Iditarod pioneer., 1917-08-11
MARSHALL NEWS
Spnit of Optimism Prevails, and Ru1nors Are Current That
 More Pay Has Been Found

of optimism prevalent in that camp as exists at the present time, according to ad- vices received in this city on Thursday last via the launch Comet, Captain Gene Nor ton, which arrived from the lower river
 The Comet left here some weeks ago for Marshall with group of travelling men, and has been making 8 leisurely return. Mrs Norton accompanied her husband, and has hugely enjoyed the cruise on the h. terior waters.
 Mir Norton says that great interest is being taken in the drilling operations being conducted by John Novak for parties hold ing options on ground on lower Willow creek Reports are to the effect that the prospecting shows up better values than had been expected, although no information lis given out for publication. However, the business men of the district speak conf sntly of the future, and one of them re- marked that "next season would be the first year of the Marshall camp"
 The ground being prospected is wet and tocky, and will be difficult proposition to work, which means more general dlstrl- button of the returns for labor, etc, and should make for good times locally.
 It is said that supplies still are hard to obtain at Marshall, and that prices are no lower than in Iditarod, despite the fact that the camp is located several hundred miles nearer to ocean transportation. The "eather has been extremely wet, and the in habitants have been wading around in g sea of mud The many former Idltarod people located there appear to be satisfied with the outlook for the future, and send nothing but good reports as to prospective conditions.
 A letter from correspondent of The Pioneer gives items of local interest as fol lows:
 Activities on Willow Creek
 FORTUNA LEDGE, July 22.-There are six outfits operating on Willow creek. Was key, on Mo- below, is hydraulicking. He gets water from Slope creek, East fork and Willow creek Above him Dan McKinzie is operating on discovery and the lower end of Mo- above He has the plant formerly used by Riley & Stetzer, on Otter creek, 1ditarod district. Dan employs thirty men and has two seasons work ahead. He is cleaning bedrock on a cut of 10000 square feet, and has another cut of the same size stripped He will have 8 cleanup in few days
 McGrath, Malcolm McDonald Joe Jean :nd Chris Betsch have a lay on the upper half of No above They expect to have it worked out Dy the end of August
 Curly" Saith. Nellmeyer X Nelson are operating Mo- above, working thirty-6ve mel. Their first clean up was $n0 000-. almost S to the square foot.
 On No above John Henderson and Robert Cockburn are working thrty-fve men. Their first cleanup was made yes terhay, md amounted to Si5,000,
 On No. above Nellmcyer X Nelson gre working a small crew.
 On No , above Jack Leech has 8 lay and has gone to Ruby for a plant
 There are about 125 man, all told work ing on the creek.
 John Novak is drilling the lower end of the creek with Keystone drill. Harry Watson has taken 8 number of options and he is having the drilling done. Should they find paystreak this would be good little camp.
 The government has gang building a road from Jungletown to the landing, about three miles, mostly corduroy c. J. Jenkins, formerly of Iditarod, is roadmaster.
 News Notes
 This has been wet season, with abun dance of water for mining operations. The wireless will soon be working. We have D6eH gbttliS tue ucNS, dllu dS SOUll dS CuI . rin < Watson get some fittings they will be able to send telegrams, having just re- ceived a government permit to send mes sages.
 Harry Watson has a telephone line in operation from Marshall to the head of Willow creek, with central office at Jun getown.
 George Shields is just finishing & two story building, the upstairs to be occupied by Dr. Hall dentist
 William Taylor, the former Flat jeweler, has arrived with his wife from the Outside and will occupy part of George Shields new building
 Dr. Reid has just completed large tent hospital with bath house in connection.
 George Oliver, from Nome and Billy Mullen, former comedian of Dawson, have onened motion nicture show and gave