Atlin's production of placer gold during the past season is estimated at $410,000, compared with $380,000 in 1935, according to H. F. Glassey, gold commissioner, who was a recent visitor to Vancouver.
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 northern visitor, who has spent thirty-three years in the north, the past three years as gold commissioner, summarizes the season's work 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 sixty-eight men conducted a drifting
operation. Spruce Creek is eight miles from the town of Atlin.
Boulder Creek, fourteen miles from Atlin - Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company 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 below. This work is expected to result in production next season.
Wilson Cree, twenty 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, Albert Genn and Mrs. Jennie Bender. The latter is 70 years of age and has placer mined on Wilson for the past quarter century.
O'Donnell River, thirty-one 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, fourteen 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, twenty-two miles - The district's gold production was increased by the work of Peter Malson and partners, who are hydraulicking.
Birch Creek, twelve miles—Ten
men made good wages throughout
the season by ground sluicing and
drifting.
Pine Creek, six 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 the area, but prospecting results are encouraging in other parts, where bedrock is eighty to twenty-seven 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 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.
