The Daily Alaska empire., 1927-12-06

tricts where similar machines have been installed In the Fair banks district the preliminary work usual to extensive dredge mining is progressing rapidly and 1t is expected that active produc- ton will begin next year.
 Copper Ore Leads
 For many years the production of copper has exceeded all other minerals. hence any appreciable decline in the quantity produced or in the price of the metal is re- flected in the value of mineral production of the Territory. Dur ing the year 67.77s.000 pounds of copper, valued at $9.4s9. 900, was produced as compared with 73,- S55. .29S pounds, valued at $10.- 361 .336, for the preceding year.
 "The Federal Government and the Territory are endeayoring to stimulate mining. the former by the construction of roads and trails and the latter by partici |pating in trail construction and also by offering to pay transpor- .tation in certain instances to bona tide prdSpectors. The success of .shis r'an will determine future policy for Territorial assistanse to prospectors.
 "The coal mining industry shows little improvement since last year Practically all of the production came from the mines in the Matanuska Valley and the Healy River field Many i'm provements have been made al the mines, both in equipment and mining methods, hence it is ex- pected that the quality of the coal placed on the market will improve and the cost of production be re- duced. In the Matanuska field the Alaska Railroad standardized the track from the main line to the Moose Creek mines and this will facilitate the shipping of coal from this district. It is estimated that the domestic consumption of coal in Alaska is less than 16O,- 900 tons per annum and last year about 10000 tons of this was i'm ported.
 oil Drilling Continues
 'The petroleum production was confined to the Katalla field as in former years. The oil is obtain. ed from number of shallow wells and is refined in the vicini- ty The production is limited and the product disposed of locally af a price somewhat higher than the imported product. The oil-drill- ing operations on Pearl Creek Dome near Becharoff Lake in the Alaska Peninsula were discon- tinued early in 1926. One we'll was drilled to reported depth O. 5,034 feet before 1t was aban- doned. There are other favor able localities in this region and no doubt other wells will be drill ed in the district in an effort 10 find the source of the seepage oil that is present. Another company is drilling near Johnson Creek in the Yakataga oil field on ths southern coast of Alaska, east of Katalla, but the we'll has not reached sufficient depth to deter. mine the presence of oil in com mercial' quantities.
 There are extensive deposits of marble in southeastern Alaska but only one quarry is operating at the present time. The depos- its are favorably situated near tidewater and the marble is of excellent quality for building, some even approaching statuary grade. hence there Is no ques. tiop but that they will be worked more extensively in the future.
 Salmon Canning lndustry
 "The pack of canned salmon, 6 6,652 ,882 cases, was the greatest In the history of the, Territory, that of the previous largest pack. 1918. by 47.OOO cases. 1 This was. the outstanding feature Of the year. All fishing districts in Alaska shared the prosperity. This extraordinary abundance If salmon along the entire coat 1 muat be attributed to widespread favorable conditions m tho sen. the' nafsFe of vhlch ars untpoWn. Unfortunately the conditions dur ing the latter pert of the year In dicated that the seaDon q 1o27 ? n