Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-05
ALASKA MAKES
BIG STRIDES IN
EXPORT TRADE
Imports No Longer Outdis-
lance Outgoing Business
New Mining Boom.

SEATTLE, Wash, June J.--The rapid
commercial strides made by Alaska dur
ing the last year have been such that no
longer do imports far outdlstsnce Alas
kan exports
This is the nucleus Of a report made
public recently by ]. L. Mcpherson,
manager Of the Alaskan bureau of the
Seattle Chamber Of Commerce. TO
prove his contention that Alaska has
seen the most substantially progressive
year in its history. Mcpherson outlines
the various industries of the northern
country. embracing reports on mining.
timber. agriculture furs and fisheries,
and gives a brief summary OF the bust
ness outlook for the '1and Of the mid
night sun
Mcpherson states that the big dis
covery for the year 1919 was a rich
deposit OF silver opened at the Pre-
m,e- mine. near the head OF Portland
canal. This mine Is located IN Brit
lsh Columbia, about mile from the
Alaskan boundary, but the natural
outlet however. is across Alaskan ter
-itory. new town has sprung mp
close by the Premier mine, on the
Alaskan side, and Is called Ryder Dis
,overies also Of very <rge deposits Of
high grade silver ore have been made
n this district.
still another important mining de-
relopment in Alaska during the past
year is that OF the gold quartz dis
coveries on NixOn's Fork, a tributary OF
the Takotna river, which joins the kus
kowim river at McGrath 500 miles above
It's mouth These mines give every
promise OF becoming rich producers, Nc
Phcrson states.
The Candle creek gold placer mines
about ten miles from McGrath. come
In for a favorable report also. At
Juneau the Alaska-Juneau Mining Com
pany Is reported TO have increased its
output and that by the end Of 1920 win
Oe milling 5000 tons Of ore a day. Sim
ilarly the Alaska -Gastineau Mining Com
pany has increased It's working force
and has averaged an output of about
) 400 tons of ore a day. Due TO the
Increased cost of labor and other han
dicaps. Mcpherson relates that these two
world famous mines have been operating
under great handicap. -
The discovery Of platinum about eight
miles from Valdez has resulted I'm con
.
this region. Shipments Of ore will be
considerably enlarged also as a result
Of the good work done at the La Toucbe
copper mine.
The completion Of the government rail-
road from Fairbanks to the Nenana coal
field will give an added impetus to min
ing in this, district, the report points
out. OIL developments have continued ut
Katalla, and the company operating this
property has n local market for all its
output. the oil being refined on the
ground.
However. tho output Of fishing products
for the year 1910 proved less than that
for 1918 due TO the shortage OF the run
Of salmon in the Bristol bay and south
western regions. Restrictive measures
are being devised to protect this valuable
fishing section. At Seldovia. a new clam
cannery has been established, while at
Petersburg two new firms are engaged In
the business of canning crab meat
The timber industry In southeastern
Alaska has most successful year Nc
Pherson reports. the mills, In most in
stances. running to full capacity. The
timber feature Of the year was the con-
tract secured by the Petersburg mill to
furnish between 00O00O00 and 10000 900
feet OF lumber for shipment to Australia