The Nome nugget., 1904-06-22
\ GENERAL review of the H mineral resources of Seward H peninsula, without due ref

- >A H peninsula, without due ref
 erencc to what will be the principal factor in their develop ment would be alike incomplete and unfair to the progressive, enterpris- ing men who have formed a strong construction company for the pur- pose of putting in a network of railroads throughout the peninsula, bringing what are now isolated dis tricts in touch with tide water and bases of supply. We refer to the Western Alaska Construction Co.,. , builders and operators of the Coun- cil City & Solomon River Railroad, the general manager of which is MT. J. Warren Dickson.
 One of the most important ele- ments to be considered in the open ing up of a country, is its means of transportation and accessibility. At the present time there are districts in the Seward peninsula known to be rich in gold bearing gravels and other minerals and metals of com mercial value, that the miner is practically prohibited from working because of their inaccessibility and the great expense necessarily in- volved in transporting machinery, supplies, etc., under the method now in vogue, from the base of sup plies to the place desired.
 Consequently, those having the interests of this great mineral belt admittedly the most extensive and varied yet discovered-at heart, and desiring to sec its resources in placer, quartz, tin, graphite and other minerals developed, view with much satisfaction the work begun last summer by the Western Alaska Construction Co.,, on the Council City & Solomon River Railroad, being built from tide water at Dick son (Solomon) to Conncil City. The road for ten miles is already completed and in operation. and the remainder will be pushed to rapid completion this season. This road passes through rich placer and quartz country, and the build ing of it will stimulate the develop ment of hundreds of claims now inactive, because of the much cheaper freight rate naturally fol- lowing railroad construction. It will be boon to the miner having property contiguous to the route.
 But this road is but the forerun- ner of its many extensions, as refer ence to the map herewith printed will disclose, which the Western Alaska Construction Go. will build in the immediate future. These spurs and extensions will tap the tin country of the York and adja- cent districts, the Inmachuk, Blue stone, Kougarok, Agiapuk and other outlying districts, bringing all ill close touch with tide water, greatly reducing the cost of trans portation and time consumed in reaching given point. The im- nense benefits that will accrue to the miner and business man, as result of the opening up and devel- opment of those rich sections of country, can hardly be over-esti- mated :; and the railroad company will receive . deserved reward ill lucrative and constantly growing business.
 The great future of the Seward peninsula as a mining country is no longer problematical it is an assur- ed fact. Ground that will not pay to work by rocker or hand sluicing will pay largely by the hydraulic system of mining, which is being SO successfully introduced in this country. And it may be stated as a fact that there is scarcely a creek in the entire Seward peninsula that will not pay by this latter method of working. The logical result