Douglas Island news., 1905-01-25
ALASKA.
BY ALFRED II. BROOKS.

crease in AIaska's mineral output will be disappointed. It must be remem- bered that exploitation is much slower than in more accessible regions; and, unless another Kloudike be found on the Alaskan side of the boundary, an unlikely event, the mineral production will increase but slowly.
 The value of the gold output for 1904 will be about S9,OOO,OOO, showing an in crease of s5OO,OOO over 1903. Of this amount a little over one-third is pro- duced by lode mines, chiefly by the Treadwell group. The placers of the Seward peninsula contribute between four and four and half million, the Yukon about million, while the bal ance comes from the smaller placer camps.
 The mines of Southeastern Alaska produced small quantity of silver, about S3O,OOO. One copper mine on Prince William sound has continued regular shipments of ore to Puget Sound smelters, and few tons have been shipped from other mines. Some stream tin has been exported from the York district. Beside the metals, few thousand tons of coal are annually mined for local use. Among mineral resources hitherto uuproductive is petroleum, for which the prospects are still good, and marble,
 Lode mining, except for the Tread well group, is still unimportant, but it is undergoing steady development. At the Treadwell depth of 1000 feet has been reached, and the width and value of the ore are maintained. The half dozen properties, tributary to Juneau on the mainland, have continued at work: but the extensive developments anticipated have not been pushed. There has been active prospecting at Windham bay,4O miles south of Juneau; the mine at Suettisham has maintain ed small production; but at Sumdum work has been abandoned. Between Juneau and Berners bay, auriferous lodes at several localities are promis- ing. and their development is progress ing favorably. Probably the most im- portant event in the Juneau district is the cross-cutting of the gold-bearing vein of the Keusington mine, at a depth of 500 it., on Berners bay; current re- ports indicate that this will become an important gold producer. The Jualin and neighboriug mines have continued productive, without developments of moment.
 On the islands west of Juneau pros pecting continues. The apparent col lapse of a large, ill-advised enterprise on Rodman bay is a noteworthy event; it appears to have been the result of large investment in equipment before a workable ore body was opened up. In the Wrangell district, south of Ju- neau, the one producing gold mine closed down. There are a number of prospects; some of these yield chal- copyrite and pyrrhotite in commercial quantities; others contain gold and silver ore. To the south is the Ketchi- kan district. Though this region first attracted attention some years ago as a prospect for gold and silver lodes, more attention is being given to it's copper, which is yet undeveloped. Sev- eral gold veins were worked in small way during 1904. Of more import, how ever is the systematic development of a copper property at Niblack Anchor age, on the east side of Prince of Wales island. Kasaan peninsula, 20 miles north is also the scene of active devel- opment of copper properties; and on its north side a 4O0-ton shelter has been erected. Another shelter, with capacity of 25O tons, has been erected on the west side of Prince of Wales is- land. to treat the ore of the Copper Mountain property. in the latter a tunnel is being driven destined to cut the orebody ], 100 it. below it's outcrop.
 Lode mining is practically confined to Southeastern Alaska. The Glad haugh mine, on Prince William, is the only copper mine in Alaska which has reached the productive stage. The ore is,chalcopyrite; and the mine, being on a good harbor which is open through out the year, has the same low freights which are enjoyed by the tidewater mines of Southeastern Alaska. The snr,.. aistrint contains other hndias of