76 ALASKA. 



during the year 240,000 tons of ore were treated, yielding $768,000, 

 or $3.20 per ton. The quantity of ore, he adds, appears to be 

 inexhaustible. The cost of mining and milling was $1.35 per 

 ton; net profit $444,000. A Mexican mine on the adjoining 

 claim runs 60 stamps with about the same results. 



In a report made by Professor Spurr to the Lhiited States 

 Geological Survey, 1897, the statement is made that the first dis- 

 coveries in the Yukon district were made in 1'885, on Stewart 

 River, Cassiar Bar, and Lewis River. In the following year, gold 

 was found on Forty Mile Creek, and its tributaries, Glacier Creek, 

 Davis Creek, Poker Creek, etc., were prospected with good re- 

 sults for several years. Miller Creek (on British territory) was 

 opened for mining in 1892. Birch Creek, with its various 

 branches, was discovered in 1893, ^^^^ Circle City was founded. 

 In 1890, the Director of the United States Mint estimated the pro- 

 duction of the Yukon placers as $50,000; in 1891, this amount 

 doubled; in 1893, the product of the Alaskan creeks was given as 

 $198,000; in 1894 it reached $409,000; and in 1895, $709,000 

 was the amount estimated for the Yukon district, and $69,689 tor 

 outside creeks. In this year, P^agle Creek, a tributary of Birch 

 Creek, was discovered. The condition of the Forty Mile district in 

 the summer of 1896 was not as encouraging as formerly, owing 

 to the six weeks' drought, which prevented the water from running 

 the sluices, and caused enforced idleness. The Birch Creek region, 

 on the other hand, was flourishing. At this time, discoveries were 

 made on the Klondike River (about 20 miles from POrty Mile 

 Creek). Placers on Hunker Creek, Indian Creek, and Bonanza 

 Creek, the principal branch of the Klondike, gave good returns. 

 On Bonanza Creek, $1,000 was taken out in August and Septem- 

 ber, 1896, and 400 claims were located up to January, 1897. 

 Gulches and creeks showing good prospects are spread over 700 

 square miles. The mining population in the Yukon region was 

 estimated, in 1896, at about 1,700; and the gold production for 



