Iditarod pioneer., 1917-02-10

matter before congress, to the end that by
 the time the work is completed along Turn 1 iCain arm that section of the govern ment's construction force might be put on the main line to lditarod and the lower
 Yukon"
 Permanent and Consistent Paystreaks"
 The Anchorage Times of January con | tains the following editorial, which, while 1 based upon exaggerated estimates of the proven riches of the Tolstoi, contains 1 splendid argument for the construction of
 4 branch railroad 10 this section irrcspec- l tive of whether or not the new camp VIII nrnve to be a considerable producer:
 "The reliable information that reaches Anchorage. brought here by reputable min 1 ng men coming over the trail from Tel 1 stoi is to the effect that the new gcld camp is making good that is to say, per mament and consistent paystreaks are be
 ing developed, not only On one creek alone, 1 put cn several creeks in the district This news s almost as gratifying to residents of Anchorage as it must be to the hardy pros
 pcctors and miners that are claim owner: ] the new camp, for the obvious reason that if Tolsto shoul1 prove large placer mining camp, rivaling Fairbanks and other i Interior geld districts, the government rail way system will extend to that region This 1 s a logical conclusion of the result of the discovery of big placer mining field. The | Times has had occasion before to discuss and advocate q branch line leading from | he main line to the kuskokwim region.
 when the main line shall have been con structed to Fairbanks. The discovery of 1 the Tostoi district, and its promising future. 1 based on paystreaks that have already been | located, lends added stimulus to this sug gestion.
 "The construction of the branch line lead 'ng to the Kuskokwim river and on to Tol stoi means that Anchorage will, as now be the chief construction base for work that will require the expenditure of some ten or fifteen million dollars, and requiring some five or six years of time. It Is un- necessary to dilate on what that means to Anchorage But pending the building of his branch line road there will be an ever increasing winter traffic to and from this newly found placer camp. The mushers coming and going will naturally stop over n the metropolis for two or three days minglng with our people, renewing cl1 ac quaiutances who may be found here from all parts of Alaska, and incldenta ly con ;buting dollars to local business men This travelling trade Is very desirable one for the reason that most of those who muSh over the winter trails of Alaska have more 3r less money, and they are not afraid to exDend a few dollars Especially is this the case with the mining clement.
 "Sourdough Alaskans, more especially those who have quit the country and gone to the States, labor under the impression that with the discovery of Nome, Fair .anks, Iditarod, Ruby and smaller camps about all the placer camps in the territory nave been revealed The TclstOl district .,,pears 10 contradict this contention. In .etd one IS safe in asserting that there IS every likelihood that many placer fields wi! 9e developed in Alaska as the year roll cn and transportation has reached more ad-
 fanced stage To think that placer gold may only be found in few widely-separ ated spots in Alaska Is too pesSimistlc Sn attitude to assume. Or to hold that placer god may only be found in certain foEma- .lcns in this territory IS another Idle dream hat time will eradicate as unfounded. In he present history of mining in Alaska
 he prospector seeking placer gold deposits favorS the mica schlst and limestone fOrma-
 ions. That IS because the Nome camp md the Fairbanks camp lay In those forma- tions. But the Bible tells us that WhllS silver, lead and other metals are found Tn leads, Iodes and deposits, geld Is where you ind it. Gold Is the one element in nature that has no affinity. There are no pre- cribcd formations that must be present to insure the presence of gold. It IS found n granite slate, schist, greensboro gray wacke. limestone and other rock forma- tions"
 Actual Conditions
 The Pioneer here presents statement of the actual conditions with reference to known pay on the various creeks in the rolstoi district This statement Is com
 lied from information given by man who, besides being well informed on the ubject, IS interested in the future ot the rolstoi, and besides is optimistic as to its future development:
 Boob Creek.-On Mo- below discovery, owned by Ira Van Orsdal, there Is good cay. The Emmet Fraction, owned by Riley < Mouner, contains pay which will run probably S2 to the foot, and the paystrcak IS sixty feet wide, or possibly even more: No. 1 below, owned by Riley x Mounier and W. A. Vinal, has pay which probably runs s2 to the foot Discovery claim, owned by ;he same parties has similar pay, and No. 1 above, also owned by Riley & Aouner and Vinal, has known pay on the lower end Mo- has good prospects, Altogether there is about mile of pay on this creek.
 Mastodon Creek,-No pay has yet been developed on this creek so far as known. There are, however, good prospects on dis ;overy claim and on No, above, On Will
 on creek which is tributary of Masto- don, there are good prospects also.
 Madison Creek-Two bench claims at the mouth of Fob creek, owned by Wilson & Alexander, show better than 10 cents to the pan No drifting has been done from the holes in which this pay was found. Dis covery claim on Flat gulch, tributary of Esperanto, which is tributary of Madison
 how pay in one hole. Harry Madison and 1 Tom MuckIe have creek claim on ESper