YUKON PLACER FIELDS. 
Ill 
The presence in California of commanding mountains with large supplies of water at 
much higher levels than the placets rendered possible a great development, of the hydraulic 
method. The absence of such differences in altitudes in this field has made it difficult 
to cany water from one valley to another by means of ditches. These must necessarily 
be of great length in order to reach a point of intake at a level sufficiently high to give a 
head for sluicing, and such a point is generally so near the source thai the supply of water 
may be too low to give results equal to the expense involved. The hydraulic method 
has been, therefore, of limited application in this held. 
The location of a trading post in this part of the Tanana Valley in 1901 was followed 
in 1902 by the discovery of gold. The region began to attract attention, and by the end 
of 1903, with a production of at least $40,000, had become of prospective importance. 
The work of 1904 resulted in a production of over half a million, and the position of the 
region as an important gold producer was established. The last year- has been one of 
prosperity. The introduction of large quantities of machinery for the working of the 
Wagon roads 
ana trails 
Railroads 
Placers 
(producing) 
Fig. 7.— Map of Fairbanks district. 
deep frozen gravel has in almost every ease met with gratifying results. It is difficult to 
give accurate figures regarding the year's production of gold, but from the close of the 
open season, in October, 1904, to the middle of September, 190.5, when the Survey party 
left the held, it is believed to have been approximately ?5,500,000, and there were still 
about three weeks of work before the freeze-up was expected. The general opinion 
among the miners was that the output from the freeze-up of 1904 to that of 1905 would 
approximate .16,000,000. 
Mining has been confined mainly to Cieary, Fairbanks, and Pedro creeks and a few of 
their tributaries, Esther Creek, which has within the last summer been added to the list 
of producers, and Dome Creek, where at a lew points pay has been located; but the bulk 
of the increase within the year has been derived from Cieary Creek. 
Transportation to the Fairbanks region from outside points during the last year has 
been either by way of Dawson, St. Michael, or Valdez, and most of it, by the firs! two of 
these routes." The Valdez route is a convenient one for many who desire to reach Fair- 
