The Nome nugget., 1925-01-31
GENERAL DESCRIPTION NOME DIST''

of Northwestern Alaska known geographically a Seward Peninsula: is bounded by the Arctic Ocean on the North and Boring Sea the West and pos sesses some 500 miles of coast line. Nome. with a population varying from $50 in winter to 5000 in is the chief port and commercial center the entire district the regions farther north and a section of the Northeast Coast of Siberia Nome is the mail distributing center for the entire district and Is also the jEdicia headquarters for the Second Alaska Division. In practically all things the division is served from this port The country generally Is of rolling character with wide valleys and numerous lakes and streams. The lowlands merge into low rounded hills fronting single lofty range which the heart of the district. The mean summer temperature ranges between 40 and 50 degrees the mean annual tenn perature between 25 and 70 degrees. Extremes of temperature recorded in Nome around 77 de- grees in July 30 degrees minus in January. Annual precipitation is about Is inches.
 The district is unquestionably of the highly mineralized regions of the known earth. Gold is the chief resource but varieties of lesser minerals are found over large portion of the district and petroleum Is known to exist in the region of Point Barrow. short distance to the north of the peninsula. Oil indications also found within the d1strlct at several polntS 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 extent exist in the Kugruk and Cape Lisburne regions the northern coast.
 Since the discovery of gold 25 years ago. the Nome district has produced more than s1oo.ooo.- 900 in gold and silver. in addition to tin. tungsten. antmony and other metals valued at several mill lions Copper and graphite are known to exist in expoitable 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 exploitable quantities. The gold produced is almost entirely from placers, quartz mining not having reached state of active development yet. Dredging has become the chief method of gold extraction al though hydraulic and "open cue' plants operated. large part of the known mneralized have been hardly than pros pected. remoteness and inadequate transportation facilities having greatly hndered development in the past and many pacers and other mineral discoveries may be expected in the future when the district is thoroughly exploited
 In addition to it's great mineral resources. the Nome district also contains tremendously important
 
 although hardly than started a conner cia scale. has already yielded revenues approxi- mating s5.ooo 900.
 Fish of various species abound in the lakes. streams and coastal waters and form the basis for a great industry. Herring particularly plenti- full and pronounced by experts unexcelled by any herring known to the worlds markets. Sal- mon and other varieties also plentiful.
 The district also produces large variety of fur bearing animals which yield a large annual enue. in addition to game animals and wild fowl in large numbers. Berries and wild flowers grow in abundance in the amending daylight of summer. Although the district a whole is devoid of tim Der larger than willows. plant life exists in great profuson and the low hills and valleys covered with a vast carpet of thick moss and grasses.
 Transportation
 Roads are the first essential to the development of a new territory. AS result of extremely short sighted and ibesal policy the part of the Federal Government. inadequate and costly trans portation facilities have been the chief drawback to extensive exploitation of the great mineral in the nearly 23ooo square miles of territory there arc less than $50 miles of permanent roads and moro than 2s DOT cent of the total mileage is found within 20 miles of Nome. Development cannot proceed save at . slow pace under such conditions. During the past year two the Government has inclined to moro liberal spirit and prospects are BOW bright for important extensions of present