The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-28
ALASKA NEAR LEAD
" IN COLD PRODUCTION
The Returns Indicate That Great
American Territory Will Sur .
pass South Africa.
BY w. w. Jermane, Colorado Building,
WASHINGTON ., c., =. :. -

Washington, .. c. .. ., '"..-...i "a
Washington, D. G., Oct. .27.-The
United States geological survey is just
rounding up it's returns on the gold out
put of Alaska and the figures hint bold
1y at a confirmation of the Alaskan
claim that in few years this great
American territory will surpass the
famous gold fields Of South Africa in
the production Of the yellow metal. The
output Of gold for 1906 can of course
be given as yet only in a fragmentary
way, since the year is not yet finished
and returns are naturally slow. But
the figures for 1905 are now complete
and they show that the gold dug in
Alaska in 1905 amounted to an increase
of 60 per cent over the production in
1904.
In 1895 the territory turned out only
$2,400O'O of gold, and ten years later,
or last year, it had increased to SIS ,OOO,-
900. So far as the returns have been
received for the current year, and with
these returns coupled with the reports
from unofficial sources, it is apparent
that when the gold production Of 1906
is all accounted for the results will be
almost if not quite as startling as those
of last year. And, of course, if the gold
production of this and the new few
succeeding years keep up, the so per
the time cannot be far away when the
claims of the Alaskans will be fully
suhstantiated.
One thing the geological survey has
learned tends to show that gold mining
in Alaska is as yet in it's mere infancy,
and that is the fact that the gains from
year to year so far have been almost
entirely made in the placer mines. In
California, it will be remembered, the
placer mines held the first place and
when they were largely worked out
gold producer was ended. Yet at the
present time California yields more gold
than ever it did in the placer mining
days and bids fair to keep up its pro-
duction for many years to come. III
Last year in Alaska saw the great
est increase in the Fairbanks placer
region where it is related there are
rich pay dirt in California. but which
cannot be worked with profit until a
railroad gets into the interior Of the
territory. That is to say, at this time
the miners are taking only the richest
pickings, and will continue to do Sc
until transportation facilities are such
as to enable man to live for less than
$40 day, that being the price it costs
him now. -....
The Fairbanks region, as anyone ia.
miliar with the geography knows, lies
along the Tanana river in the heart
Of the territory, and naturally it will
require nothing less than railroad to
give ready access to it at all seasons OF
the year. .l>
When that road. now under construc.
ton, is completed the officials agree
that Alaska will see tidal wave Of
imni grafton such as has never been
paralleled save in the case Of Califor.
MIA and Australia. But the geological
survey plainly looks for the real perma
nent Alaska of the future to build it
self, not upon the placer mines but
the great era Of placer mining
must, come first, and in studying the
possibilities Of the same the officers 81
the, survey point to the radical reduc
tion in the cost of that form of mining
that has been brought about in the
upper Yukon country by means Of s
railroad, and in spite of the exorbitant
freight charges levied by that road or