The Monroe journal., 1922-09-19
ALASKA Mines
SHOW ACTIVITY
Readlustment Of Wages Brings
Close Approach to Nor
malcy in Pits.
LURE OF THE HILLS DRAWS
People Leave PopuIous centers to
Combine Pleasure Trip With Pros
pee.ing-complexion Of Mining
Has Changed.

AncTDruge, AllSk1. - REIMBURSEMENT
of wages, bringing a close approach TO
normalcy as applied to mining, has re-
suited In return of the pendulum
toward greater mining activity than
has been experienced In the history Of
Alaska since the boom days.
While the Alaska railroad was build.
ing IL was impossible to obtain help
for mining operations, owing to the
good wages In railroad construction.
Even now there is general short
age of miners throughout the terri
tory. and every man of experience who
cares to work is~employed Mining
takes on an entirely different COM
plexion than few years ago; atten-
ton is being given to gaining access
to known placer deposits suitable for
hydraulics and dredges, and aside from
this phase of the placer situation
there is little doing save where old
timers have little piece of ground
from which they may sluice out a
grubstake for the winter. and who do
not care TO take out a fortune.
Mine Much Quartz.
The other phase of the renaissance
in mining is confined to quartz, and
judging by the encouraging discov-
cries, the apparent permanency of ore
bodies and ability to mine econom-
ieally, the outlook for quartz is ex-
cellent.
Additional prospecting in the Will
low Creek District has disclosed a
more extended area. and as rapidly
as trails and roadways are extended
the prospector is bringing commercial
properties into being.
So great has become the lure of the
hills that almost all the populous
centers along the railroad are under.
going midsummer quetude, every
one who has grubstake and many
engaged in other lines of business
taking advantage Of the ideal condk
ton in the hills to combine pleasure
trip with prospecting.
"IlOw much does il 60 to the PAM"
has been supplanted by "What does it
ruifso the TOM" and "Ilow is the crop
looking?"
Even when hig cleanup comes in
there is no excitement. as these things
are becoming everyday occurrences.
Alaska at present needs more in
terest in quartz mining, especially
from outside capital, II is stated. for
local capital is carrying the peak of
development and the lack of larger
capital is retardlng rapid development.
Geological survey engineers are now
making reconnoissanees along the rail
road belt and the result of their find.
ings Is expected to have tremendous
effect upon all classes of mining, and
boom Is looked for as soon as these
reports are made known.
"Wild Caters" Stay Out.
Alaska is no place for the wild cat.
ter, for the communities are arrayed
against spurious promotions and all
efforts to float such enterprises are
baked by the pablic and press.
As an illustration of how the Alas
kans are progressing, group of bust,
ness men have acquired number OF
oil leases In the Anchorage field and
hold them subject to the advent OF
capital in sufficient volume to drill one
or more complete wells, the property
being turned over on low royalty
basis, all emolument being subject tc
striking oil.
Anchorage recently Jointly financed
cannery plant by escrowlng all sub
scriptions until sufficient capital was
raised. The cannery was launched ant
this season Is operating successfully.
1t is the policy of Alaskan capital tC
| pool with outside capital on all legiti
mate enterprises and in this manner
! the public. AS well as legitimate devel
opers, are protected against buc
cancers of finance.