The Nome nugget., 1925-06-13

hundreds of miles of mineral bearing terri tory untouched by the hand of industry owing to the absence of roads and resultant difficulties of transportation
 The noted geologist Dr. Alfrel H Brooks. of the United States Geological Survey Bureau, has es- timated that there are over 21O square miles Of placer gold deposits within the confines of Seward Peninsula In addition there numerous gold deposits lode form scattered throughout the dis trct. Of these 21o square miles of placer gold scarcely than 5" square miles have been touched by the miner although their value has been known for years while among the literally hundreds of quartz deposits presenting productive possibilities there i. producing values This remarkable condition is due almost entirely to absence of highways during the part of the two decades of gold production.
 Gold mining at Nome is at present carried greatly by the use of dredges The principal com- panies interested here the Hammon Consoli- dated Gold Fields and the Alaska Mines Corpora ten The former is at present operating three mammoth electric Tuba dredges on the tun- dra near the town and are enjoying very favorable The power for these dredees is generated at the companys modern electric plant in the city. The latter company is operating a large dredge powered by Deisel engines at this time and are planning extending their activities and adding electrical equipment with their improvements. These two companies have gained control of a con- siderable amount of the tundra extending from the beach the hills and making rapid strides toward working it to the limit with many of work in sight Cold thawing is used sue cessfully and greatly aids the functions of the dredges.
 Despite the deterring conditions under which it labors the Nome District the most prosperous of the Alaska placer mining regions in 1920. It produced gold values at s1.317 7S19 compared a combined total of s1.s6s,o76.oo from all other placer districts. Eighteen dredges. about seventy five open cut mines and thirteen deep under ground pacers were operated about $50 being employed Regarding the future placer outlook. Dr. Alfred H. Brooks of the T.. & Geological Sur vey. says: "It was estimated some years ago 1S0S) that the value of the gold reserves in the gravel plain ancient beach and high beach paeers of Seward Peninsula about s215, ,ooo. .000o0. subtracting the amount gold that has since been mined from these deposits leaves the value of the reserves s2Oo Ooo o0ooO. Though the above inmates of the available placer may appear extravagant to some, a comparison will be shown that they moderate. With the return of nor nal conditions, development has increased steadily in recent months and several important small strikes have been made result of renewed pros pecting efforts.
 Platinum
 Platinum valued at s34.Os7.00 produced in Alaska in 1920, a large portion being obtained in the Nome District The bulk of the Nome output mined from the Dime Creek placers although and Sweepstakes Creeks, and at Willow Creek. Until 1876 effort made to recover this valu- able metal, but each succeeding witnesses an increased output efforts recovery extended,