In 1924, the United State Smelting, Refining, and mining Company from Massachusetts began its gold prospecting and drilling operations in the Fairbanks area, working through its local subsidiary the Fairbanks Exploration (F.E.) Company. It brought in eight gold dredges in all for its hydraulic sluicing operations on Pedro, Cripple, Goldstream, Cleary, and Fairbanks Creeks among other. In 1925, it built the Davidson Ditch north of Fairbanks to bring water from the Chatanika River to its Goldstream and Cleary operations.
From the guide to the United State Smelting, Refining and Mining Company records, 1924-1961, (University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Polar Regions Collections & Archives)