Seward daily gateway., 1924-03-06
COLLECTORS FIGURES
 SHOW ALASKA GAINS

l COlieClOr JOllu O. MCDIlue ISpOi Us 1 for 1923 reached the Gateway on the last boat and the reports on passen ger movements for the year show de cided eains. Arrivals from the United States and British Columbia to South eastern, Central and Southwestern Alaska, including Nome, St. Michael and the Boring Sea, and not counting the Yukon or Dawson movement, were as follows: 1918, 19,040; 1919, 24,273; 1920, 26,273; 1921, 17,157; 1922, 19,S67; 1923, 23,33O.
 It will be seen by the above figures that 1920 was the big trek to Alaska, with a decided slump in 1921. From this year on the travel has steadily in creased.
 The value of merchandise shipped from the United States to the Third division is $13,274,543. A comparative value of the shipment shows Seward received shipments totaling $S47,9$2. Anchorage received $2,49O,092; Cor doya, $1.459, Al; and Valdez $194,029, Kodiak received $2S9,1S0, or nearly twice as much as Valdez.
 The value of merchandise by divis- ions was: First, $13,671,4S9. Second, $1,1S5,S33. Third, $13,274,543. Fourth S2,649,341.
 The tonnage of vessels entering and clearing at the port of Seward was: Domestic trade, 9,952; foreign trade, 3,O04. Number of vessels entered 84; cleared 90. Foreign trade, entered ,, cleared f. Total vessels cleared from port of Seward 95.
 According to statistics compiled by the collector, the year 1923 recorded pleasing industrial and commercial advancement for the Territory of Alaska.
 The year closed with a total com- merce of $94,O75,7 5,748, a gain over 1922 of $6,538,275. Shipments into Alaska for the year amounted to $31 300, Al or an increase of $3,650,518 over the year 1922. Shipments from Alaska aggregated S62,775, 1907, which repre- sents an increase over 1922 of S2,867- 757, and balance in trade in Alaska's s favor for the calendar year 1923 of S31 ,474,866.
 The outstanding increase in Alaska's s trade with the United States was cen tered in the canned salmon industry. Total shipments of canned salmon to the United States amounted to 232, 491 ,5S7 pounds, valued at $30,514,286 which represents an increase of H. i 706,514 pounds of fish over 1922 ship ments, and an increase in value of $1- S26,66O.
 The copper ore industry, which is second in importance, shows an in crease in shipments of 14,074,09 lbs. of ore, and in increase of $3,514,2 ,296 in value.
 Measured by production gold mining declined during the year. The total shipments of gold and silver amounted to S6,569,139, which represents de- crease of $S26,736. Part of this de crease in gold production was due to abatement in placer mining on account of an unusually dry season. A fur ther cause of decrease was due to the fact that the Chichagof mine operated only half a year. If it had not been for improvement in gold dredging in the Fourth division, the loss of output from placers would have been much greater The decrease in gold produc- tion for 1923 does not mean a dis couraging condition as to the future mining industry in Alaska. Despite disrupted economic conditions, world over, which causes high operating costs, much important development work has been carried on in lode min ing districts, noticeably in the Salmon River district, at the head of Portland Canal; at Helm Bay in the Ketchikan district; properties in Lisiansh strait; in Prince William Sound; Kenai Pe- ninsula, and in the Kantishna district in the Interior. Some of the prospects will doubtless become producers in 1924 New interests have taken over the Chichagof mine and it will again become producer in 1924.
 In connection with the aggregation of merchandise shipped from the Uni ted States to the several towns in Alaska, the collector wishes it to be understood that in some cases the values are only approximate