52 FAIRBANKS AND RAMPART QUADRANGLES. 
both in fuel and equipment, and on a number of the creeks only about 
half of the mines were in operation. 
In the early days of the camp, when but a few operators were at 
work on each stream and its watershed was well protected by timber, 
little thought was given to the supply of water for the sluice box, but 
as the camp developed from year to year and the demand for water 
was greatly increased it became evident that a larger supply must be 
procured. Consequently, as with other and older camps, numerous 
ditch lines were planned to bring water into the district. 
The general topography of the country is such that ditch lines from 
the larger drainage areas are not practical. (See map, PL I.) 
Most of the producing creeks rise in a high, rocky ridge, of which 
Pedro Dome, Avith an elevation of nearly 2,500 feet above sea level, is 
the center. At least 50 per cent of the mining is done at an elevation 
of over 800 feet and 25 per cent above 1,000 feet. The drainage basins 
of sufficient area and elevation to supply water to the upper reaches 
of these producing creeks lie at a distance of more than 50 miles in 
a direct line and over 100 miles by ditch line. The cost of building 
and maintaining such ditches, especially as they could furnish but a 
moderate supply of water, would be excessive. 
In the older mining camps of Alaska, especially those of Seward 
Peninsula, many hydraulic enterprises have failed owing to the lack 
of reliable information concerning the available water supply. In 
order that like failures may be avoided in the Tanana Valley, the 
United States Geological Survey, during the summer of 1907, ex- 
tended to the Fairbanks district the stream-gaging work started in the 
Nome region in 1906 and continued there this year. 
The field work in the Fairbanks district was carried on from June 20 
to September 15 and the region covered includes the drainage basins 
of Little Chena River, Goldstream Creek, Chatanika River, Beaver 
Creek, and Washington Creek, comprising an area of approximately 
2,200 square miles. Owing to the lack of adequate funds the work 
was largely of a reconnaissance character. However, the keeping of 
systematic records on some of the more important streams was made 
possible through the hearty cooperation of the people interested. 
Among the many who rendered valuable assistance in procuring the 
data given in the accompanying tables are Mr. John Zug, superin- 
tendent of the good roads commission; Mr. A. D. Gassaway, general 
manager of the Chatanika Ditch Company ; Mr. Falcon Joslin, presi- 
dent of the Tanana Mines Railroad ; Mr. Herman Wobber, Fairbanks 
Creek; Mr. C. D. Hutchinson, electrical engineer, Tanana Electric 
Company ; and Mr. Martin Harris, Chena. 
After making a careful study of the general topographic condi- 
tions of the mining district proper and its surrounding country it 
was decided to establish a few regular stations at the most convenient 
