Gilpin observer., 1907-01-31
AIaska's Mineral Riches,

| mere are anthracite coal fields
| within the Arctic circle as large as
those in Pennsylvania, and copper
mines south Of Nome that are as rich
as any in the world" j. P. Pearson,
of Nome, Alaska, general superintend-
ent OF the Nome, Montana and New
Mexico Mining Company, thinks that
the resources of our most northern ter
r1tory are still in the most primary
stage Of their development, and now
that the fever of excitement Is over
and science has joined hands with cap
ital to slowly devise the sanest meth
DDS for extracting the wealth Of the
frozen wastes, he is confident that the
mineral and coal output will steadily
increase.
1.-THE Nome Arctic Railroad COM
pleted ninety miles of track this sum.
mer," said he at the Brown Palace ho-
tel to Denver Republican reporter.
aiming in the direction of the coal
fields, the line is in operation as far as
kugoruk, and will be pushed forward
again as soon as the weather modi-
f1es next spring. There is another
road running inland from Seward
towards the copper mines which Is
graded for 200 miles and has track
laid for 125. Another road runs in
from Valdez, heading for Tanana,
which is just as good camp as Nome,
another running in from Ilimna bay,
and fifth running from Solomon to
Council City. All these roads mean
the development of countries which
have long been known to be wealthy
but which have not been touched be-
cause there was no possible means of
transporting ore in profitable quanti-
ties.
Nome is now the cleanest mining
camp in the country, believe. We
have a good Judge and good officials,
and they have cleaned the town of the
riff raff which came in during the ex-
citement of 1900 without intending to
work and without any idea of what
they were up against. They found that
they couldn't live in that country
without working, 81 most of the unde-
sirable element has left and the town
has settled down to a quiet hard work
ing, businesslike community. Even
gambling is closed up. and the city
is prosperous in its mines, and in it's
commerce also.
THE production of gold for the past
year was $10,000,O0O, of which $5,OOO,-
900 was produced during the winter
One hundred and twenty-seven thous-
duu louS VI was lduu6u
on the dock at Nome last summer, and
there are now twelve large steamers
which make the port regularly all sum-
mer, besides a number of freighters
bringing lumber and coal and such
stuff.
"The population of Nome is about
10000 in summer and half of that in
winter. 1 left there on the last boat,
which leaves on the 1st of November.
The summer workings are principally
hydraulic, but a great many of the
river beds have been worked lately
with dredges. A great deal of money
has been wasted in dredges that didn't
work, but we found by experience that
plain bucket dredge that would work
from 1000 to 5000 yards a day has
been the most successful. The output
for last summer was not as large as it
| would have been If it had not been an
exceptionally dry season. But even
the dry weather had it's advantages, as
it gave us a chance to construct our
bitches and improve our hydraulic
plants. The company I represent now
has thirty-six miles of bitches con-
structed. The summer season there
lasts about 100 days, and The work is
carried on night and day. every minute
Of the time. AS a matter of fact,
there is no night during that time, and
the work is pushed right ahead the
same as in a sawmill during the sum-
mer months.
"The winter diggings are mostly all
carried on in what is known as the
third beach line. 1t seems that Behr-
ing sea has receded several times, SO
that there are number of distinct
beaches left out of water. The third
beach line is some distance inland, and
here the work is carried on in the win
ter by thawing out the ground with
steam. We dig down until we strike
| pay streak and then follow It right
along. thawing out the ground as We
CO. AS an instance of the richness Of
the placer beds here there was one
man named ]. c. Brown who got two
months lease on a certain claim in the
winter of 1900 with the stipulation
| that he was not to work more than
| eight men. including the cook. With
six men working, and with royalty OF
twenty-five per cent. paid to the owner
of the claim he cleared $f25. 900 in the
sixty days, the total output being $780,
| 00O
Another important resource OF that
country is the tin mines which have
been found at Cape York. The tin de-
posits are exceedingly rich, and when
handled scientifically will be bon.
ANA to somebody. Up to this time.
however, the people who located the
tin properties did not know what to do
with them. They got capital to back
them all right, but tin mining is not
lwell understood In this country. and
until some experts are employed that
is one industry which will not prove
profitable. although the wealth is there
| II it's properly gone after"
Newhouse Acouires Ninissino Mtnee