In 1901 placer gold was discovered in the Big Salmon country on Livingstone, Lake and other creeks. A small stampede followed, but although a good many
men went into the district at that time today there are only about 15 or 20 remaining. J. E. Peters and Robt. Chestnut, who are visiting Whitehorse this week, are amongst those who have stayed with the Big Salmon country and believe in the future, especially for hydraulic and quartz mining.
As Livingstone creek is only about 65 miles via the winter trail from Whitehorse and as this town is the natural outfitting point, a STAR representative has
interviewed Mr. Peters to ascertain what the prospects of the camp are for the coming season so far as placer and hydraulic mining are concerned. Mr. Chestnut was also interviewed concerning the quartz propositions of the camp.
The former informed the STAR that the following would be engaged in hydraulic mining during the season: Delaware Mining Company, the Livingstone Creek Syndicate, Peters & Cavanaugh, Keezer & McIntosh, Big Salmon Hydraulic Mining Company and O'Brien & McLean. Each of share companies will operate a plant for handling boulders and expect to wash a considerable quantity of gravel during the season.
The plant of the Delaware Mining Company is the most costly, and consists of boilers, hoists, pumps, et.c, in fact a complete equipment for carrying on hydraulic mining on an extensive scale.
The Livingstone Creck Syndicate propose installing an aerial tramway to handle the boulders they have to contend with.
Peters & Cavanaugh have installed a plant the least expensive of any, but equally as efficient as the most costly so far as concerns hoisting and handling boulders. It is worked by water power, and consists of a water wheel of the Pelton pattern, but so constructed as to be effective with a 40-foot head of water, which is insufficient to operate the ordinary Pelton wheel. By using a 2½-inch nozzle to deliver water on to the wheel, granite boulders measuring one cubic yard or weighing about two tons can be handled.
Keezer & McIntosh, on Cotton Eva creek, and O'Brien & McLean, on Livingstone creek, will install plants this spring similar to that used by Peters & Cavanaugh.
On Summit creek the Big Salmon Hydraulic Company propose to work their ground this season, and will install a plant on the same lines as the Peters & Cavanaugh plant.
Besides the hydraulic mining which will be done there will be three outfits at least engaged in sluicing. These are Wood & Amiraux, on upper discovery on Livingstone creek; Chestnut, Gillisie & J. S. Peters, on the side hill off No. 2a on Livingstone, and Andy McKinnon and partners on 1a on Lake creek.
Mr. Chestout says more attention will be devoted to quartz mining during the coming season than has been heretofore. Several claims have been recorded on a ledge of copper-bearing ore, which has been prospected by the men on the creek to some extent. Two cross-cut tunnels have been run to intersect the ore body; the upper one is in about 70 feet and the lower one in over 250 feet at a depth of about 150 fect below the outcrop. The ore body had been exposed in the lower tunnel just before Mr. Chestnut left for Whitehorse. From his description of the occurrence of the ore on this ledge it would appear quite probable that a zone or belt of copper-bearing ore of considerable extent occurs in this portion of the Yukon territory.
