The Cordova daily times., 1918-08-03
ALASKA'S MINERAL OUTPUT
$4l,760,O00 LAST YEAR

ia no it'l'N vi inc lIllii'lhi pio
duction in Alaska for 1917 the terri
torial mine inspector. in his annual
report. just issued. says the territory
has enjoyed most profitable year
While the value of the mineral produc-
ition for the year 1917 will not equal
that Of 1916, it was greater than that
Of any other year since mining oper
ations began In the territory The
constant demand for copper and rhe
high prices prevailing throughout the
year have stimulated the development
of numerous copper properties all
over the territory.
The value OF gold decreased con-
siderably during 1917. due to the in
creased cost of production brought
about by the war and increased cost
of mining supplies, such supplies hav-
ing in many instances increased in
cost by 200 per cent within the last
three years. Gold. being maintained
as the base or standard OF value, does
not increase with the rise and fall of
the market-consequently its value
has suffered severely by reason of rhe
I high prices demanded for other COM
mOditics. The caving OF the Tread
well mine and the depletion of some
of the richer placers have in part
been responsible for the decrease in
the gold production.
/ BY reason of the failure OF a num-
Der of the mine operators to make re-
turns as required by Section 10 of the
mine inspection act it is impossible
for this office to give very accurate
figures on the mineral production of
the different districts In the absence
OF complete information. the stats
ties published In the advance sheet
from the United States Geological
Survey, which 1t is believed do not
vary over S per cent from the actual
! figures, will be published.
The United States Geological Sur.
| Eey has number of men in the field
every year. and through personal con
tact and after years OF patient urging.
1t has been able to get fairly accurate
responses from the mine operators
throughout the territory in regard to
the annual mineral production.
The annual report on the mineral
resources and mineral production of
Alaska In 1917 is now in preparation
under the direction of G. c. Martin
of the Geological Survey. department
of the interior. Some of the impor-
tant features of. this report relating
to mining development during the year
are distracted in the following state
ment. Complete statistics of the min
eral production of Alaska can not be
collected within less than three or
four months after the close of the
year, but meanwhile 1t is desirable to
publish the preliminary estimates
here given. which are believed to vary
figures.
The value of the mineral produc
ton of Alaska in 1917 is estimated
at $4l.760OO0. exceeding that of any
previous year except 1916. which was
s4S, 632, 900. The decrease in 1917
was. therefore. about $3.50, 600, Dur
ing thirty-three years of mining
Alaska has produced over 1891 ,OOO. 900
worth of gold. silver. copper and other
minerals
Alaska mines are believed to have
produced gold to the value of about
$15,450,000 in 1917, compared with
$17,240.OOO in 1916. The total value
of the gold mined in the territory is
now about $293, 800 900. OF which $207,.
900. 900 has been won from placers In
1917 about $500, 600 pounds of cop
per was produced in Alaska. valued
lat about S24OO0.0OO. The production
in 1916 was 1l9.600OOO pounds. val
ued at S29,4SO,00 The total copper
produced to date is 427,700.0 600 pounds,
valued at $SS,40O,O00
The value of Alaska's lesser min
eral products in 1917 was about as
follows: Silver. $1,050,000; coal,
| >
anthony, $4,000; tungsten. chro-
midm, petroleum, marble, gypsum,
graphite. platinum, etc, $500, 900. The
year 1917 marks the first production
of chromium in Alaska, and about 81
ounces of platinum was saved in
placer gold mining at several widely