vegetables and grain crops of untold values. Here are heavy forests and acres of rich grazing land only awaiting the advent of the dairy herd
 A number of farms were located last summer in the vicinity of Copper Center The government has experimental farm un1er operation, where all kinds of hardy vegetables, oats, barley, and dozen varie- ties of grasses were fully matured. Owing to the manifold resources in this and other lines of development the Copper river val ley offers greater opportunities for the man of moderate means desiring to make home for himself and to become self supporting than any section of the Pacific states dld twenty years ago.
 The development of the vast mineral re- sources which has already begun on large scale provides practically inex- haustable market for all the hay, grain and garden produce that will be raised in the valley for the next twenty years, at higher prices than can be secured in any market in the United States. The settler will upon the advent of the railroad and wagon roads find himself in possession with a perfect title from the government of a piece of valuable land and home, and income sui ficient to render him financially independ- ent.
 Strangers who know nothing of the pos abilities of the country may seoff at these statements, just as thousands scoffed at similar statements concerning the agricul- tural possibilities of the country compris- ing the great empire of Western America But to those who bave been through the country these possibilities are too well known to require substantiation. In my opinion the backbone of the settlement of this mighty valley IS its agricultural re- sources.
 The Valdez Route To Tanana.
 BYr. N. BROWN, ATTORNEY.
 About 100 miles above the mouth of the Panama river, recent discovery of rich placer ground has been found, which bids fair to rival the Klondike district in value and permanence. Like nearly every dis covery in Alaska, the first reports were in some instances exaggerated, causing thou sands to stampede there; large propor- tion of whom were poorly equipped with either provisions or money, and came away without giving it trial. Then followed the conservative element, who by intelli- gent prospecting have shown beyond doubt that it is an immensely rich placer district that will yield an increasing production of placer gold for many years.
 There are thousands of acres. yes tens of thousands of acres of placer ground along