pbindlk.] FAIRBANKS REGION. 67 
tance from sources of supply, and very little thorough work could 
be done. 
A trading post was established in 1901 at the point where Fair- 
banks is now located, and finally, in July, L902, gold in quantities 
of economic importance was found. Felix Pedro, who was prospect- 
ing some of the small streams about a dozen miles north of the 
Tanana and 200 miles above the mouth, found good prospects on the 
creek which is now called Pedro. Gold was soon found on neighbor- 
ing creeks and the region became known as the Fairbanks mining 
district, the name being given in honor of Senator C. W. Fair- 
3anks, now vice-president elect of the United States. The towns 
)f Fairbanks and Chena quickly sprung up on Chena Slough 
and Tanana River, respectively, and trails were made connecting 
these places with the creeks. Exaggerated reports naturally found 
:heir way to the other camps. People came by way of the river 
)ver the direct trail from Circle, 150 miles to the northeast, and by 
way of the Goodpaster from Eagle, 200 miles in a direct line to the 
3ast. The road houses in the Birch Creek region were often scenes 
of great activity, during the winter evenings when men and doffs 
were gathered from all along the trail. Conditions, however, did not 
some up to anticipations, and an unfavorable impression of the camp 
ipread up and down the Yukon. 
In spite of the unfavorable conditions due to high prices of all 
dnds of supplies and the lack of ready money for the development of 
heir claims, the men on the creeks kept digging, and by the fall of 
L903 the production amounted to $30,000 or $35,000 and the popula- 
ion of the region had become about 800. 
The creeks of economic importance referred to under the name of 
he Fairbanks mining district during 1903 were the Pedro and its trib- 
ltary, Twin Creek ; Gold Stream, the continuation of the Pedro below 
;he Gilmore; Cleary Creek and its tributaries, Wolf and Chatham 
reeks; and Fairbanks Creek. These all head within a few miles of 
ach other in the divide between Chatanika and Little Chena rivers 
ind flow in divergent courses. (See map, PL XIII.) 
The Fairbanks district has developed so rapidly that the w T ork of 
L903 was supplemented by that of two parties from the Geological 
Purvey during the field season of 1904. C. W. Purington, assisted by 
Sidney Paige, in the course of detailed studies of the placer camps 
hroughout Alaska and the northwestern British possessions, visited 
;he Fairbanks placers during the later part of July. The writer, 
issisteel by Frank L. Hess, with a packer, cook, and 7 horses, left 
Sagle June 17 for the Tanana country, traversed the region drained 
>y the Goodpaster, Salcha, and ('hen;! rivers, and reached the Fair- 
banks district about the same time as the other party. 
