The Cordova daily times., 1918-09-21

tailing a compilation of the topo
 graphic and geologic reconnaissance
 surveys of all the developed mining
 districts in the Copper river valley
 by Fred H. Mofft.
 | Though this report deals largely
 with the more purely scientific as.
 poets of the geologic problems, the
 solving of them had definite eco,
 homie value. It has been proved that
 the experiencing rocks which have
 yielded valuable deposits in the lower
 Chtna valley occur also In the upper
 valley. It Is also shown that the | formations from which the Nizna l placers have derived their gold occur | in that region. On the other hand. no 1 mineral deposits of proved value have ! yet been exploited in the upper Chit ina basin. It must be said however,
 that comparatively little prospecting has been done in this field
 Routes and Trails
 The only practicable line of ap.
 proach to the upper Chitina valley Is | the valley itself The Copper River X | Northwestern railway lands the tray- | eler at Mccarthy, near the foot of | KenneCOtt glacier, from which place l two trails lead to Nizina river One | Of them, known as the SOurdough hill | trail. crosses the high ridge be ween Mccarthy creek and Nizina river This trail is very step on the Nizina side | of Sourdough hill. and its use neces- sitates a climb of over 2.3OO feet but | it offers firm footing much of the way | The other trail swings around the west end of Sourdough hill V thout making the high climb, but il is all ways wet ana often nearly impas able. repeated Getomrs through the brush | and timber being necessary to avoid deep mud holes; yet most of the rraycl from Mccarthy to Nizina river i over this trail The two trails meot op- p0sito the mouth of Young creek.
 Here Nihina river must be forded, a task that is always dangerous at 1 times of high water. and that may be | dangerous for those who are unfamil-
 far with the stream even when the
 water is not high Several years ago bridge was built across the N'zina
 about six miles below Young creek, but it was washed away before it had been used
 From Nizina river two trails lead to | Chitina river One, twenty miles | long. ascends Young creek for a num- | fat, timbered ridge to the Chitina. This trail has been used principally the Kiagna Although no well-defned trail asCends Chitina river from the point where this trail comes out on the river bars. one could be made without great labor and doubtless will be if the travel to the upper Chitina shall justify it's construction.
 The second trail ascends May and Chititu creeks to Blei gulch, crosses the ridge between Chittu creek and Young creek, ascends Young creek to the big bend. and finally crosses an other ridge to the Chitina. coming down on the river bars at a point about three miles below Canyon creek The distance from Mccarthy to Chit ina river is about thirty-seven miles two miles less than the distance to the same point by the trail from lower Young creek and the bars of the river
 When the water Is not too high the hill between Chititu and Young creeks may be avoided by ascending Young creek from its mouth to the big bend but this route requires repeated cross ings of the creek and Is not used ire. Quently. Below Calamity gulch the creek swings from side to side against the wall of a canyon. in most places leaving exposed only narrow strip of low, timbered gravel bar on one side.
 All travel along Chitina river above the Kiagna has been on the north side, for the stream keeps to the south side of the valley and at many places
 runs against high perpendicular rock
 walls. The gravel bars and low
 benches on the north side~offer good | footing and easy travel for horses as | far as Chitina glacier. beyond the
 western end of which horses may be | taken for seven or eight miles farther l T.. e..