Fairbanks is situated on the south side of the Chena, ten miles above its junction with the Tanana. Prior to the discovery of gold by Pedro last July it consisted only of Barnetts camp, but upon learning of that strike he erected a large log store, staked off a trading site and began the foundation of a town. At this time there are three streets roughly staked out through the woods, parallel to the river. The site was covered with a fine body of spruce timber from 6 to 24 inches in diameter, which is now being cut and built up into houses, The "Fairbanks" hotel is a two story log house, and lodges 40 or 50 people. There are probably 500 people here - mostly in tents, but log houses are being constructed as rapidly as possible. Several men are sawing these logs into boards with the whip saw, and such hand made lumber sells for $200 to $240 per thousand feet. I saw a pile of
