prospector, the man who has vigor of body and courage of soul, who has left his frugal home for the amelioration of his condition by wresting from nature's resources the means to that end, to the man who is honest, strong, willing and brave, there is no place in the universe which offers to such a man more golden opportunities than the vast mineral region of Northwestern Alaska.

Every man who seeks riches in this northern zone will not be successful. Many, possibly, may not be, yet the fact remains that an immense area of hidden wealth has been aggregated here, in the mountains and tundra, and along the beach and streams by the God of nature for the use of man.

CHAPTER XXIII.

NOME MINING DISTRICT

ORGANIZATION-LOCATION AND AREA-PRINCIPAL STREAMS-SNAKE RIVER-ANVIL CREEK-RICH CLAIMS, OWNERS OF GOLD OUTPUT-A RICH QUARTZ CLAIM-BED ROCK ON ANVIL-LARGE NUGGETS CHARACTER OF THE GOLD-GLACIER CREEK-SNOW GULCH-THE LUCKY SWEDESESTIMATED VALUE OF SNOW GULCH-OTHER RICH CREEKS A RICH BENCH CLAIM-NOME RIVER-DEXter Creek-Gold-Bearing TUNDRA -$6 TO THE PAN-OBSERVATIONS OF A SPECIAL RepresentaTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT-STORY OF THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD AT NOME.

The Nome Mining District of Northwestern Alaska was organized at a miners' meeting held at the mouth of Snake River under date of October 15, 1898. Seven men were present at the organization, namely: Dr. A. N. Kittleson, G. W. Price, E. O. Lindbloom, Jafel Lindberg, J. S. Torensis, John Bryneston and N. C. Hultberg-five Swedes and two Americans. Dr. A.

N. Kittleson was chosen recorder.

The area of the Nome District, as established by this meeting, is 625 square miles, or 400,000 acres. It is bounded on the east by Cape Nome, on the west by another promontory called West Point, and extends inland from the sea twenty-five miles. In other words, the southeastern boundary of the district touches Cape Nome, which is in about latitude 64 deg. 30 min., thence twenty-five miles nearly due west until it reaches the line of the Penny River District.

Nome City is situated midway between the east and west lines of the district, skirting the shore line of the sea. The low rolling tundra extends back of the city for a distance of six miles, where it rises gradually toward the foothills of an irregular and somewhat broken range of mountains.

The principal streams of the Nome mining district are Snake River, Nome River and Hasting's Creek. Snake River flows through the westerly portions of Nome City, emptying into the Bering Sea. Nome River and Hasting's Creek are about four and ten miles, respectively, down the coast from Nome, both trending in an easterly direction, discharging into the sea. Snake River is about thirty miles long, Nome River about twenty and Hasting's Creek about eight. Snake River has a general southeast course and is navigable for small boats for a distance of fifteen miles. The river has fifty or more tributaries, some of which are marvelously rich in placer gold.

Six miles up Snake River from its mouth is Anvil Creek, where the richest deposits of gold have thus far been found. Anvil Creek is about four miles long and runs into Snake River from an easterly direction.

There are seventeen claims on Anvil Creek, five below and twelve above discovery. Discovery claim. was staked by E. O. Lindbloom in October, 1898, and since that time it has yielded in gold dust over $200,000. This claim is now owned by the Pioneer Mining Company. No. I below discovery was located by Jafel Lindberg, and the claim has produced in two seasons $300,000. It is now also owned by the Pioneer Mining Company. No. 2 below was located under power of attorney in the name of W. Kjellman. It was subsequently purchased by Charles D. Lane, a California millionaire, for $75,000. No. 3 below was

entered in the name of Dr. Gregory, military surgeon located at St. Michael, and No. 4 below is owned by John A. Dexter, the latter claim producing in two months $100,000. No. 1 above discovery was secured by the lucky Swede John Bryneston and is now owned by the Pioneer Mining Company. This claim has proved to be enormously rich. No. 2 above was located for a Swedish missionary, named Anderson, who took out in three weeks $30,000. No. 4 above was secured by Missionary A. E. Carlson, and No. 5 above by Missionary N. O. Hultberg. Dr. A. N. Kittleson located No. 7 above and took out in three months about $150,000. G. W. Price drew No. 8. Mr. Price was grub-staked by Charles D. Lane, and after taking $192,000 from the claim sold his interest to Mr. Lane for $40,000. No. 9 was recorded in the name of the Golovin Bay Swedish Mission and the claim has produced over $100,000 in gold. Nos. 10 and I were staked by two Lapps who were brought over from Lapland by our government to train the natives of Alaska in herding the domestic reindeer. These two claims were sold by the Lapps to Mr. Lane for $90,000.

This claim as a placer
It

C. O. Level owns No. 12. proposition was a disappointment to its owner. was worked during the early part of the season of 1900, but with poor success. Later two miners, Tony Tubbs and W. A. Eastman, secured a lay on the claim. and commenced to work. At the depth of twentynine feet they struck a vein of bluish-white quartz which proved to be very rich in gold. The vein runs from northeast to southwest, crossing Anvil Creek. The quartz runs from $4 to $30 in gold and $7 in silver.