The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-29
TWENTY MILLIONS
OUTPUT OF ALASKA
Present Year Shows Increase
Over Results of the Previ-
Gus Period.

Alaska Is on the ND trend Judged
by the large advance in her mincra!
production in 1911. as estimated by Al
fred II. Brooks OF rne United States
geological survey over the output for
1910. mining activities In the territory
during the last year have actively IN
creased. This Improvement is appar-
cnt Notwithstanding the continued tie
ND OF all Alaska Goals. the development
OF which would. IL is believed, give a
greatly added impetus TO the terri
tory's various Industries. The fuel de-
mand is being partially met, however.
by the use OF fuel oil.
The value Of Alaska mineral pro-
duction for 1911 is estimated at S2O,-
10000 or this amount ST., 100000 Is
10 h. credited TO gold production, against
Sl6.l2S.7i9 for 1910 Mr.. Brooks further
estimates that the Alaska mines produced
-, 900. 600 pounds OF copper in 1911. or
more than five times tne Alaska copper
output of 1910. which was 4.24l.6So pounds.
In addition TO gold and copper Alaska
mines and uuarries IN 1911 produced
silver. tin coal, marble and gypsum
10 an estimated Value OF 900, an in
crease OF over 100000 as COMPARED with
the value OF the same products In 1910.
The total value OF Alaskas mineral
production since mining first began in
1850 Is. in round numbers S2O6 .OOO. 600,
or more than twenty times the sum
paid 10 Russia for the territory. or this
amount $l95 $50 900 represents the total
value Of the gold production Alaska pro-
DNCcu ilS itfSt GppDtI some ten NFiIS
ago. since which time tho territory has
contributed Sc 700. 600 pounds of this
metal valued AT $S.170,000. About 40 per
cent OF this total amount was produced In
1911.
The favorable snowinG made by the
Alaska mining industry during the year
Is due. first, 10 the very large output OF
copper and, second. TO the greater pro-
duction. compared with 1910, OF the gold
placer mines I'm the lnnoko- lditarod re-
cion.
Aside from the increased production.
the most important event Of The year WAS
the opening Of the Copper River region
by the completion OF the railway into n.
The industries already stmulHt ed bY this
line stTikiucly illustrate the Importance
OF railway communication 10 Alaska As
no progress was made I'm the opening OF
the coal fields. the needs FOR cheap fuel
| In Alaska are being mot bv the subStl-
| tuition Of oil-burnins FOR coal burning en-
gines. The importatio Of California
I crude oil is T1pGly Increasing. with y
corresponding decrease in tho use OF coal.
some now drilling was carried on I'm the
Kstala oil fold during 1871. one or two
old wells being reopencd and small pro-
duotion made.
! Although most OF tho gold still comes
7 from the niacers much progress was
made during 1911 IN paving The way FOR
an increased oltput from atTilcrouS lodcs.
I This work was carried on I'm most or the
7 gold bearing areas of Alaska, but the
most notable advances were IN tho .Iu-
nNau. Valdez Eenai peninsula. Willow
creek and Fairbanks districts. Aside
I from the increase In copper mining the
/ advance made IN developing sold lode
mines IS tho most encouraging fea ture
| Of the Years operations. UTedee min
! ins also made great progress. notably tn
! toe Nome region Mr. ErOokss iufov-
nation is that iu Tae entire territory.
twenty-five dredgcs were oneratcd for tho
whole or a mart OF the open season OF
1911. In addition 10 those operated. at
I least bali u dozen were iu process OF con-
siuctiou
Al the close OF 1871 there are is5
mics OF raliWay va fne territory. com =
pa red with 81 miles Ina 1910. This mile =
railways from 10 1876 miles in
length The existing railways emphasize
I trc need of additional trans ports ton IA =
. yliiti.S. The most urgent need il for a
. railway To connect an opcn port on tho
/ Psclhc with rac Yukon basin. Until such
a line ~ bullt cHlv tho richest placers
1 of tho interior and only The most IA
vorablv located lodes can be pyoGtablv
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