The Daily Alaska empire., 1935-10-03
Mining Has Good Season
 in Interior
Distressing Lack of Search for New Fin ds in New
 Areas, Stewart Reports

Mining in the Territory has been especially active this season with production about average. it is re- ported by B. D. Stewart, Territorial Commissioner of Mines, who re- turned on the Yukon from an ex- tended trip to the Interior.
 "On the whole mining activity has been good he said in sum- ming up the result of his survey, with work largely confined to properties already in operation, but there is a distressing lack of search for new finds in new areas" He stressed the need of more prospect ing and developing work.
 Only one new discovery was re- ported throughout the Territory, he said. That was in the Goodpaster area where a new lode has shown promise but transportation is re- tarding m m d ia te development Gen. A. D. McRae, widely known Canadian mining man and member of the Dominion Senate, has an op- ton on the property which was investigated this summer and shows great promise, MT. Stewart reported. It is gold quartz but the region is accessible only by plane md landing conditions are very bad.
 Business Good
 During two weeKs in FairbanF7 the Commissioner contacted many mining men from most of the dis tricts and he found activity gen orally brisker than a year ago Business in Fairbanks as a result, he said. is especially good and the spirits of everyone in the Interior are high.
 The Circle district was hampered somewhat by shortage of water this season but around Fairbanks there was ample water and activity went forward with renewed vigor. The Fairbanks Exploration Company is doing great deal of work in five permanent camps and in one place through use of electric pumps is able to work some TO feet below water level.
 The Cripple district has been more active this summer than usual and Flat and Iditarod areas are holding about the same, he said.
 Goodnews Bay
 The Goodnews Bay district is showing up better than usual and the New York Alaska Company has a new dredger in on Bear Creek.
 There is no particular increase in the Willow Creek district where four mines are operating. The Will low mines, Lucky Shot and War Baby, are employing about 100 men. the Gold Cord has about 10 and the Fern some 14. New develop ment is going on on the old Martin property in that area, now con- trolled by Canadian interests, and a crew of about dozen men were III Iiitlt JlllS SulllilCI.
 Both Cache Creek and Valdez Creek areas were active and a lode property is being developed by an Idaho group in the Valdez district. Operations were resumed on Eva Creek this summer with crew of 10 or 12 men. Much of the credit for this activity is given Mrs. Frank Erno, who the Commis- Sioner described as one of the best mining men" in that district.
 Moose Pass
 About 100 men are working in the Moose Pass district where the bulk of the mining is placer. h. yestigation work also was done in the Kenai River district and it's tributaries this season, the Com missioner reported. Placer opera tions are going ahead on Crow Creek and the Harry Staser prop erty is active again, doing especially well. Gus Gelles and associates are putting on men on property near the Staser holdings.
 Nome, Kobuk and the Koyukuk areas were reported about normal. The Kobuk region is potentially one of the richest regions in the Territory, MT. Stewart believes, but is hampered by lack of transporta- ton.
 Coal mining is going along about normal, he said, with the new Black Diamond Company making a line showing in the Matanuska dis trict.
 Increasing Power Facilities
 The Commissioner found that all mines are increasing their power facilities preparatory to getting oa,
 tonnage. There is tendency toward the installation of diesel l.-nts and a general improving in milling equipment, notably the in- stallation Of Notation equipment Such improvements at the Nabesna properties had improved extraction to around 95 and 97 per cent, Stew art found.
 Safey Wcrk
 He reported good success with inc safety work and reported the Fairbanks Exploration Company training all it's crews. c. O'Cannell