The Wrangell sentinel., 1930-07-10

mary form the mineral output of Alaska for 1929 and for the sake of comparison the production of the same minerals in 1928:
 1929 1928 Gold... .. $7761,000 S6,S45,O0O Copper -. 7130,0UO 5,965, ,000 oliver . 252.000 266,OOO Coal .. 52S,00O 662,O00 Tin, metallic 35,000 41,O00 Lead . 166sO0O 1ISO0O miscellaneous 194,0OO l64,OOO
 from the table it will be evident that there was great increase in the value of the output of gold cop per, lead, and miscellaneous prod ucts which included petroleum, mar Die, platinum metals, gypsum, etc. rms increase is to be attributed to the increased selling price of cop per and a very notable increase In the output ot gold from both lodes anu placers. There was also an in crease ill the quantity of silver, though the value of the silver was somewhat less than in 1928. Gener- al conditions affecting mining were favorable, and although no notable new developments were recorded a number of the large enterprises that have been in the process of organiz- ing for several years were beginning to realize on the preparatory work and show returns. At most of the placer camps whose successful oper- ton depends on an adequate water supply for sluicing and other pur- poses, there was abundant rainfall, so that the rivers and other sources were maintained at good stage. opening and closing of the outdoor working season, was essentially normal.
 The output of gold was distribut- ed between lodes and placers ap- proximately in the proportion of Al to 53, or $3,644,OO0 from lodes and $4,117,O00 from placers. The pro ducing gold lodes are widely dis tributed through various parts of the Territory, but more than 95 per cent of the output came from lodes in southeastern Alaska, where ac- feasibility to deep-water routes of communication and other favorable conditions have permitted the suc- cessful mining of immense tonnages of low grade gold ore.
 The output of placer gold was nearly three quarters of a million dollars larger than in 1928. Hun dreds of camps contributed to the output, but those in the Yukon ba- sin contributed the greatest amount and those in the Seward Peninsula came next. More than 70 per cent of the total placer production of the Territory was mined by dredges, of which there were 30 active during 1929, 12 in Seward Peninsula, IT in the camps in the Yukon Valley, and in the Kuskokwim valley. Togeth- CT these dredges produced gold to the value of $2,932. .OOO. They are estimated to have handled about 8,709,600 cubic yards of gravel and the gold recovered was worth about 3S2s cents a cubic yard. Two new dredges were built during the year, and three old dredges that had been idle during 1928 were again active.
 The output of copper in 1929 was nearly 1000 pounds less than in 1928, but because of the increased selling price its value was $1,165,- 900 greater than in the earlier year. Practically the whole of tke Alaska copper comes from three mines op- erated by the Kennecott Copper Corporation, two of which are in the Copper River region and one on La touche island, in Prince William Sound. The ore from the proper ties in the Copper River region is largely high grade copper sulphide and carbonate; that from Latouche island is low grade copper-iron
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