Valdez daily prospector., 1909-01-15
GOLD DISCOVERY IN
 COPPER RIVER BASIN
Original Find Made by Hazlett and Meals in 1898 on the Chisna, a Tributary of Chstuchena. Stampede Follows Report of Strike
 and Other Creeks Located.

In 1898, the year of the big stam pede into the interior of Alaska over the Valdez glacier, George c. Hazlett and A. J. Meals were among those who joined in the great rush. Even tually reaching the Copper river, the from the virgin forest, constructed a boat and proceeded up the big stream, prospecting the creeks as they pro- gressed. Arriving finally at the mouth of the Chistuchena, large tributary of the Copper river, which joins the latter seventy miles above the settlement of Copper Center, Haz- lett and Meals found prospects which led them to ascend the branch stream. They ascended to it's source in the mountains, and on tributary named Chisna established a permanent camp. Some little prospecting was done and claims were located which the dis coverers considered good hydraulic ground.
 During the season of '9S Melvin Dempsey joined Hazlett and Meals in the new camp, staked claims, and has since been one of the most progress sive miners in that district.
 The three men wintered on the Chisna, and in the spring again began prospecting on more systematic ba sis. In May, 1899, they uncovered coarse gold, and were highly encour- aged at the prospects. In the fall HaZlett and Meals returned to Valdez, went to the states, organized the Chisna Mining and Development Com pany, purchased 200 tons of hydraulic machinery and supplies and twenty five head of horses, and returning to Valdez with the big outfit, began the work of transporting it to the new diggings. Twenty-Five men were em- ployed in the work, the head packer being J. R. Crittenden, well known citizen of Valdez.
 In those early days, before the sub stantial government trail which now makes the trip comparatively easy, it was difficult as well as expensive
  tance into the interior. Bridges were built-two large ones, spanning the Tonsina and Klutina river - trails cut where necessary and many obstacles overcome. It took the company from February, 1900, to May 1, 1901, to haul all the tonnage from Valdez to the Chisna.
 The Chisna Mining and Improve ment Co.,, has continued it's opera tions on the Chisna since the install It is currently reported in Valdez that company headed by J. H. Rogers contemplates tbe purchase of the original company's holdings on the Chisna. Rogers visited the section last fall with this object in view, it is stated.
 To the initiative, energy and perse- verence of Hazlett and Meals is due the discovery of the Chisna gold dis trict. As q direct result of the find ing of gold on the Chisna, other gold creeks were found by prospectors who followed in the wake of the origi- nal trail blazers -- Hazlett and Meals.
 Nizina District
 In June of 1902 the Nizina district first attracted the attention of pros pectors, who hocked to the scene of the discovery. The Nizina gold field includes three prominent streams Young creek, Chittitu creek and Dan creek. The Chittitu is the best known as gold producer, and two of it's tributaries, Rex gulch and White gulch, contained pay gravel.
 Dan creek is more of hydraulic proposition, and is controlled chiefly by the Dan Creek Mining Company, at the head of which is Steve Birch, the Guggenheim representative. Bx- tensive development will be done on the company's property next season.
 Young creek is the longest of the