The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-12-01

1uc uiuCIdl PIouuCIAOu OI Iuc tcI- ritory in 1918 was valued at only $28,253,961. This output was almost $12 2,50O,OO0 less than that for 1917 and was the smallest since 1914. The decrease was chiefly in copper, the production of which fell from S8,783.- 400 pounds, valued at $24,240,598. in 1917 to 69,224,951 pounds, valued at $17. .O9S,56S, in 1918. The reduction in the output of copper was due to shortage of labor and ships. The production of gold decreased from 709,050 ounces valued at $14,657,353. in 1917 to 458,641 ounces, valued at Sa,42n,952, in 1913, and was the small est since 1904. The reduction in the output of gold was due chiefly to curtailment of operations because of the scarcity of labor and the high cost of materials. There was a re- duction in the output of silver and lead due to the decrease in gold and copper. The production of tin, tung- sten, and antimony showed con- siderable decrease, the production of antimony practically ceasing because of the inability of the producers in the interior of Alaska to compete with the cheaper foreign product. The production of coal increased from 53,955 tons, valued at $265,317, in 1917 to 75,6O6 tons, valued at $411, 1850, in 1918, and was the largest in the history of mining in Alaska Petroleum continued to be produced from the single patented claim near Katalla, and the local refinery was operated on about the customary scale. The production of marble and g. psum in southeastern Alaska was somewhat less than in 1916. Chromite was mined in about the same amount as in 1917. The production of plati- nun, which was begun in 1916, con- tinued on an increased scale, chiefly from the placers in Seward penin- sula. A considerable amount of pal ladum was recovered from copper ore from southeastern Alaska.
 PLATINUM FROM ALASKA
 The output of platinum, palladium, and other metals of the platinum group in Alaska in 1918 is estimated at 2S4 fine ounces, valued at $36,600, according to the U. s. Geological Survey, department of the interior. l Platinum was recovered from the gold placers of some districts in larger amounts and from some in smaller amounts than last year.
 One of the most interesting events ol the year in connection with Alas ka mining is the recovery of sub stantial amounts of palladium and of some platinum from the copper of the Salt Chuck mine, near Ketchikan. ALASKA PRODUCES 70 MILLION
 POUNDS OF COPPER
 The copper production of Alaska in 1918 was 69,224,9 ,951 pounds, valued at $l7,09S,563, according to report on the Alaska mining industry in 1918, just issued by the U. s. Ge- ological Survey, department of the interior. This is less than the pro duction in 1917, which was 88,793, 400 pounds, valued at $24,240,598. The reduction in output is stated to be due to shortage of labor and ships. During the year 17 copper mines were operated, the same number as in 1917. A copper prospect on the AL aska peninsula is under development, and interest still continues, the re- port states, in the copper deposists of the Talkeetna and Broad Pass dis tricts. The copper deposits in the Alaska range recently reported are still attracting attention, altho little work has been done on them. The deposit of copper discovered in 1915 oIt Rany creek, tributary of the south fork of Delta river miles above Miller's roadhouse, is said to be large body of low-grade ore on which considerable crosscutting has been done. There is also a low grade copper deposit in the gulch 11. or 2 miles west of Paxson's road house. A copper lode on McLaren river, tributary to the Susitna, is said to be 10 feet wide and of high grade. It was reported that an out fit was to be taken in on the snow in the winter of 1918-19 to prospect this deposit. A copy of the report may be obtained from the Director of the Geological Survey, Washing ton, D. c.
 OIL DRILLING IN ALASKA
 The petroleum produced in Alaska is derived wholly, from single pat ntcd claim in the Katalla oil field, according to the U. s. Geological
 ulVcy, department of the interior.