The Kusko times., 1932-01-02

third of the price paid in 1930. Es-
 sentially the same condition prebaled.
 for silver and lead, the prices for. which, according to the Bureau of Mines, were respectivey % cents an
 ounce and 3.8 cents a pound in 1881 against 3S 1-2 cents and 5 cents in 1880. Tn fact, it is estimated that had the amounts of these three met
 als that were produced in Alaska in
 1881 been sold at the prices that were paid in 1930, their combined value
 would have been over $1,000,Q00.
 greater than the amount stated ml, these, estimates. Not only are the low prices paid for the metals re-. fletced in the value of the minerals produced, but also they. had great,
 though indeterminate.. effect on re-
 stricting production and discouraging the undertaking of new developments. In the face of this general reduction the large increas ein the output of $ couraging.
 The total production of gold from Alaska mines in 1881. is estimated at. &,342,000. about Ss66,0OO more than in 1930. This marks a notable in- crease not. only. over the. preceding year but also over any of the years since 1919. Together with the value
 of gold mined in earlier years, it,
 brings the total value of gold pro
 duced from the Territory to the. siza, ] able figure of almost $4O0,OOO,OOO. :. According to preliminary estimates. the; production of gold was about. evenly distributed between the lode and placer mines, about .491-2. per
 cent having come from the lode mines and. about 50 1-2 per cent. from the ,, placers. This marks rather notable
 change from the ratio in 1880. when. less than 43 per cent came from the
 lodes and more than. g per cent from
 the placors. The pronounced change
 in the ratio for 1931s was; brought.
 about b.. the very large increase in
 the value of the gold recovered. from
 the lode hines and the slight decrease
 in that from the %placer. mines over the value of the gold recovered from
 these sources in 1930. In tha period
 since gold mining began, the ratio
 between the value of the gold from the two sources is about 34 per cent
 from lodes- and 66 per cent from placers. Obviously, as the Alaska piacers are more easily and extensive ly worked, they contributed more
 largely to the output of the Territory
 in the early days, but as their extent
 is limited they will be the first to be exhausted. The lodes, on the other hand, are relatively more expensive
 to develop, but if they are skilfully managed they are much more likely
 to afford. continuous output and thus
 equalize or even reverse the ratio
 that formerly existed between their output and that from the placers. The bulk of the lode gold continued to come from Southeastern Alaska,
 especially from the properties of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Com pany, in the Juneau district. At this
 place search for new ore bodies, as
 vel as extension for those already
 known, was conducted with special
 activity, and the results appear to
 have been distinctly encouraging, so
 that the work will be continued and
 will probably be reflected in increased
 proportion in the not distant. future.
 The second largest gold lode, producer
 Tn Southeastern Alaska is the Chica-
 gof Mines (Ltd.), whose property lies
 some 60 miles northwest of Sitka.