The Nome nugget., 1922-06-10
General Description Rom< District

miles of territory occupies large section Of Northwestern Alaska known geographically Seward Peninsula Is bounded by the Arctic Ocean the North and Boring Sea the West and possesses 500 miles of coast line Nome with population varying from $50 in winter to 2O0o in summer is the chief and merca center of the entire district the regions farther north and section of the Northeast of Siberia Nome the mail distributing center for the entire district and is also the judicial headquarters for the Second AL aska Division In practically all things the entire dvi sion is served from this port The country generally is of rolling character with wide valleys and lakes and streams The owands into low rounded hills fronting single lofty which the heart of the district The summer temperature ranges be- tween 40 and 50 degrees the annual temperature between 2 and 40 degrees Extremes of temperature corded Nome around 77 in July to 30 de- grees minus in January Annual precipitation is about Is inches
 The district is unquestionaby of the most highly mineralzed regions of the known earth. Gold is the chief varieties of lesser minerals found large portion of the district and petroleum is known exist in the region of Point Barrow. short distance to the north of the peninsula oil indications found within the district at era points. The only real tin mines in Alaska and the largest known deposits of tin in America located in the Port Clarence section and coal beds of important the Kugruk and Cape Lisburne regions the northern coast
 Since the discovery Of gold 22 years ago. the Nome District has produced more than $s1.00oO0O in gold silver in addition to tin, tungsten anmony and other metals valued at several millions Copper and graphite known exist in expoable quantities and rich gold quartz in small bodies and low grade quartz in large bodies has been found at numerous points Almost all the best known metals found in expoita ble quantities The gold produced is almost entirely from pacers quartz mining not having reached state of active development yet Dredging has become the chief method Uf gold attraction although numerous hy draulic and "open cut" plants operated very large part of the known mineralzed have been hardly than prospected remoteness and inadequate transportation facilities having greatly hndered develop in the past, and placers and other min era discoveries be expected in the future when the district is thoroughly exploited.
 In addition to it's great mineral resources the District also contains tremendously important abilities its thriving reindeer industry which, altho hardly than started commercial scale, has al ready yielded revenues approximating S3,0OO.00O.
 Fish various species abound in the lakes and coastal waters and form the basis for great industry Herring particularly plentiful and pronounced by experts unexcelled by herring known to the worlds markets. Salmon and other va rieties also plentiful
 The district also produces large variety of fur bearing animals which yield large annual revenue in addition game animals and wild fowl in large numbers and wild flowers in abundance in the un ending daylight of Although the district whole devoid timber larger than willows plant life great prouson the low hills and valleys with vast carpet of thick moss and grasses Characterization Roads are the first essentials to the development of a territory As result of an extremely short sighted and beral policy on the part federal government inadequate and costly trans poraton facilities have been the chief drawback to 1enve exploitation of the great mineral wealth known to exist in the Nome District Within the nearly 2sOOO miles of territory less than 25O miles of permanent than 25 cent of the total mileage Is found within 20 miles of Nome Develop ment proceed at slow under such con- ditions. During the past two the government has inclined liberal spirit and prospects are now bright for important extensions of present highways which will prove of vast benefit. projected govern ment extension of NomeKougarok railway through the heart district to the Kugruk coal fields Will only open great Of mineral lands to but will enable the acquisition Of cheap fue the sence which has been powerful deterrent to mnlns and industrial development in all lines.
 lZnI1 n1ir,in., The Nome District has been the source of nearly fourth of the mineral wealth pro duced in territory during the past 20 years Yet witha developed portion of the country This largely the fact that only the districts eas jest of received the attention of the mne and prospector. There still hundreds Of square
 miles of mineral bearing territory untouched b the hand industry owing the absence of roads anf resultant difficulties of transportation.