The Wrangell sentinel., 1926-06-10
s Mineral
 Resources anAid
 TOPulp Industry

A class at the Alaska College working under the direction ef Ernest N. Patty. dean of the college, prepared a series of papers on the non-metallic resources of Alaska.
 Several of these papers brought out facts of value to the prospeetor and mining men 6f the Territory. If these men get to thinking about the non-metallic minerals there is an opportunity Of stimulating this neglected phase of mining in Alaska
 A paper on .The Mineral Re sources Of Alaska as an Aid to the Pulp Industryr.' by George E. King, student in the School cf Mines. Al aska College. and an introduction by Dean Patty follow:
 History repeats itself. It was the lure of gcld that furrowed deep the trails to the Oregon Country and to California. For d time gold reigned supreme in the mineral in dustry of the west. The westward migration continued bringing with it the railways and the demand for other mineral products. By 1900 it became apparent that the west coast cities were destined to become imp rtant manufacturing and com mereial eenters. It was then that godl mining was dethroned as king of the western mineral industry. Today in California gold forms less than four per cent Of the total min eral production The mining of limestone and shale for the manu- fracture of cement lacks the roman tie appeal 6f gold mining yet the value of cement produced each year in California is about twice that of gold.
 It was gold that surged the frs wave of migration to Alaska. Just how we are approaching the time when We are ready to give serious attention to the development Of AL aska's non-metallie resources It is not to be expected that we can riya- the western states in this regard for the demand for non-metallie minerals bears ratio to the near hess of industrial centers.
 Alaska's non-metallic resources must lock to the constantly expand ing industrial eenters of the Pacific Coast for their markets. The Workr of the Government in building the Alaska Railway and in expanding net of roads and trails has link ed many sections with ocean ports sectil ms formerly regarded as inac- cessible to a prohibitive degree.
 There are certain non-metallic de- posits which. if found within req sonable distance of water or rail transportation, could be profitably exploited in Alaska. There are oth- CTS which must await the time 0 increasing population and develop ment f local markets. The cement industry is an example of this. If we can reach the point where there are sufficient primary industries to establish a firm base-then these basic industries will cause other enterprises to be super-impl sed upon them in pyramid construction.
 It is not generally appreciated that mineral products enter int the manufacture of wood pulp These products consist of pyrite gypsum, barite, magnesite, lime stone, dolomite, tale and sulphur. Pyrite ana sulphur are the two most important minerals required It is important to the pulp indus try to be able to get these metals and Don-metals as clc se to their site of manufacture as possible.
 The prospector should bear these facts in mind whiel i nthe hills, es- pecially in Southeastern Alaska where other conditions are favor able for the manufacture of pulp and paper In the event of their discovery, sf me or all of these min- erals will find ready market as the wood pulp industry in South eastern Alaska develops.