The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-30
ALASKA MAKES BIC
GAIN IN MINERALS
Over Twenty Million Dollars
Worth Produced During
the Year 1909.

In 1880 gold was produced in Alaska
10 the value OF $4,000. In 1909 the
amount mined was valued at more than
SEQ 900 900. In 1885 silver was first pro-
duced in Alaska to tho value OF s2lS1; In
1909 The value was s7s,o3f. In 1902 cop
per was first produced. to the value Of
Al 400. in 1909 its value reached $685.
2ll. These and other statistics OF pro-
duction arc shown by Alfred ii. Brooks
of tho United States geological survey In
Gold. Silver, Copper, Lead and Zinc In
the Western States and Territories" pub
lished as separate chapter Of the
yolumne Mineral Resources OF the United
States in 1907
Placer and lode mining of gold in
Alaska In 1909" says Geologist Brooks,
showed marked progress over that in
1908. both IN the amount OF actual gold
production and In the advances made in
preparation for more extensive opera
tions
The copper output was less than in
1908, chiefly because the low price OF
this metal did not encourage mining; but
nevertheless much was accomplished To-
ward the preparation for large future
increase in copper production" These
final figures for 1909 are but slightly DIFF
made. by Mr.. Brooks nearly a year ago
The figures for 1910 are now at hand and
the report for the year Will soon be is-
sued by the survey,
lands. retarded the Industries in 1900
especially mining" gays Mr.. Brooke
The high price OF coal along the Alaskan
seaboard, due to the noudevelopment of
the coal folds. places a serious handI-
cap on the mining industry. It has also
had an indirect effect on mining by re-
tarding railway construction"
There is no doubt. Mr.. Brooks further
states. that the present inadequate min
eral land laws are a serious handicap to
placer mining. They tend to discourage
advantage Of the specnlator. whose par
ticular aim is TO obtain control OF large
areas OF prospective placer ground with
out IT.. any II real attempt at development -,
the largest producer OF gold, Seward
peninsula being second and the lode
mines of the Juneau district third.
Ketchikan stin leads in copper produc
ton. Continuation of construction on the
Copper River railway stimulated pros
pccting In the Chltina district.
About three, Quarters Of The gold pro
deposits. according to MIR. Brooks. This
ratio will not, however, continue, for the
production from the auriferous lodes Is
from the placcrs. Indeed, there will
probably be a decrease IN the output Of
placer gold until the lower grade gravels
are mined. The value of gold produced
S35 In 1905 and s4,117.440 in 1903, an in
crease Of $3.50 .1o5. The three mines of
Tho TreadWell group produced l,3So, ,S91
tons of slliceous ore, yielding in gold
and silver s2.56 a ton. Eight dredges
were operated In Alaska in 1909. with an
estimated production of Sf25, 900.
The Alaska Yukon placer district had
In 1909 the most profitable season since
mining first began there. a quarter Of
century ago. According to the geologi
cal surveys returns the value of the gold
output was $11, $50. 00n. as compared with
s10.222, 900 in 1905
; The production IN Seward peninsula
fell off, owing to the fact that many OF
the richest placers have been mined out
and that no preparations have been made
for mining the extensive deposits OF low
grade graVels. With the construction of
large pIsnts an increase may be looked