Valdez daily prospector., 1909-01-15
VALDEZ CREEK D|GG|NGS
 PROVE EXTREMELY RICH
 gressesO1d Channel Found Which Rich Coming Season Witness Activity in camp-High Quartz

Probably the most important gold strike made in Alaska in recent years is that known az the Valdez creek digging8, near the headwatcr8 of the Susitna river. It is estimated that the new discovery. While this is not large sum, yet when the amount of ground from which it was taken iS con sidcrcd, it demonstrates the existence of exceedingly rich pay gravelH. Ihc difficulty of transporting supplies to the new camp, the depth to bedrock in order to reach the pay streak, op- cratmg in deep, thawcd ground and numerous other obstacles, have ten dcd to rctard development work, but the confidence of tho miners who were the original iocators and those who followed in their wake, that d great guid camp will spring up as the work of opening the claims pro- gro8scG, iuc.cagCB with each succeed ing yCa from the date of discovery.
 IL iH predicted Jhat the coming sea son will Wi,rcSs the gacateGt activity in the life of th" camp. Many of the claim owners are in the states inter- catin% outside capital to exploit their holdings, and in all probability much extensive prospecting will be done. .'rrtainly the indications justify the fullest investigation on the part of the mining element.
 The Discovery.
 In March, 1903, Peter Monahan, James $. Smith, J. C. Clarkaon and John M. Johnson left Valdez by dog BIcdgcH on q prospecting trip. They desired t0 exploit new fields. The party took the interior route over the Valdez glacier, crossed the hcadwa- cTg, passed over the divide and struck thc SuBitna river about 75 miles be- it3 source. his I,tp was made over the snow, and consequently but little prospecting wa done enrouto. Late in the spring tho party found a creek which pro@pCctCG well, and perma- nOnt camp was made with the idea of giving the stream thorough test. Encouraging rCaiIlt8 followed. On d point of a baa' $t50O in gold was mined ont. Nlaim were located and the CIcek TamCd Valdez, after the town from whence the party came. Valdez creek ig d tributary of the Su8itna and the discovery is about one and a half mites from it's mouth.
 New nI the Gtrito reached Valdez during the winter of l003-4, and in the spring about sixty prOSpoctors stam- pcdcd to the scene. Few of these re- maincd, however, as it was thought the best claims had been located, and al that time but little development work had been done by the original di"covcrCrG. At best, but little could then be shown, and a majority of the new corners either returned home or directed their efforts elsewhere. Among thoGc who were not content with a superficial investigation of the prospective gold camp were Will liam Grogg, Clark Duff, Dan Ross, Bill Smith, Sid Wollindon, Dan $. Kain, r.. R. King, J. F. Carlson, Tom Ncaly, l.. $. WickcrDham, Dolph Smith, Fat" Hamilton, Sam Frazoe, Charles Garwood, William Harris, William WidgtIom, James Gray and Charles GLauscn. they stayed with the camp and have ground which may yield them a substantial competence. Carlson and Ncaly have already come into ready money by. the discovery, the year of their arrival, of Lucky Gulch. Ihig is small Bircamlet at the head of Valdez creek, abou5 scv- en miles from the mouth. lhi8 gulch has been steady producci since that time. he gold iG coarse, q 5000 mug get having been found, while $lO0 and $50 nugget aro Of frequent occur renee.
 The original IdiscovcrelB generally known as the MonahaA party, found pay on Valdez creek on Discovery and and below. These claims were bought by the Oregon & Su8itna Min ing Co.,, at the head of which is Dan S. Kain. During thc last season the company worked on No. 2 below, us- ing two giant5 and Ruble elevator in itg operations. .ho Gea8on'g clean up was entirely satisfactory, and the ground will be mined on n more com prehengivo scale next season.
 Find Old Channel
 After dispoejng of Discovery and Nos. 1 and below, the Monahan par ty began to open up on No. 2 above. Here they uncovered pay ground, but as they neared the upper end line of the claim, the paystrcak became lean CT. It was manifest that the gold had come from q bench adjoining, and prospecting was done OF this theory. The bench was covered with brush and moss, and rose from the rivor val Icy to the top distance of TO feet.