THE MINING INDUSTEY IN 1906. 37 
zling of the phenomena connected with the placers of this district. 
Interest in Goldstream Creek was revived during last summer by some 
rich placer discoveries, and as a result, though the creek was almost 
abandoned in the early part of the summer, later it was studded with 
operators for several miles. 
Mine operators are rapidly recognizing the necessity of making 
available all of the water supply tributary to the gold-bearing area. 
At best the water supply during dry weather is very scant and on 
some creeks is practically nil. Among the largest ditch-building 
schemes is that involving the construction of a water main from the 
upper drainage basins of the Chatanika, for which surveys have been 
made. It is estimated that this ditch, which is to bring the water of 
Faith, McManus, Pool, and Smith creeks to the Fairbanks-Cleary 
divide, will be 72 miles long. It is currently reported that the low- 
water discharge of these streams is about 5,000 miner's inches at the 
proposed intake, but these figures the writer has no means of verifying. 
Of the outlying districts tributary to Fairbanks the Tenderfoot 
probably made the largest production, estimated at $100,000. The 
gravels on Tenderfoot Cueek are deep, but in the smaller creeks are 
said not to exceed 8 to 10 feet in depth. It would appear that these 
deposits lie in a different zone from those of Fairbanks. 
Some work was done on the streams tributary to the upper Chata- 
nika, where probably 30 men were at work. Some gold has been 
found on Faith, Hope, and Homestake creeks. The pay streak is thin 
and the values are said to be regularly distributed. 
The region lying south of Fairbanks, including the Bonnifield and 
Kantislma districts, is described by Mr. Prindle (pp. 205-221), and the 
Birch Creek district by the writer (pp. 187-204), elsewhere in this 
report. 
RAMPART DISTRICT. 
The total gold output of the Rampart district for 1906 is estimated 
to have a value of $270,000. The writer is indebted for valuable 
information to Messrs. H. F. Thumm and E. H. Chapman, of Ram- 
part. Mr. Thumm states that about 33 claims were worked during 
the winter of 1906 and 17 during the summer, giving employment to 
about 100 men in winter and about twice as many in summer. New 
creeks not producing last year are Boothby and Skookum. 
Three hydraulic plants were operated during part of the summer, 
one each on Hoosier, Ruby, and Hunter creeks. The Alaska Road 
Commission has begun the construction of a highway from Rampart 
up Big Minook. This when completed will materially reduce the cost 
of all mining operations. 
Another road has been built from Baker Hot Springs to Glenn Creek, 
a distance of 24 miles, by Thomas Manley, a large owner of mining 
