The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-14
ALAsKA's WEALTH.
Great Mineral Resources as Yet IN
developed.

developed,
Alfred II, Brooks, chief Of the Alas
kan division OF the United States geo
logical survey, delivered an address
last night in Pittsbarg before the con.
ycntiou Of the American Mining con.
gress. Ho spoke opaimistieally Of the
future Of Alaska "Three years ago"
he said, ALASKA mines produced $40.
100000. In 1907 the mineral output
was nearly twenty.one millions. The
4 gold deposits Of Alaska are for the
most part associated with certain
belts of alleged sediments. One skirts
the coast Of southern Alaska and finds
its continuation in the Prince William
Sound and kenai Peninsula. A second
belt lies in the central portion between
the Tanana and Yukon rivers and
within this belt are tho most valuable
Of the Alaskan placer deposits. A
third belyt Of metamorphic rock occurs
in the northern part OF Alaska, and
It's continuation is found in the Seward
Peninsula. Over OF per cent of the
value Of Alaska's mineral production
has come from these three belts Of
metamorphic rock
"The most important centres OF plac.
or mining are the Yukon Tanana region
ond Seward Peninsula. These two pro-
vinees have an annual production OF
nearly si6000.000. Some tin deposits
are being worked in this district.
"The gold and silver lodes are con
fined for the most part to southern
Alasks. The productive copper de-
posits are confined TO the districts, the
central portion Of Prince Of Wales Is
lands and on Prince William Sound
800 miles northwest. There is also
copepr belt which follows the north
ern slope OF the Wrangell Mountains
There are two important coal fields
that carry bituminous and anthracite
coal. One is near Controller b., and the
other 200 miles to the wrist on the
Matanuska river. Some bituminous Il
found on the Alaska Peninsula and on
the lower Yukon, as well as Cape Lis
burne.
I'm 1907 Alaska produced upward Of
100000 pounds Of copper. Hsdley is
the centre Of the copper industry. The
Treadwei mine the fourth in size in
the world. with is low values, has
been an object lesson for the mining
world The output is valued at s35,-
600 900, and the magnitude Of this en-.
terprise--with 900 stamp mills--has
observed the fact that there are other
extensive mining operations in the
Juneau district The Copper river re
gion has been focal point Of interest !.
because OF the plans for reaching il BY
rail from Pacific tidewater. It's ores
are sulphides with native copper.
The Klondike gold fields nod pro-
duee about Sl0,o0o,00o worth of gold |
annually. and are, of course. in Can. |
adam territory. The Fairbanks dis |
trict is, from the standpoint Of produc.
ton. the most important Of the inland |
districts. with an annual output of
about S90oO,000. Gold gravels lie at |
considerable depth, varyidng from
twenty to 900 feet. The Seward Pen
insula, since it's gold discovery in 1898,
has produced $4,000. 900 worth Of gold
Lode deposits, including gold, copper,
antimony and galens. have been dis
covered in various portions OF the pen
insula Though the coal fields Of Al
aska lie only twenty five miles from
the coast, the Pacific seaboard offers
no good harbors. Plans Sare Son foot
for the construction Of breakwaters
near Katalla, which are proposed 10
connect by railroad with the coal fields
Another plan is To construct line from
Cordova Bay, which means 100 miles
of track. The coal Of Alaska is highly
in fuel value than any coal west OF the
Rocky mountains.
DR.. Brooks then discussed placer
mining, and among many illustrations
shown was that OF the man who dis
covered the placer mines Of Seward ePn
mines Of Fairbanks. whete wages are
SO to $40 day, only the richest
mines could be operated He describ
ed the various methods Of placer min
ing at length. including dredge mining,
and exhibitedm any photographs. He
declared that Alaska mining was being
hampered by expensive transportation;
that railroads were very few. and that
the river shippeing seasons were ueces.
sarily short He declared that mining
would be almost impossible were the
claims not very rich.
"As a matter Of fact there are very !,
extensive areas OF auriferous alluvium
which cannot now BE- handled alta pro
1T because of the hight cost of opera
ton. These can be reduced by the in.
PRODUCTION Of machinery and skilled
engineers. which are sadly lacking in
most Alaskan mining enterprises. But [
for any material reduction il win be
necessary to establish systems Of !
transportation. Those whoe famiI.
iarity with the mineral resources of
Alaska give them q right to an opin- Il
Ion believe that there II here a large
field for mining which can only be de- ]
reloped BY the construction of rail. ,
road from the Pacific seaboard to the !
Yukon basin. The time will come when
We win have several trunk lines with
many branches, making all the mineral /
Bearing parts OF the territory accessible |
1t all times. These schemes may ap- !
pear visionary; but when we reflect
hat Alaska, with is primitive systems {
If transportation. has already added to
Ihc worlds ewalth to the extent of Z
lyer s150.000.0o0, there seems TO b.
some justification for this opinion. -
Boston Transcript.