Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1907-12-06
THE ALASKA GOLD
OUTPUT CURTAILED

4 A. nreokN shief of the rnitcd
States geological surveys division OF
Alaskan mineral rcsearv.-s. has Just
returned from Alaska and reports
that various unfortunate conditions
have led 10 such curtailment OF
gold mining in Alaska during the
last summer as TO result IN a very 4
material reduction In the gold output
as compared with that of the previous
year. Accurate statistics viii not be
available for several months. but the |
preliminary estimates indicate that |
value OF Alaska's entire gold pro-
duction for 1907 will be between
ST. 100000 and $1S.000,O00. as
against more than SCI. 100000 last
year, This loss must be charged for
| the most part to the decrease ia the
production OF the placer mines.
1t is not to be supposed, however,
that Alaska's placers have passed the
zenith of their production. Accord
ing to Mr.. Brooks all the evidence
points to the conclusion that a great
er annual production than that of
1907 will yet be attained. The min
ing industry has, therefore, received
only temporary setback, but it is
one from which it may not recover
in less than year or two
| Mr. Rrookc saws.
The curtailment OF placer opera
lions can be assigned to certain def
mite causes, of which the difficulty
of obtaining adequate labor is the
most important The Fairbanks dis
trict is the one that suffered most
from labor troubles A strike was
started there on April 81, just when
the gravel accumulated by the win
ter mining operations was ready 20
be sluiced by use of the water of the
spring freshets. AS a result many
of the winter dumps were not finally
washed out until fall. This not only
prevented the mine operators from
continuing work, but also put many
of the smaller operators into finan-
cial difficulties, because they had
counted on the winter production to
finance the work during the summer.
Labor conditions in the camp grad
ually adjusted themselves during the
summer, but throughout the open
season there was lack of experienced
miners When the strike began
about 1900 men, it is said, left Fair
: banks, most of whom started for the
e result very few new enterprises
f were begun and many of the estab-
) lished mines were not operated dur
e ing the summer. Had there been
S laborers enough the Fairbanks dis
e trict would no doubt have produced
It more gold in 1907 than it did in
: 1906. AS a matter of fact, it's pro-
/. duction was probably 100000 less
g than it was in the previous summer
i Among last summers important
? developments were the noteworthy
d production of Estner creek, the open
It ing up of considerable placer GROUND
t, on Vault creek, and the discovery Of
IS prospects on Eldorado and Our
e creeks. These discoveries, together
with those on Smailwood creek, in
e dictate that the Fairbanks districts
ID proper is more extensive than hat
e. been previously supposed The find
lg ing of gold in an adjacent area, OF
n, nificant, as this region appears Il
he lie in the same general belt as TIL,
e, Fairbanks district.
I'd The railroad from Fairbanks ha
~ new been extended to the mouth o
r Cleary creek, and this road and tn
numerous wagon roads that HAY
y, been built make all parts oil the dis
I'd trict accessible. The high charge
1e on freight from Puget sound port
es and the uncertainties and delays i
lg its delivery still greatly discourag
ID all mining enterprises. These dis
d. couragements can be removed onl
DIS by the establishment Of railroad com
ch munication with some coastal point
be Important developments wer
its made in the Rampant district, nota
he bly, in its southern part, on the trit
err utaries of Baker creek, where tw
IN bitches were built and some success
'ct full hydraulic operations were car
ST ried on. Noteworthy, too. is the II
ey stallation OF three dredges in tn
an Forty-nine district. Two Of thes
he were in operation for part of tn
season.
lg. Some excitement was caused b
an the discovery of placer gold at se'
or eral points on the lower Yukol
Ia While no greater values were founs
81 yet these localities are so accessible
'es that they give promise of bein