The Nome nugget., 1925-06-13
GENERAL DESCRIPTION NOME DISTRICT

of Northwestern Alaska known geographically Seward Peninsula; is bounded by the Arctic Ocean on the North and Boring Sea the West and pos sesses 500 miles of line. Nome, with q population varying from s5e winter to 2.o0o in summer is the chief port and commercial center of the entire district regions farther north and a vast section of the Northeast Coast of Siberia Nome is the mail distributing 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 which the heart of the district The mean 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- grees in July to 90 degrees minus in January. Annual precipitation is about IS inches.
 The district is unquestionaby of the most highly mnerazed regions of the known earth Gold is the chief but numerous varieties of lesser minerals found 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. oh 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 Port Clarence section and coal beds of important extent exist in the Kugruk and Cape Lisburne regions near the northern coast.
 SIce the discovery of gold o5 years the Nome district has produced more than s1o0ooo, 900 in gold and silver in addition tin. tungsten. antmony and other metals valued at several mill lions Copper and graphite are known to exist in explotable quantities and rich gold quartz in small bodies and low grade quartz in large bodies has been found numerous points. Almost all the best known metals found i'll explotable quantities. The gold produced is almost entirely from placers quartz mining having reached state of active development Dredging has become the chief method of gold extraction. al though numerous hydraulic and ''ope1 cue" plants are operated A very large part of the known minerali.ed areas have been hardly than pros pected remoteness and inadequate transportation facilities having greatly hindered development in the past and many new placers and other mineral discoveries 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 possibilities it's thriving reindeer industry, which although hardly more than started conner cial scale. has already yielded approxi- mating $5.000000
 Fish of various species abound the lakes, streams and coastal and form the basis for . great industry. Herring are particularly plenti- full and are pronounced by experts unexcelled by any herring known to the worlds. markets Sal mon and other varieties are 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 intending daylight ot summer. Although the district whole is devoid of tim Der larger than willows, plant life exists in great with a vast carpet of thick and grasses.
 Transportation
 Roads are the first essential the development of new territory. As a result of extremely short sighted and iiberal 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 23 900 square miles of territory there are less than $50 miles of permanent roads and 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. inclined liberal spirit and prospects are