The Nome nugget., 1925-07-04
GENERAL DESCRIPTION NOME DISTRICT


 of Northwestern Alaska known geographically as Seward Peninsula: is bounded by the Arctic Ocean the North and Boring Sea on the West and pos 600 miles of coast line. Nome, with . population varying from $50 in winter aooo in summer, is the chief port and commercial center of the entire district the regions farther north and a section of the Northeast Coast of Siberia Npme is the mail distributing 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 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 crosses the heart of the district. The summer temperature ranges between 40 and 50 degrees the mean annual tenn perature between 25 and 40 degrees. Extremes of temperature recorded in Nome around 77 de- xrees in July to 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 but numerous varieties of lesser minerals founi 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 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 located in the Port Clarence section and coal beds of important extent exist in the Kugruk and Cape Lsburne regions near the northern coast.
 sirce 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 antimony and other metals valued at several mil lions Copper and graphite are known to exist in exploitable quantities and rich gold quartz ln small bodies and low grade quartz in large bodies has been found at numerous points. Almost all the best known metals found in expoitabie quantities The gold produced is almost entirely from pacers quartz mining having reached state of active development yet. Dredging has become the chief method of gold extraction al though numerous hydraulic and "opeu cue plants are operated very large part of the known mnerazed areas have hardly more than pros pected remoteness and inadequate transportation facilities having greatly hindered development fn the past, and many new placers and other mineral discoveries may be expected in the future when e'e district Is thoroughly exploited.
 In addition to its great mineral resources the Nome district also contains tremendously important possibilities in it's thriving reindeer industry which
 
 although hardly than started on conner ria, scale has already yielded revenues approx mating s5.o00oo0.
 Fish of various species abound in the lakes' streams and coastal waters and form the basis for . great industry. Herring particularly pent'- full and are pronounced by experts unexcelled by any herring known to the worlds markets Sal mon and other varieties also plentiful
 
 fur bearing animals which yield large annual rev. enue, in addition to game animals and wild fowi 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 tim bsr larger than willows. plant life exists in great profuson and the low hills and valleys are covered with vast carpet of thick moss and grasses
 Roads are the first essential to the development of e new territory. As result of an extremely short sighted and iliberal 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 wealth known to exist in the Nome District. With in the nearly 2s 900 square miles of territory there are 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 save at slow pace under such conditions. During the past year two the Government has inclined to more liberal spirit and prospects now bright for important extensions of present highways which will prove of vast benefit pro- jected Government extension of the Nome-Kougarok railway through the heart of the district to the Kusruk coal fields will not only open great area hut VvflIa ale