Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-31
Statistics Indicate That Field
Will Surrass South Africa
In Productiveness
INCREASE OF 60 PER CENT
Production In 1905 Showed That Claim
That South Africa Will Be EquaIled
II Not ExceIled Will Be Verified
A Great Future For Alaska-other
News. t

NoAetSGo SSOlOS5lCtii od1NCS Ia J0oS AOuAN0
ing up it's returns on the gold output
of Alaska, and the figures hint boldly
at confirmation of the Alaskan claim
that in few years this great Ameri-
can territory will surpass the famous
gold fields of South Africa in the pros
duction of the yellow metal. The out-
put 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,
ard they show that the gold dug in
Alaska in 1906 amounted to an in
crease of so per cent over the produc-
ton in 1904
In 1895 the territory turned out only
81, 100000 Of gold, and ten years later,
OF. last year, it had increased to .$15,-
0D0,000. So far as the returns have
been received for the current year, and
with these returns coupled with the
reports from unofficial sources 1t Is
apparent that when the gold produce
ton of 1906 is all accounted for the re-
suits will be almost if not quite as
startling as those Of last year, and, OF
course, IL the gold production of this
and the new few succeeding years keep
UP the so per cent annual gain, or any
thing like it, the time cannot be far
away when the claims Of the Alaskans
will be fully substantiated.
One thing the geological survey has
learned tends to show that gold min-
ling In Alaska is as yet In its mere in
fancy, 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 remem-
loered, the placer mines held the first
place and when they were largely
worked out many thought the time Of
that state as a gold producer was end
ed. Yet at the present time California
yields more gold than ever 1t did in the
placer mining days and bids fair to
keep up Its production for many years
to come.
Last year in Alaska saw the great
est increase In the Fairbanks placer
region, where it is related there are
thousands OF miles OF what would be
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
picsings. and will continue to do SO
until transpo rtation faculties are such
as to enable a man to live for less than
$40 q day, that being the price 1t costs
him now.
The Fairbanks region, as anyone Ia
mtliar with the geography knows, lies
along the Tanana river, in the heart
Of the territory, and naturally It will
require nothing less than q railroad to
give ready accesssto It at all seasons of
the year. Il.
When that road now under construc-
ton, is completed, the officials agree
that Alaska will see "a tidal wave Of
immigration such as has never been
iparalleled save in the case of Califor-
MIA and Australia But the geological
survey plainly looks for the real perm
anent Alaska Of the future to build it,
self, not upon the placer mines but
the great area of placer mining
must come first, and In studying the
possibilities of the same the officers Of
the survey point to the radical reduce
tion In the cost of that forp-of mining
that has been brought about In the
upper Yukon country by means OF a
railroad, and In spite of the exorbitant
freight charges levied by that road on
the business. Thus where the miner in
the Klondike formerly would mot touch
any dirt which paid less than $40 or
SIS per cubic yard, he can now handle
anything which will net as low as IS
per cubic yard, and this with, ordinary
crude hand work Where miner has
been able to, import hydraulic machin-
cry he makes money out Of gravels
running even. less than So to the cubic
yard. In the Seward peninsula, where
freight rates are comparatively low, 1t
has been demonstrated that a pay
streak can be worked with machinery
at an expense Of not more than so
cents per cubic yard.
In other lines of mining the geologi-
cal survey also sees a large future for
Alaska. For instance, last year the
copper production amounted to more
than 100000, while considerable prog
ress was made in the production of
coal, tin, and silver. But OF course for
the next few years it is conceded that
gold will be the principal crop of the
country.
PRESIDENT GOES HUNTING.
Aa and Mre RooeeveIf VN;IJ Snend I.