Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-08-23
Alaska Mining
Activities Increase

Anchorage, Alaska, July 13.-(By
A. P.)-Readjustment Of wages bring
ing a close approach to normalcy as
applied to mining has resulted In re-
turn of the pendulum toward greater
mining activity than has'been expert
enced in the history Of Alaska ~bince
the boom days.
While the Alaska railroad was
building it was impossible to OBJ
tain help for mining operations
owing to the good wages in rail-
road construction. Even now there is
a general shortage of miners through
out the territory and every man of ex-
perience who cares to is employed.
Mining takes on an entirely different
complexion than of few years ago;
attention is being given to gaining ac-
cess to known placer deposits suitable
for hydraulic and dredges. and aside
from this phase of the placer situation
there is little doing save where old
timers have a 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.
The other phase of the renaissance
in mining is confined to quartz. and
judging by the encouraging discover
les, the apparent permanency of ore
bodies and ability to mine economical
ly, the outlook for quartz is excellent.
Additional prospecting in-the Willow
Creek district has disclosed a more eX-
tended area, and as rapidly as trails
and roadways are extended the pros
pector is bringing commercial proper
ties into being.
So great has become the lure Of the
hills that almost all the populous CEN
tors along the railroad are undergoing
Ia mid-summcr uuietudc, everyone who
has a grubStaie and many engaged in
other lines of business taking advan-
tage Of the ideal conditions in the
hills to combine a pleasure trip with
prospecting.
"ITow much does it go to the pan"
has been supplantcd by "What does it
run to the toA," and how is the crop
looking?"
Even when a big cleanup comes in
there is no excitement, as these things
are becoming ry-day occurrences.
Alaska at present needs more inter-
est in quartz mining, especially from
outside capital, it is stated, for local
capital is carrying tho peak Of develop
mont ana the lack Of larger capital -
rctarding rapid development.
Geological survey engineers are now
making rccognizanccs along the rail
road belt ana the result of their find
! ,I,,,
effect upon all classes Of mining. and
q boom is looked for as soon as these
reports are made known.
Alaska is no place for the Wildcattcr.
for the communities are arraycd
against spurious promotions, and all
efforts to float such enterprises arc
halECd by the public and press.
As an illustration Of how the Alask
ans are progressing, 4 group Of bust
ncss mon have acquired a 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 we'll, the property be
ing turned over on low royalty basis,
au amolumcnt being subject TO stri,s
ing oil.
Anchorage recently Jointly financed
4 canncry plant by escrowing all sub
scriptions until sufficient capital was
raised. The canncry was launched and
this season is operating successfully.
It is the policy of Alaskan capital to
pool with outside capital on all lcgiti-
mate enterprises and in this manner
the public, as we'll as legitimate dcvcl-
opcrs, are protected against bucca-
neers Of finance.