The Cordova daily times., 1917-01-16
MINERAL REVIEW OF ALASKA FUR
 YEAR 1878

The value of the total mineral pro- duction of Alaska in 1916 is estimated to have been $50, 1900, 900; that of 1915 was $32, 1854 ,000, and was itself greater than any previous year. The increase in 1916 was therefore over $l8.0OO, 900 or more than 54 per cent. Although this enormous increase in output was in large measure due to the large ton. mage and high price of copper vet nearly all other minerals were pro- duced in greater quantities than in the previous year. During 32 years Of mining, Alaska has produced over $351 100000 worth of gold. silver. cop. per and other minerals.
 It cannot be expected that Alaska will continue to produce so much min. erai wealth each year, yet the large amount of preparation made in 1916 for lode and placer mining and the de. velopment Of the coal mining industry now assured. give promise of a con tinuous healthy growth of the mining industry of the territory This is es- pecially true of the Pacific coast re zion and of the territory served by railroads built or under construction.
 The Alaska mines are believed to have produced gold to the value of about $17O5O,000 in 1916, compared with $16,700,000 in 1915. This makes the total value Of the gold mined in the territory about s277,9O0. .0OO, Of which some $196 800, 900 has been won from the plaeers In 1916 about 12O,, sse.ooo pounds of copper was pro. duced in Alaska. valued at about s32.- 100000. The production of 1915 was S6,500,000 pounds, valued at si5,I00,. GOO. The total copper production to date is 34O, 100000 pounds. valued at s68 300 900.
 The value of Alaska's lesser mineral products in 1916 was about as fol lows: Silver, $950.OO0; tin, $120, ,O0o: lead, $l1O,OO0; anthony, $6O.OoO: tungsten, $5O.O0O: coal, $3O,O0o; pc troleum, marble, gypsum. etc, $780, 900.
 GOLD PLACER MINING.
 The data in hand indicates that the value of the placer gold output in 1916 was $10,640, ,0O0; in 1915 1t was s10.- 4S0.o00. About $40 placer mines were operated in 1916. employing some A. 600 men. All the older districts ap- pear to have held up or increased their output compared with the pre- vious year. except Fairbanks. The increased output is, however. to be credited chiefly to the new camps of Marshall and Tolovana. Thirty six gold dredges were operated in Alaska in 1916, one more than in 1915-2q in Seward peninsula, three in the Idita- rod, and one each in the Ruby. Fair banks, Circle and Yentna districts VI 'A''S OV dACdBtS IOuT were in- stalled in 1916. It is estimated that these dredges produced between S2.- 100000 and $2.2O0,OOO worth of gold. If the final figures bear out this esti. mate it indicates a lower recovery per dredge than in the previous year. In 1915 the 35 dredges mined s2.- 330.000 worth or gold.
 GOLD LODE MINING.
 About 25 gold lode mines were op- erated in 1916, compared with 2s in 1915. The value of this gold output increased from s5OOO,000 in 1915 to about $6,000, 900 in 1916. Southern Alaska especially the Juneau district, is still the only center of large quartz mining developments in the territory. Next in importance is the Willow creek lode district.
 COPPER MINING.
 The enormous copper output from Alaska mines in 1916 has already been referred to. During the year Is COD per mines were operated compared with 13 in 1915 seven in the Ret, chikan district, eight in the Prince William sound district, and three in the Chitina district The enormous output from the Kennecott mine, in the Chitina district overshadowed all other operations. Had the transpor- tation companies and smelters been able to handle the ore, however. many of the smaller copper mines would have made a much greater output. tI is estimated that about 55O.OO0 tons of copper were hoisted in 1916.
 TIN MINING.
 About 232 tons of stream tin was produced fin Alaska in 1916. Of this amount 162 tons came from the York district, where two tin dredges were operated. and third was worked on