Show Idi and district SPECIAL correspondence during the summer of 1910 two new gold camps were well established in alaska these were the Idi and the kuckok wim located in the western part of the territory this vast region including the two principal camps can be generally described as a range of mountains separating the valley of the yukon on the northwest and the valley of the river on the south and east the yukon river is a distinct feature of the geography of alaska and the mineral development of that territory has long been known but the kuckok wim river which is the second largest in the territory has been somewhat overlooked nd very little development has been carried on the valley has long been considered an important field for the prospector but its lack of transportation and its ita great isolation kept all but a few men out during the summer of bf 1910 however the was decidedly the most important mining excitement of the season many parties going in from the yukon river and immediately some decidedly rich pay ground was discovered it has been estimated that the output forthe for the season of the Idi and nearby districts amounted to but with the army of prospectors going in with the coming of spring 1911 it at is estimated that the output for this year will reach the town of Idi is the established metropolis of the district it is growing rapidly having telephone service and many modern improvements most amazing to the outsider when considering its isolation and age many have remained in the country all winter and those who have come out have made the statement that they will return in the spring to further explore the territory and work claims already started the rush to Idi the rush to the Idi will include in noko otter creek flat creek little creek and among the upper streams that will be prospected extensively are bonanza mon lion tana silver dow bow and grouse creeks creek 3 on all of which pay ground has been located during the summer there was an overflow of miners from the Idi across the range into the northern tribu baries and greater exploration was made than ever before in the history of that region As a result three important gold strikes were reported and the has greatly increased in population the river enjoys the distin distinction edon of being navigable by deep ocean going vessels for some sixty miles above its mouth it rises with numerous tributaries tributa ries from the north and western slopes of the alaskan range and drains the very foothills of mt mckinley mt foraker and mt russell the highest h chest peaks in that range in the upper part of its valley the main branches unite and form one maj majestic jestic stream that gracefully meanders for seven hundred miles through many lovely valleys and great canyons finally emptying into the bay in bering sea eethel bethel the new mining town bethel is the new mining town at the head of navigation of ocean going vessels and is already the outfitting outwitting out fitting point for miners going into the interior the range separating the valley from that of the yukon is where the three gold str strikes ikea in different centers were made last year and it is s in this range that the mining men are looking for big things limestone limey slates charts and with occasional zones of granite make up the general formation of the country and from experienced miners and those versed in geology it has been deduced that the range from the headwaters of the north fork of the takotna to that of tuluksak sak river is heavily mineralized and furnishes the prospector a virgin field of vast distances and great possibilities cinnabar has been found on the banks of the river for several years strike on julien creek the latest strike on the was made last july by two prospectors on julien creek a small tributary of the north fork of river by august 1 the news of the latest strike reached the Idi valley and created a large stampede from that camp news of the strike reaching seattle also created considerable interest in that center and a large number of prospectors will go into the country this year during the summer no less than ten additional strikes were made in various parts of the district and owing to the immensity of the region it can be said that the country has not yet been scratched which makes it one of the most promising fields in alaska for the coming year and it Is safe to assume that will rival the idita rod and valdez as the objective point for those seeking the gold metal seattle wash feb 8 1911 |