The Nome nugget., 1925-07-11
GENERAL DESCRIPTION NOME DIST"

Seward Peninsula; is bounded bH the aretic oee'n on the North and Boring Sea on the West and pos sesses some 6o0 miles of coast line Nome "'" a population varying from S5o in winter to -'oo' in summer is the chief port and commercial center of the entire district the regions farther north ana a vast section of the Northeast Coast of S1oefia Nome is the mail distrhutine center for the entire district and is also the judicial headquarters for the Second Alaska Division. In practically all things the entire division is served from th's port The country generally is of rolling character w''h wide valleys and numerous lakes and streams The lowands merge into low rounded hills fronting sinele lofty range which crosses the heart ot the ai.ri., The mean summer temperature ranges hetween 40 and 50 degrees: the mean annual tenn perature between 25 and 4o degrees Extremes ot temperature recorded Nome are around '' de- rrees in July to So degrees minus in January Annual precipitation is about 15 inches
 The district is unquestionaby of the most highly mineralzed regions of the known earth Gold is the chief resource but numerous var'e''es O, lesser minerals found over large portion of the district and petroleum is known to exist ID the region Of Point Barrow short distance to the north of the peninsula. Oil indications are also found within the district at several points The only real tin mines in Alaska and the largest known deposits of tin in America are located in the foft Clarence section and coal beds of important extent exist in the Kugruk and Cape Lisburne ree'ons near the northern coast.
 Stree the discovery of gold o5 years ago, the Nome district has produced more than S1ooooo- 900 in gold and silver, addition to tin tungsten antimonv and other metals valued at several mil lions Copper and graphite known to exist ,n eynloitable quantities and rich gold quartz ia small bodies and low grade quartz ln large oou'es has bacn found at numerous points. Almost all the best known metals are found in eNp'o'ao'e ouant,es The gold produced is almost entirely from placers. quartz mining not having reached d state of active development yet. Dredging has become the chief method of gold eNtraction al though numerous hydraulic and "open cue plants are operated. A very large part of the Known mineralized areas have been hardly more than pros pected. remoteness and inadequate transportation facilities having greatly Etndered development in the past and many p1acers and other mineral discoveries may be expected in the future when tne district is thoroughly exploited.
 In addition it's great mineral resources, the Nome district also contains tremendously important possibilities p thriving reindeer industry, which although hardly than started on commer- 
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 Fish of various species abound in the lakes streams and coastal waters and form the basis for great industry Herring are particularly plentl- full and are pronounced by experts unexcelied 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 large annual rev. 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 as a whole is devoid of tm- Der larger than willows. plant life exists in great profusion and the low hills and valleys are covered with vast carpet of thick and grasses
 Transportation
 Roads are the first essential to the development of new territory As a result of extremely short sighted and illbera policy the part of the Federal Government, inadequate and costly trans portaton facilities have been the chief drawback to extensive exploitation of the great mineral wealth known to exist in the Nome District With the nearly 2s.oOo square miles of territory there less than $50 miles of permanent roads and more than 25 per cent of the total mileage is found within 20 miles of Nome. Development cannot proceed at slow pace under such conditions During the past year or two the Government has inclined to liberal spirit and prospects are now bright for important extensions of present highways which will prove of vast benef-. pro- jected Government extension of the Nome -Kougarok railway through the heart of the district to the Kugruk coal fields will only open great hut IoIoo hIo