The Alaska prospector., 1908-08-13
ALASKA DECLARED
 TOBE COMING LAND

Alaska is mineral empire so rich, it's agricultural possibilities SO cXtcn- sive and it's resources so diversified that the casual observer can get but little idea of the greatness of the dis trict, is the statement of Alfred II. Brooks, head of the United States tcological survey in Alaska, who is on his way north on an inspection | trip to the field workers. MT. Brooks is staying at the Rainicr-G Grand hotel.
 California, with it's billion and a quarter dollars record from it's placer fields, will be outdOne by Alaska, D said MT. Brooks. "Finland, with it's bleak and desOlatc stretch of north land, is barren waste compared to the agricultural future of Alaska Michigan, Montana and Arizona will | perhaps be surpassed with its c2ppor products, and coal mining in the | north will be an important industry. have been to Finland and know it well. So, also, do know Alaska.
 The people of the United States" said Mir. Brooks, 'do not know what they have got in the north. Seward peninsula has q greator placer gravel area than lad California before it was exploited. 1 have not been able to measure mp the Panama as yet, but I believe tG will exceed the Seward peninsula so far as auiifcrous gravels arc conUGrnod. Then there is the vast regions which we havo not as yet touched. '. .a. =. ,s.. ....
 Gold, however, is not alone to measure the riches of the north. There are the coal fields. We have anthracite cdal there in abundance and the government is anxious to have it exploited. It will be one of the grcates benefits to the Pacific coast. It will mean much for com mercc and the richness of Alaska and the cheapehing. coal on the Pacific.
 ''Of one thing there cHl be no ques- tioh;" cofftihued Mir. Brooks, "and that is that bituminoug coal, the coking variety, is also there in abun- dance and this will add greatly to the value of the copper product in Alas- ka, for with water transportation at hand, the two products will be Of immense commercial value in the production of copper for the market.
 'I have not been surprised to hear Of tho strikes in the fnnolSo and the Koyuleuk Both are good placer regions and both have been reported on. The Koyultuk has peculiar ero- sive fornations which many of the prospectators think new It is noth- ing more than narrow valleys filling with country rock and after much water wear, having run of gravel. It is q common thing in Alaska | really think. there will be somo more go d.diggings struck in the Koyukuk.
 We have not got quite np on quartz reports but unofIlcially have heard that quartz has been struck in many places in Alaska had hoped that the increase of the gold output would bring q corresponding increase in the appropriation for the geological work, but 1t has remained tho same for several ycars.
 "When the railroads reach tho coal and copper deposits, enter the placor regions and tap the various ouu6ain ranges where are to bo found tho quartz lodgos and SC many prospcc- tors arc now seeking, Alaska will come into its own, the esa will be alive with ships bringing it's com- merce to the nearest port in the'I states, and Alaska be recognized as the richest region under tho Stars and stripes. t-P,-I