The Alaska daily empire., 1921-02-24
APPROACH SEEN OF SILVER ERA
 BY MINING MEN
White Meta Claiming Atten- ton of Capital, May Equal
 Gold and Copper

Alaskan mining men, according to reports received in Juneau. expec, that the greatest mineral develop ment in both Alaska and the Yukon in thc next few years will be in sii- yer. The past two decades. it is pointed out, have witnessed the gold era and the copper era, and while there is a sharp decline i1 the pro duction of both these metals today. silver is beginning to make itself noticeable.
 Mining men do not believe tha' the day of big gold and copper pro duction has passed never to return but realize that both metals will be slack until there is decided change in conditions. Operating costs arc still too great for any extensive workings of most of the known gold fields, only bonanza ground being able to stand up under these costs. Copper today is selling for less thar the cost of production, which i., resulting in a radical curtailment Of operations in that field.
 Capital Obtainable
 But with silver, the case is differ cnt. Tho present market price of silver is inducing prospectors to search the hills for ledges which in the fever of the days of the rich placer camps of the Interior were passed up as of little value. And where discoveries of promising gal ena bodies have been made, capital has been easily obtained for theil development.
 The Mayo district in the Yukon Territory where the Guggenheim in- terests are making extensive explora tions and from which galena ore io being shipped by team to the River, is creating an interest in the white metal which extends all over Alaska. Tom Aitken, one of Alas ka's most prominent mining men was the pioneer of the silver develop ment in the Stewart River country making large shipments from there in 1916, but later disposing of his interests there as his dredges in the Kuskokwim district and other min ing interests in Alaska, demanded practically all of his attention.
 Galena Ore Shipped
 Last year Aitken securing aptions on the property of Joe Quigley in the Kaptishna district, which he later purchased, put a crew of men tC work in the mine and shipped~sev eral hundred tons of galena ore tC a Tacoma shelter. He is still de vcloping this mine which promises to become a big producer. There arc reported to be other excellent prospects uncovered in the Kantish ma, which will be explored this season. The prospect for connect ing up the Kantishna by wagon roat with the Government railroad adds to the brightness of the outlook fol large mineral developments.
 MT. Aitken has also been able tt secure another promising whit metal property during the presen" winter on the left limit of the fukof River between Ruby and Nulato a few miles below the Signal Corp station at Louden. The mine is sit uated about 20 miles from the Yu kon and ore is being mined anc and dumped for shipment on tn; opening of navigation next Spring Where tine ore is being stored, it tie village has already sprung into existence which has been named Galena. The ledge was discovered Interior after prospecting in the vicinity for several years.
 Assays $2oo a Ton
 The ore is said to run $200 pei ton in silver-lcad. The vein uncov- cred is said to be two feet In width and in order to operate this winter Mr. Aitken was compelled to ship fuse, caps, 1000 sacks from Fair. banks and 2,000 from the Kuskokwim over the ice at almost stupendous freight rates.
 What is said to be probably the most extensive galena showing ever discovered in the North is located in the Wild River district in the Koyukuk country This property was first discovered in 1907 Of 1908 and is known all over Alaska as the Silver King" property. De- spite the richness and volume of the ore body, on account of the remote