The Alaska prospector., 1904-01-28
Proposed Government Wagon Road .
RY rpNrxp SMITH. ,rTorxry

S''"' ""S o"o"h iaHlentaolc ignoranCe 0i conditions here. President Roosevelt is the only president who has taken a personal interest in Alaska. Congress, of course had vague and ncbulous idea that the government owned a frozen zone up near the north pole. acquired from Russia througl, an incident of the civil war; but us no con sidcration was given by the United States and none received by Russia for Alaska. even at that price, many Americans and pseudo statesmen were pleased to refer to it as Stewards Folly"
 As a result of better knowledge of AL aska, during the summer of 1903, a com mittee of the Senate of the United States visited Alaska and also the Canadian DOT tion of the great northwest and saw the magnificent wagon roads built and main tained by the Yukon Territory.
 This committe naturally felt humilatetl when they considered the neglect of Alaska in view of its marvellous resources, it's un- dreamed of natural richness and the pa tiencc and long suffering of it's inhabitants who have paid into the United States treas ury millions of dollars collected by a system of taxation absolutely unknown in any other section within the jurisdiction of the United States, and wholly un-American.
 This committee has reported in favor of an appropriation for building wagon roads in Alaska, by far the most important of which is the proposed wagon road from Valdez to the Yukon river at Eagle. It is the only natural all-American route across the great empire.
 It will traverse and open up the most extensive and richest copper district on earth. It will pass through and open for settlement thirty-ive thousand square miles of rich agricultural lands. It will give easy access to the rich gold placer deposits of the Nizina, Slate creek. Chisna, Panama, White river, Shushitna, Bremner and Kaina.
 It will open up and make productive hundreds of placer deposits now inaccess- ibie. It will increase the gold production of the United States ten million per annum It will furnish happy homes and profitable employment for half a million of people.
 The government of the United States will be the greatest beneficiary of this wag-
 
 maintenance of the telegraph system $5O,- mcnt would save in carrying mails $50,O0O per annum; court and other incidental ex- penses $25 GOO more, paying very hand- some interest on money invested.
 The small tradesmen and the hardy sons of toll who are weary of close competition, strikes, lockouts, etc, should keep an eye on this great NOrthland more than two thirds of which lies in the North temperate zone with agricultural possibilities and climatic conditions equal to the great state of Minnesota Alaska has deposits of gold platinum, copper, coal, tin and oil, and its fur and fishing possibilities are the marvel and wonder of all intelligent investigators
 The Nizina Gold Fields.
 BY ARTHUR M. EpwARDs.
 In the fall of 1901 and in April 1902 dis coveries of gold were made in what is known as the Nizina district, This dis trict includes an area about fifteen miles square, some 175 miles northeast of Valdez. Pay has been found on Dan, Chititu and Young creeks and most of their tributaries. These three creeks flow into the Nizina river from the east. No extensive work Was done until the past season, and then only with pick and shovel. The produc- tion for 1903 was considerably over $l0O,O0O Arrangements are being made by the prin- cipal owners to operate large hydraulic plants during the coming season. Under this more economical management this dis trict will produce many hundreds of thou sands of dollars annually for years to come. There is an abundance of water and tim Der all over the district.
 A remarkable feature of mining on many of the creeks in the Nizina country is the accumulation of nuggets of native copper in the sluice boxes These vary from the size of pea to fifty pounds in weight, and are piled up in heaps. awaiting the day of cheap transportation.
 Agriculture In The Copper River Valley.
 J. F. HIELscHE. MERCHANT.
 The United States government by an act of Congress apprOpriates each year money to be used in establishing agricultural ex- pertinent stations in Alaska. Under the