brooks] PLACER MINING IN ALASKA IN 1904. 23 
than any other deposits thus far developed in the peninsula. The 
feasibility of piping frozen gravels where conditions permit a consid- 
erable face to be exposed has here received a practical demonstration. 
The last season witnessed the extension of the ditch so as to secure 
more water, but the summer was so diy that even then there was not 
water enough for continuous piping. 
CASADEPAGA RIVER. 
The developments on Casadepaga River, whose headwaters lie just 
across the divide from Solomon River, have shown renewed activity, 
now that the railway is approaching this district. Heavy bench gravels, 
which are more or less gold bearing, characterize this region. Most 
of the work so far has been confined to exploiting the placers found 
in creeks whose valleys intersect these benches, and in which the gold 
has been reconcentrated by a natural process of sluicing. Nothing 
but the crude pick-and -shovel methods could be used, because of the 
comparative inaccessibility of the district. These primitive methods 
of extraction were only applicable to the reconcentrated placers, and 
not to the heavy bench gravels. Ditches are proposed for working 
the latter deposits, and some of them are already under construction. 
In planning to use hydraulic methods, it should be borne in mind that 
the benches are not high, and here, as at many other localities, the 
disposal of the tailings Avill entail a heav} r expense. 
COUNCIL REGION. 
Ophir Creek is to-day not only the greatest producer on the penin- 
sula, but has the largest reserve of gravels of unknown value. 
Claims were worked throughout the length of the stream as far as 
Crooked Creek. The winter work has alread}^ been referred to, and 
the summer developments were along the lines reported last year. a 
Various methods are employed, including hydraulicking benches, 
hydraulicking creek claims with elevator, u shoveling in," use of der- 
ricks, horse scrapers, etc. Some work was done with a dredge along 
the banks of Niukluk River near the mouth of Ophir Creek. Some 
lesser mining operations were carried on on Crooked, Ward, and Gold 
Bottom creeks in this region. 
KRUZGAMEPA REGION. 
A number of the tributaries of the upper Kruzgamepa River have 
been found to be gold bearing, but, of these, Iron Creek only has made 
any considerable production. Some rich stream placers have been 
exploited on the latter creek, but the operations have been chiefly con- 
fined to shoveling methods. With the extension of the railway this 
district will become more accessible. 
a Brooks, A. H., Placer gold mining in Alaska, 1903: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 225, p. 53. 
