Four considerable streams-the Bonanza, Solomon, Eldorado and Flambeau rivers-running nearly parallel with each other, augmented by more than three hundred tributaries, discharge their waters into the bay.

The soil embraced within the town site limits is of a brownish, gravelly formation, uniformly characterized by the glistening mica, and which absorbs moisture like a sponge. When the incessant summer rains characteristic to the coast come, the water soon percolates the soil, and in ten minutes after the hardest rain the surface of the ground is dry.

One of the best water wells on the coast is owned and operated by the city, and the sparkling nectar is

City Water Well

free to everybody within

her gates. The water is exceptionally pure, and the supply, it would seem, is unlimited. Good, pure water, however, is easily obtained all over the city. It is rarely necessary to dig more than eight feet to find an abundance of good

water.

The city has made certain reservations for public purposes, notable among which is Block 29, for city buildings; Block 33, for public schools and school fund; Block 55, for hospital, church and free reading room, and Block 70, for charitable purposes.

The sanitary conditions of the city are being care

fully looked after by the Board of Commissioners. A special officer is detailed for this work, and the result is that the town presents a clean and healthy appearThe first death of a white person in Port Safety occurred January 1, 1901, a miner dying of pneumonia on that day.

ance.

The finances are in a most satisfactory condition. The city is free from debt and has a good working fund in the treasury. In this respect she stands. unique, not only among cities, towns and villages of Alaska, but of the States as well. The present Board of Commissioners is deserving of much praise for the economical manner in which it has handled the people's money.

Alaska abounds in two things essential to mankind which have made her name famous the world over— gold and fish. The hills back of Port Safety contain gold in abundance, and the waters around Port Safety are replete with fish of great delicacy. Numerous are the species of salmon found in the different streams emptying into the bay, and trout, grayling, tomcod and other edible fish are found in great numbers in the streams. The “Long Lagoon,” stretching out for ten miles on either side of the harbor, is the great trysting place for wild geese, ducks and swans during their summer's sojourn in the far North; and many other species of birds, both land and aquatic, remarkable for their sweetness of song and beauty of plumage, can be seen here. The ptarmigan are very plentiful along the

foothills.

Port Safety is yet but a small place—merely a miners' camp; but with the prospect of a few good mines being opened in the hills back of the place, the little town may yet put on metropolitan airs. One large general store and two smaller ones are located here,

where the miner and prospector can outfit at a reasonable advance over the coast city prices; three good restaurants, where a "square meal" can be had at any hour during the day or night; three up-to-date saloons, where one can imbibe as often as he chooses, provided he has the regulation price; one drug store, which is run by a good physician; two or three road houses; a telegraph and cable office, and a United States postoffice.

As has already been stated, the only harbor facilities in the vicinity of the Nome gold region is at Port Safety, and the following statement concerning it, as issued by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, is here quoted for the information of those interested:

"The commanding officer of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey steamer Patterson reports that on September 10, 1899, he erected two whitewashed beacons, which form a range for crossing the outer bar at Port Safety.

"The outer beacon, pyramidal in shape, is located on the end of the low spit marking the western side of the

entrance.

"The inner beacon, also pyramidal in shape, is located on the inshore side of Port Safety Bay, and is about two and one-half miles west-northwest from the outer beacon.

"To cross the bar: With the two beacons in range, bearing west-northwest, stand in until the breakers on both sides of the channelway are abeam; then change course for the middle of the entrance.

"Port Safety is situated about twelve miles eastward of Cape Nome, Norton Sound, and affords excellent. shelter for vessels drawing not over eight feet.

"As it is the only harbor in the vicinity, a preliminary examination of it has been made, and a sketch will be published as soon as possible."

feet can enter in

Vessels drawing ten and one-half feet of water entered the harbor without any trouble last year (1900) during low tide. At high tide vessels drawing twelve perfect safety. After crossing the bar the water is twenty-two feet deep. At a comparatively small expense the harbor at Port Safety could be made to accommodate all the seagoing vessels which touch this northern coast.

CHAPTER XXVI.

BONANZA MINING DISTRICT

ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARIES OF-A MOUNTAINOUS DISTRICT-BONANZA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES SOLOMON RIVER-TRIBUTARIES OF SALMON RIVER -MOST PROMISING CREEKS ELDORADO RIVERFLAMBEAU RIVER-MINERAL WEALTH OF THE DISTRICT-MINERS' RULES AND REGULATIONS.

The Bonanza Mining District of Northwestern Alaska comes second in the order of organization. This district was organized under date of June 8, 1899, at a miners' meeting convened at the junction of California and Alta creeks. Seven men were present at the organization, namely: D. B. Libby, C. A. Shattuck, C. G. Johnson, William Johnson, James Anderson, John Alstrand and H. T. Harding, the last named being elected Recorder.

Bonanza is a large district, stretching for thirty miles along the coast of Bering Sea. Its general boundaries extend from the headwaters of the Flambeau and Solomon rivers and their tributaries on the north, to the Bering Sea on the south and southwest; from Cape Nome on the west and southwest, to the line of the Topkok district on the east and northeast. The area of the district is about 900 square miles, or 576,000 acres.

Bonanza is a mountainous district. Mountain ranges and lofty hills form a large portion of its surface. The mineral wealth of the district is unquestionably great. Placer gold occurs almost everywhere along the streams and foothills, and some very fine