Valdez daily prospector., 1913-10-14
R'E|::.P||'IO REPORT; ISSUED
 0N NElCAlNA
Prof. e, c. Martin, of Geological Survey, Writes About Now
 Diatrlot and Nputea.

Matanuska country, made a flying visit to the new Nelchina dig gings as soon as they were re- ported and has been given per- mission to issue a statement in writing regarding the new camp. As Prof, Martin is geologist of standing and familiar with con- ditions in Alaska his statement will be. found interesting to the public, and is printed below:
 "I have heen authorized by the 1 Director of the Geological Sur vey to make public statement regarding placer gold in the Nell china district. The following statement is accordingly offered you for publication. I wish to state that I shall give no verbal interviews either in this town OF elsewhere, but shall be glad to clear up any points which may not be understood by further correspondence.
 "A very brief examination of part of the Nelchlna placer dis trict was made during the latter part of August. This work was not detailed OF complete, it being accomplished as opportunity of fered in the course of the geo. logic investigations previously planned for this season in the upper Matanuska valley. The re- suits of this examination. with accompanying maps, will be in- cluded in the next annual pro- gres sreport on the work of the Geological Survey in Alaska. which will probably be publish ed early next summer. In the meantime. the latest geologic re- port on the region of which this district is part is Bulletin No. 327 of he l.. $. Geological Sur vey. This report does not de- scribe what is now known as the Nelchina placer district specifi- cally, but does describe the whole region in general terms. and is accompanied by Topographic and geologic maps which will be of great value to anyone going in to the district. This report may be obtained free upon application to Inc Director r. $. Geological Survey. Washington, D. C.
 'lt is impossible [" present now any more than such a brief general description of the district as may. it is hoped. be of value tu those who contemplate going there. wish to state that in the outset. in my opinion. it is not possible now to forecast the fu- ture of the diStrirt. Il is beIIeN- ed that at least some of the claims which have been developed ,uriNe he past summer ar" worthy of further development on larger scale. but the for the most part poorly equipped and, in some cases. apparently a1m- less little stampede which is now in progress is not justified. The latter statement should not Dc interpreted as a condemnation of the district any more than the former is an unqualified endorse l ment of it. The facts are that the extent of the productive ter | ritory is highly problematical and cannot be determined at this sea son by the outfits which are now heinz taken in. The work for this winter is freighting supplies and whipsawing lumber rather than stalking snow banks. The form CT activities will he better for the district. not only because they constitute a more substantial
 form of development, but hecause
 they are less conducive to meta-
 phorial cold feet and will afford
 less opportunity for the dissem-
 ination of hard luck tales.
 1 The strike which has aroused the present interest is on Albert
 Creek. a small tributary of Crook
 cd Greek, which flows. into Nell
 china river. Albert Creek rises
 near the headwaters of Alfred
 Creek, which is tributary to the
 Malanuska River through Cari-
 bou Creek. It is situated about |ilO miles by. trail from knik ane
 about sixty-tive miles west o'
 Tazlina roadhdnse., The route
 from Knik leads up the Matanus.
 ka trail to the south end a
 Boulder Creek flats, from whicf N. .~,