The Alaska daily empire., 1921-01-22
D0BbS PREDICTS PROSPEROUS ERA
 FOR KETCH|KAN
Great Mining Activity Next Year Tn District Forecast
 By Customs Man.

Mining conditions in the Ketchi- kan district have improved and it ia predicted in mining circles that there will be greater activity than ever there during the coming year, according to the annual report of Deputy Collector of Customs M. S. Dobbs, in charge at that port. This renewed activity is expected particu- larly to apply to gold mining.
 A 600 foot tunnel has been driven .on the 100-foot level of the Gold Standard property, and further de- v2lopment is in progress. It is pre- Gicted that this mine will be a pro- ducing property this year. MT. Dchbs says that ''in and about Helm Bay 3 number of promising gold pros poets are located, and, as the coun- try is heavily mincralized ana easily accessible, it will no doubt attract many prospectors next summer" Salt Chuck Mine to Double Capacity
 The Salt Chuck Mine at the head ot Karta Bay is proving profitable to it's oWners,' says Mir. Dobbs in bis report Though small ii is worthy of special mention, being one of the largest producers of pal Iadium and platinum in the United States. Plans are under way to tcuble the present mill capacity, and much greater tonnage may be expected This property also pro dUces good values in gold and cop per. At first it was operated for these ores solely, the platium and ] palladium values were not then known 10 exist Considerable loss was sustained on this account"
 At Hollis a new mill has been in stalled during the year, run by water power. and it will be operated dur i ing the coming year This is d gold property. and MT Dobbs says 1t has been put on paying basis.
 Mr. Dobbs says Rush and Brown are still operating their property al Karta Bay, taking out ore but ship ping very little on account Of the low price of copper. He says they are taking out good ore from tn, 50G-foot level, and will move greater tonnage when the price of coppe' improves. The owners have fount the same high class of ore on al the levels that was found on th' surface.
 Tho Customs office at Ketchikar has also been informed tha seve.a parties will prospect inc Unuk Rivel country next summer. Some year. aeo considerable work was lone il this region on the Canadian side O the line The ore carries high value. jn silver similar 10 the ore from tho Hyder district. Should work be done in this region it will be tributary 10 Ketchikan.
 Pulp and Paper People Interested
 Discussing the pulp and paper possibilities of the Ketchikan dis trict, MT Dobbs says:
 The greater part Of the timber of the Ketchikan district is suited for the manufacture of pulp anC paper and people engaged in tbi, business are looking over the coun try and prospective sites fer plans with the idea of building mills | is estimated by the Forestry Service that this section would support foui modern pulp and paper mills"
 Mir. Dobbs says the four sites sug gested as available at the presen time are on Behm Canal. where tn, water supply will furnish 19.00' horsepower. George Inlet with 9.00( horsepower, Carroll Inlet with 9.0Ot horsepower and Thorn Arm witi 10000 horsepower on Fish Greet and other available but unmeasure, sources of supply
 Ketehikan Growing.
 Mir. bobbs calls special attention to the amount of bullding that ha