The Cordova daily times., 1918-01-24
MINE IS LARGEST
 PRODUCER

The largest mineral producers of the Copper River region, in 1917, as in the several preceding years, were the Jumbo and Kennecott- Bonanza | copper mines. Considerable copper was also shipped from the Mother Lode mine, and small shipments were made from several other properties. The important local developments in copper mining during the year include the successful operation on an am- monia teaching plant installed at the Kennecott-Bonanza in 1916 and theI construction of automobile roads for, hauling ore from the Mother Lode mine and from Nugget creek. Much, development work was done at these 1 and other mines, some of which will probably soon begin shipping Labor troubles reduced the output of the Jumbo and KeBnecott-B mines during the summer. Hydraulic placer, mining continued on a large scale in the Nizina and Chistochina districts. Some platinum was produced in the, Chistochina distrct.
 Prince William Sound.
 The value of the total mineral pro- duction of Prince William sound was about $4,20O,OOO in 1917, compared with about $3,OOO,OOO in 1916. This represents the value of the production of copper mines and 2 small gold mines
 The producing copper mines in 1917 included the Beatson, Blackbird. Schlosser property, Cidas, Macintosh property, and EIlamar The Black bird group. on Latouche Island. began shipping after lying dormat for several years Three hundred and fifty men were employed at the Beatson-B Bon anza, where large operations were con tinued, and the capacity of the mill l ing plant was increased to 1900 tons a l day. Twenty-Five men were employed on the Schlosser property and consid- erable underground work was done. the Mackintos hproperty employed 13 men stoping an old lead and extending the adit tunnels on it and cross-cutting to new lead. The Ellamar mine, with 100 men, continued operations through out the year on about the usual scale. Fifty men were employed at the Mi das during the year, underground operations were continued, tram was operated, and large shipments were made. Six hundred feet of tunnel and crosscuts were driven on the Rua prop erty. A large low-grade copper prop erty was discovered on Long bay. Some diamond drilling on a nickel iferous deposit on Knight Island is re- ported.
 Four small gold mines were oper- ated in the Port Valdez and Port Wells districts, but there was a gradual de- cline in gold mining and milling throughout the year, and the total pro- duction of the gold mines was small.
 kenaf Peninsula and Cook inlet.
 The lode and placer gold mines of Kenai Peninsula yielded a smaller out put that in the previous year. There was very little activity in the lode mines. The largest placer operations were on Resurrection and Crow creeks. Preliminary steps were taken toward placer mining on large scale on Canyon creek. Large shipments of chronic iron ore were made from Port Chatham.
 Matanuska Coal Field.
 The most important event of the year in tie Matanuska valley was the extension of the railroad to Chicka- loon. completing the Matanuska branch. The Eska Creek coal mines, opened in 1916 by private lessees, have been taken over by the Alaskan En- gineering commission, which is also opening mine at Chickaloon The Doherty coal mine, on Moose creek, was operated throughout the year, and work preparatory to mining was un- dertaken at other localities.
 Susitna Region.