Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

That there is q strong possibility that
the new gold discoveries near the VIE
lage of Poorman, In Alaska, may prove
very rich is not disputed by the Geolog-
| ical Survey, in view Of the information
it already has regarding the general
region of the repolSed strike. The re-
ports which have come through so far
state that the new discoveries are on
the Wolfe and Beaver Greeks, tribu-
happens that while the surrounding
territory and many other creeks In the
| general neighborhood have been ex-
plored by the survey, these particular
water courses have not. Gold in mod
crate quantities has been found in the
creeks which have been surveyed, so it
! is assured that these streams drain
gold-bearing hillSides In view of these
facts, biologists would not be surprised
to learn that the new discoveries are
| very rich.
Poorman is normally a tiny village.
some Al miles south of the slightly
larger village Of Ruby. Ruby's popula-
ton is stated by the survey to be 1873.
! The creeks where the new gold discov-
| cries have been made are some seven
miles from Poorman. The region Is not
difficult to reach, in terms Of Alaskan
travel, although in the United States
the way would seem long. From seattle
one goes by boat to Seward. Thence a
train may be taken over the Alaskan
Railroad, aforementioned This Is
a well equipped line, with sleepine cars
and other modern conveniences. Two
days on this train will bring the gold
seeker to Nenana, on the Yukon River.
There Is one train q week. The rail-
road operates boat line, ana this, in
the course Of few days, will land the
traveller at Ruby, the metropolis Of the
district.
From Ruby to Poorman there is no
transportation and only an Indifferent
road. 1t Is scarcely trail In some
places. However, it is q Government
mail route, with mail deliveries twice q
month. At this season of the year it Is
traverSed mainly by dog sleds.
The Poorman district has been inves-
tigated by the Geological Survey with
considerable attention. It just happens
that the particular creeks from which
the new find Is reported were not close
ly examined and there are no data con-
corning them. But in substantiation OF
the news there Is the very definite state
ment describing the Ruby district In
general, which refers to the "discon-
nected character Of the pay streak. -
This means that while the gold runs
thin In some places, the geologic char
acter OF the terrain Is such that It u
likely to crop out richly not far on.
Region Of Placer Mining.
Conditions are not greatly dissimilar
to those In California when the discov-
cry at Suffers Mill started the gold rush
Of '49. Particles of the precious metal,
dislodged from the quartz Of the hill
sides, are washed down into the stream
bed. These roll along with the fiow Of
the water, but, gold being 50 much
heavier than other particles Of rock and
earth, it becomes separated and drops
into pockets In the stream bed. The finer
grains are deposited along the bottom
almost anywhere and sink into the mud.
Individual prospectors and miners stu
use the old pans similar to those en-
ployed by the Forty. Miners. The sys-
tenn Is to take pan full Of mud, pebbles
and other rock fragments and patiently
wash water over 1t. The heavy gold
works down to the bottom Of the pan
and when the other substances are
washed away Is found there. Machinery
has been invented which does this oper-
alton more quickly and more efflciently.