The Nome daily nugget., 1917-05-23


 ter time has the willing investor been roped in and his money--or part of 1t which the promoter did not get-been dumped into a hole in the ground. Outside of the country getting a black eye and the investor losing his money nothing remains but regretful memor- ies of Alaska-and the hole in the ground.
 Mining is yet probably the principal factor in the Nome of today; however we have other resources equally as rich, more extensive. which have never been exploited. There Is the fishing industry and fur and the raising of reindeer-which is no longer in its infancy-all of these are alluring, at traotiye. out of the ordinary safe in yestments.
 Again there is another great factor which we but little consider and that is Seberia. Irrespective of Alaska or any other mining country in the world, not one gives the promise as a mining country than that portion of the great Russian domain which Is but short days travel from our doors.
 There is not a mining engineer or mining man in the world today who has ever spent a few months in that bleak looking un-explored country, but who declares 1t to be the greatest un- developed mineral area in the world. Not alone is it rich in mineral but all other attendant resources winch are found in countries so far north.
 We. here in the United States have never had the real opportunity to en- ter into that portion of Russia which is of so much promise. Granted! A few years ago several of the more intrepid ones decided to take chance in the then-czar's domains. They did not go into the interior-dld not do any extensive prospeeting-but found gold in paying quantities. Since that time concessions were obtained by English capital away on the bleak Arctic slope of Siberia and millions of dollars are now being expended in the installation of gold dredges and mining machinery.
 Under the old regtm Siberia-our neighbor-was to us almost as a closed book. Today things are differ ent under the new provisional govern ment. A few weeks ago we had official notification from them that custom house would be established in close proximity 10 Nome with the idea of furthering trade relations with this country. It would be safe to say that within the next five years we will be doing considerable business with that country which today is not even considered locally.
 Millions of dollars have been comh-
 
 ed from its shores in the nature ot fur, whalebone and ivory in the past decade and it's resources are still vir- gin. Just think of Tt: Here we have a country nine times as large as the territory of Alaska at our very doors which abounds with treasure and which to all intents and purposes is uneXplored. The dawn of the awak- ening of Siberia is nigh, and, with the cessation of hostilities in this mighty regretful war. will come the opening of this wonderful country which will mean much for Nome. We will reap much benefit from Siberia and it can not be taken away from us.
 As to the coming summer During the past three or four years it has been hard for the average working man 10 get employment In the penin- sula- Things were none too prosper ous on the great outside and many de- cided to take their chances in the northland for the summer. They came. and went, and in some cases were giv- en preference over the old timer in what there was to offer. It will be different this year. Men will be scarce and work will be more abundant.
 Truly. we will miss the road ap- propriation which is denied us through the action of one in whom We re- posed much trust and confidence. but that will be offset by the territorial appropriation. which is one of the wisest and best pieces of legislation