The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-03-03
SLIGHT INCREASE IN
ALASKAN PRODUCTION

The annual report on the mineral re-
sources and production in Ala ska for
1912 is now in preparation under the
direction of Alfred X. Brooke Of the
United States geological survey. Some
of the important features OF this report
relating to mining. development during
statement Complete statistics of the
mineral production OF Alaska can not
be collected within less than four or five
months after the close of the year, but
meanwhile 1t appears advisable to give
prompt publication To preliminary esti-
mates, which are believed to be not over
; per cent In error, says International
Investments.
II is estimated that the total value or
the mineral output OF Alaska in 1912 is
S2l $4,000. compared With s20,650,0 ,0o0 for
i9ll- The value OF the gold output OF
estimated that the Alaska mines pro-
duccd eS.940.000 pounds of copper In
1912, valued at about $500 600. In 1911
AT $S.3eA,5s+ The silver production in
1912 is estimated to have value of
100000. az compared with S2i3.9 .923 for
1911. The value OF all other mineral pro-
ducts In 1912. including tin marble, gyp-
sum, coal, petroleum. etc. was about
$260.000, compared with sI76.942 in 1911
The total value OF Alaska's mineral pro-
duction since 1880 when mining first be-
gan, is. In round numbers: s22e. 600. 600.
OF which s202. 600. 900 is represented by the
value Of the gold output. The total out
put of copper in Alaska since 1901 is
about 80. 900, 900 pounds, valued at about
13I45, 900
The increase in the value of Alaskas
mineral output Is to DC credited 10 the
large copper output as compared with
the previous year While no new cop
per properties were put on a productive
basis, large amount OF development
work was accomplished In several Of the
copper bearing districts. The gold min
Ing Industry was marked by important
advances In developing lode deposits
Work was continued on Il number of large
lode mining enterprises in the Juneau
district. and considerab advancess,wcre
made at Fairbanks and In other districts
In addition to this. promising discoveries
OF auriferous quartz were made at Port
Wells and in the Innoko- -Iditarod region
as well as in other parts of the terri
tory.
The output from the placer mines was
less than In the previous year On the
other hand. discoveries OF rich aurIferous
grayels were made on Hammond creek
and In the Koyukuk valley. and work
able placers were found in the Ruby dis
trict- Extensions OF gold bearing gravels
We're also found in several of the older
districts, The installation OF large plants
has not yet gone ahead rapidly enough
TO insure the keeping up of gold-pIa
production. 1t is significant however.
that the output In Seward peninsula was
practically the same as that OF 1911. The
maintenance OF this. output In Seward
peninsula Is to be credited to the install
lation OF dredgcs. which was continued in
at hand indicate that in 1912 about forty
dredges were operated In Alaska. be-
sides number OF others under constrlIc-
ton or these. three are in the Forty
mile district. one In the Fairbanks dis
trict. one in the Birch Creek district one
in the Iditarod district, one on the Kcnai
peninsula and the rest on Seward pen
insua.