The Nome nugget., 1922-08-05
,eneral Description Home District

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 The Nome Mining District. comprising 22.7Gc iuare miles of territory, occupies large section of orthwestern Alaska known geographically as Seward ennsula bounded by the Arctic Ocean the North Id Boring on the West and 500 mes .coast line. Nome with population varying from $50
 winter to 20O0 in summer is the chief port and com ercia center entire district the regions farther orth and section of the Northeast coast of Siberia one is the mail distributing center for the entire district nd the judicial headquarters for the Second AL ska Division In practically all things the entire dvi- ion is served from port The country generally is rolling character wide valleys and numerous lakes nd streams. The lowands merge into low rounded hills ronting single lofty which crosses the heart of district. The mean summer temperature ranges be- 40 and 50 degrees; the mean annual temperature eween 25 40 degrees Extremes of temperature re- orded at Nome are around v degrees July to 30 rees minus in January Annual precipitation is about inches.
 The district is unquestionably of the most .ighy mineralized regions of the known earth. Gold the chief but numerous varieties of lesser minerals found large portion of the district petroleum is known to exist in the region of Point Barrow a short distance to the north of the peninsula
 indications also found within the district at sev- points. The only real tin mines in Alaska and the arges deposits of tin in America located in Port Clarence section and coal beds o important ex ent Kugruk and Cape Lisburne regions he northern coast.
 Since the discovery Of gold g years ago. the Nome District has produced more than $S1o00.000 in gold and silver addition to n tungsten antimony and other metals valued at several millions Copper and graphite known 70 exist in exploitable quantities and rich gold quartz in small bodies and low grade n large bodies has been found at numerous points. Almost all the best known metals are found in exploa ,le quantities The gold produced Is almost entirely from pacers quartz mining not having reached state ,f active development yet. Dredging has become the chief method ls .~'l- io although numerous hy draulic and "open cut" plants operated. very large part of the known mnerazed areas have been hardly prospected remoeness and inadequate transportation facilities having greatly hndered develop in the past, and many placers and other mn- era discoveries be expected in the future when the district is thoroughly exploited
 In addition to its great mineral resources. the District contains tremendously important abilities its thriving reindeer industry, which, altho hardly than started commercial scale has al ready yielded revenues approximating $3,00O,OOO.
 Fish of various species abound in the lakes, and coastal waters and form the basis for great industry. Herring particularly plentiful and pronounced by oAp1I;s uleAcelled by any herring known to the worlds markets. Salmon and other va reties also plentiful.
 The district also produces a large variety of fur bearing animals which yield large annual in addition to game animals and wild fowl in large numbers Berries and wild flowers grow in abundance in the ending daylight of summer Although the district as WnOe exists in great profuson and the low hills and valleys are covered with carpet of thick and grasses. Characterization Roads the first essentials to the development of territory As result of an sighted and iiberal policy the part federal inadequate and costly trans poraton facilities havebeen the chief drawback to ex tensve exploitation of the great mineral wealth known to exist in the Nome District Within the nearly 2300O square miles territory there less than 250 miles of permanent and than 25 cent of the total mileage is found within 20 miles of Nome. Develop cannot proceed at slow under such con ditions During the past year two the government liberal spirit and prospects bright for important extensions of highways which will prove of vast benefit projected govern ment extension of the Nomekougarok railway through heart of the district to the Kugruk coal fields will not only open great mineral lands to exploitation but will also enable acquisition of cheap fue the a of which powerful deterrent to mining and industrial development fin all lines. (XoJd Mininn The Nome District has been the source of nearly fourth of the mineral wealth duced Alaska territory during the past 20 years. Yet whal developed portion of the country This largely to the fact that only the districts jest of received the attention of the miner and prospector There still hundreds of square miles known mineral bearing territory untouched by the hand industry owing the absence of roads and resultant difficulties of transpor taton.