New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-23
Copper Mining
Now Alaska S
Chief Industry

The rapid strides made during 1915
in the commercial and industrial de-
velopment of Alaska, the "furthest
North" possession OF the United States
are shown in the sixth annual report
just issued by the Seattle Bureau OF
Commerce. Total commerce of Alaska
last year was s110,36S,l78, or $685.
447 greater than in 1915, an increase
of AZ per cent. The predomnating
feature Of this remarkable growth was
the large increase in copper production,
which showed an output valued at $685.
Sl4,993, taking first rank for the year
among Alaska's industries.
Copper produced from the Alaskan
mines last year reached a total of 1885,
2S9,219 pounds. This compared with &c.
509,3l2 the year before and 21,450,62S
pounds in 1914. Eighteen copper mines
were operated last year, compared
with thirteen the year before. The
enormous output from the Mennecott
mines overshadowed the other opera
tons. Many Of the smaller copper mines
would have made greater output had
the transportation companies and
smelters been able to handle the ore.
IL is estimated that about $4,000 tons
of copper ore were mined in 1916.
Natives Used Copper
As is indicated by these figures the
development of Alaska's copper re-
sources has been rapid, indeed. The
presence Of copper in Alaska was known
to the Russians at an early date. Mug
gets of the native metal and small
household utensils beaten out the same
were found in the possession Of the
natives. but the Russians did not seem
to have been acquainted with the actual
localities from which the metal was
obtained, further than that il was some
where in the region of the head of
the Copper and White rivers, country
practically unexplored prior TO the pur-
chase of Alaska by the United States.
The Indian word for copper is Chit"
hence we have such names as Chitina
ina being river. Chititu. Chitistone,
etc.
So far as known the opening up of
the Copper River Valley was the re-
suit of the Klondike excitement. Pros
pectors going in by way of Valdez lin
gered in the valley, and in July, 1899,
one Of these was shown the Nikolal
mine by an Indian, who found it by the
aid Of a map drawn by the old chief
Nikolai, after whom it was named. Sit
usted admid glaciers at the head OF
the Chitlna River, a large affuent OF
the Copper, the locality was so mac
cessible that the discovery was practl-
cally valucless, as even solid copper
could not be mined and taken out Of
the country at a profit, the cost Of
transportation up to April, l9ll, being
several times the value of the MIN
eral.
In the belief, however. that railroads
in a few years would open up the coun-
try, the copper belt on the north side
of the Chitina was prospected and To-
Gated and a large amount or money
spent on development over distance
Of nearly one hundred miles. extend
ing from the Kotslna on the west to
the Nizna on the east; and the cop
per belt was traced still further to
the eastward through Scolai Pass to
the headwaters Of the White River.
Continuing in this direction. native
copper is now known at the head or
the Donjck, branch Of the White
River, around the headwaters OF the
Discovery of Belt
In 1899 the Geological Survey, exam
lining the head of the White River, re-
ported a copper belt, similar to the ore
lust described, following the northern
slopes of the Wrsngel Mountains and
bounded on the north by the Tanana
River, lust as the belt already described
follows the southern base Of that lofty
volcanic range. This region may be
best described as the Tanana-Nabesna
belt. from the names of its two most
prominent streams, and lies about two
hundred miles in an air line southeast
of Fairbanks, in the Tanans Valley,
and naturally tributary thereto, though
at present as inaccessible as was the
Chitina region in 1900. Its develop
ment can come only through the extern
sion of railroad facilities, as the Tanana
in it's upper reaches is not nayigable
stream.
Gold Production Falls Behind
Gold production in Alaska, long the
leading industry, has now fallen behind
copper. Last year approximately &c.,
1924 gold was taken from the Alas
kan mines.
The fishing industry of Alaska ranks
first in value among Alaska's industries
when consideration is taken OF the
great amount OF fish used locally for
food. The continental shelf extending
off the coast Of Alaska probably fur
nishes the greatest feeding area for
fish possessed by any country in the
world. The salmon industry greatly
exceeds in value that of any other fish
ing. The other varieties are, however,
being used more extensively each year.
The feature OF Importance in Alaska's
fishing industry for 1916 was the be-
ginning OF the clam canning industry
at Cordova, where four plants were
under construction. The high price of
all food products prevailing in 1917 re-
suited in the installation of many new
fishing plants, which should greatly in.
crease the value of the output for this
year. The total value Of the fishing in.
dustry of Alaska for 1916 was about
S24,lS3,252, of which the salmon in
dustry had value OF $50 ,554 SIS. the
e IL