The Cordova daily times., 1923-01-01
Advance Statement by United States
 Geological Survey)

Geological Survey)
 Some of the important features of mining development in Alaska during 1922 are set forth in the following statement, which is abstracted from the annual report on mineral re- sources and production in Alaska now in preparation under the direction of Alfred H. Brooks, of the United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior. Complete statistics of the mineral production of Alaska can not be collected within less than four or five months after the end of the year, but meanwhile it appears desirable to publish promptly the pre- liminary estimates, which are be- lieved to be within per cent of the actual figures.
 The General Situation
 The rather widespread pessimism concerning the present and future prosperity of the Alaska mining in-
 
 Dazzled by the quick fortunes made during the prosperous days of bo- nanza mining, the public has failed to mark the steady advance of other and more permanent kinds of mining, which were not only continued dur ing the war but which have been greatly accelerated during the last two years. The great publicity given to the failure of three of the large lode gold mines near Juneau has en- tirely obscured the slow but steady development of other Alaska lode properties The marked decline in the annual output of copper since 1917, the result of the low price of that metal, has been erroneously in- terpreted as marking the decline of the Alaska copper-mining industry The public, misled by the widely cir culated and grossly exaggerated statement of the extent and value of Alaska coal lands, is puzzled by the apparent lack of progress in their exploitation. It is true that the rather slight underground exploration of the best Alaska coal has thus far been rather unsatisfactory, but, on the other hand, the actual achieve ment of furnishing local coal to the region tributary to the Alaska Rail road is a very considerable advance, even though reserve of export coal has not yet been developed. Many who have long heard of promising occurrences of petrolum in Alaska have wondered at the delay in it's development, but drilling for oil was prohibited from 1910 to 1920, when leasing law was enacted. Since then the surface of the oil fields has been actively explored, but there has not yet been time to start actual drilling in these distant fields.
 Even Alaskans, many of whom are survivors of the days of bonanza mining, are by no means hopeful of the future. Those who have seen miners without capital grow sud denly wealthy from placer gold dug out with their own hands and who have beheld prosperous communities spring up almost over night are often impatient with mining projects that can succeed only by large invest ments and after years of prepara- tion.
 Some enormously assume that the revival of mining in Alaska can be assured only by the discovery of a great mineral deposit, such as a large oil pool or a rich placer field, and no doubt only such discovery could revive quickly the former pros perity of the Territory. Alaska mines have produced nearly half a billion dollars worth of minerals, and 97 per cent of this amount has come from her deposits of gold, silver, and copper. The estimated known re- serves of these metals alone, without regard to future discoveries or other minerals, such as oil and coal, are sufficient to assure a prosperous fu- ture for the mining industry. Many appear to believe that the building of the Alaska Railroad should have immediately produced marked boom Now that a year has passed since the railroad began to furnish transportation and cheaper fuel with out causing an immediate increase of mineral output they are loud in condemning the entire project. The Government railroad, as well as the increase in the building of wagon roads has already stimulated mining, but it will be some time before the