Atlin's production of placer gold during the past season is estimated
at $410,000, according to H. F. Glassey, gold commissioner.
It is estimated also that during the season hundreds of men were engaged
on 162 operations, ranging from the large ones down to two-man developments. The largest operations in the district were on Spruce Creek, The summary of the season's work by Mr. Glassey is as follows:
Spruce Creek - Columbia Development Limited (backed by Kaufman Rubber interests of Kitchener, Ont.) operated with steam shovel and was managed by James Eastman. Sixty men were employed. Also on Spruce Creek the Colpe Mining Co. of San Francisco, under direction of C. H. Colpe, with 68 men conducted a drifting operation. Spruce Creek is eight miles from the town of Atlin.
Boulder Creek, 14 miles from Atlin - Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. was engaged in a successful hydraulicking operation. The dam was improved and greater success is expected to be met during the 1937 season. The plant has been moved to
the upper reaches of the creek. MacLeod White is in charge of the work.
McKee Creek, ten miles - This ground is owned by Vancouver interests but during the past two seasons has been operated by George Adams. It is a
hydraulic operation working into the main old channel that was encountered and lost. This work is expected to result in production next season.
Wilson Creek, 20 miles - Six men during the season were prospecting at various places along Wilson Creek and results indicate good possibilities. It is a drifting proposition. Principal operators on the creek are C. Nord, A. Glenn and Mrs. Jennie Bender. The latter is 70 vears of age and has placer mined on Wilson for the past quarter century.
O'Donnell River, 31 miles from Atlin - Twenty operators and prospectors were employed in this area during the season. The largest operation was by
Nathan Murphy, who was drifting on the high rim. Good values came from the work and the district holds high promise for next season.
Slate Creek, tributary of O'Donnell - J. Smith, an old-timer, and his partner, Husselbee, were prospecting this ground and sluicing. They took twelve ounces gold from a small ditch and expect better results from a larger ditch next season.
Otter Creek, 14 miles from Atlin - Here a French company has been operating for several years but during the past two seasons development has been under an agreement with Walter Sweet, Neil Forbes and partners.
Ruby Creek, 22 miles - The district's gold production was increased by the work of Peter Malson and partners, who are hydraulicking.
Birch Creek, 12 miles - Ten men made good wages throughout the season by ground sluicing and drifting.
Pine Creek, 6 miles - This is where the first gold in Atlin district was discovered. Much work has been done and the possibilities are described as
still wonderful. The Guggenheim interests some years ago worked out one portion of this area, but prospecting results are encouraging in other parts, where bedrock is 80 to 27 feet deep.
Generally speaking the northern gold commissioner holds out high hopes for upper Spruce Creek, where John Noland is sinking a shaft. The ground below him runs five to eight ounces of gold to the set. (A set is 4x10x6 feet.) There are better values here than on lower Spruce and the operation is less costly, as the distance to bedrock is comparatively shallow. The Noland operation adjoins the Colpe, the latter having recently acquired the holdings of Morris, McKechnie and Bratt.
