The Kusko times., 1935-02-02
(Continued, From Page. I.)

aAC ISoCA fCS OA SORPSL' AN oAAARAS means that with copper selling at only little more than eight cents a pound, the responsible mine mana gers felt that it was only the part of wise business management to cut off production. Although no Alaska ores valuable primarily for their copper content were mined in 1884, small amounts of the metal were
 recovered as. byproduct in the course of treatment of ores whose principal value lay in their content of gold or other metals. At most, however, the value of the copper was only few tens of thouSands of dollars.
 Silver
 In 1884 silver to the value of about $74,Oo0 is estimated to- have been produced from Alaska ores and metals. By far the largest part of this silver was recovered as a minor accessory of materials valuable primarily for some other metal, notably gold. Thus, nearly three-quarters of this total was de- rived as a byproduct in the treat mentment of the gold ores from the lodes of the Territory, and somewhat less than one quarter. from the refining of the placer gold, all of which contains some silver. A small amount of ere that was val uable mainly for it's silver content was mined in the Hyder district in southeastern Alaska and in the Bonnefield district of the Yukon region. The foregoing statements of the value of the silver are based on the provisional estimate of 47h cents an ounce as indicated by monthly quotations. in the Engineer ing and Mining Journal: Although this price is more than 12 cents higher. than the average selling price of silver in 1888, it is still. much be- low the average price for the period from 1880, to 1e33,, which was app roamatelys 7f cents an ounce.
 ',>.' Goa ll's < ',-'
 The, output of coal from Alaska mines in 1884 is estimated to; have bee about 112.o0o tons,. or about 20 per cent more than in 1888. How ever, the average price, at which 1.-the Alaska coal sold in in l934 was sappar. antly much less than heretofore, and thefefore its total value was ab out
 the. same or. less than 1888,
 .-., - Other Minerals ....... Several. other minerals were pro- ] duced by' Alaska mines in 1934.. Of | these perhaps the most significant were the platinum metals which show wed a great increase in output. This was brought about mainly through. the installation of a power scraper in the Goodnews Bay dis trict, near the mouth. of the Kusko- kwim River, on an extensive, prop ] erty that had been recently acquired by skilled placerr-mining operator who had had large gold-mining ex- perienq in other parts: of Alaska. Some platinum metals were also IL.
 won bys reworking the tailings, that had resulted from earlier lode-min- ing operations; on Kasaan Peninsula, and a small amount was recovered in :: connection with placer-gold, min ing in the, Koyuk district of Seward Peninsula. -' v Considerable quantities of lead were also, recovered in the course. of smelting the concentrates from the gold lode mines. About one and three quarter million pounds of lead were derived from this source, mainly y from ores of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining. Company of sontheastern Alaska. At the ave rage price. for the year, which. is estimated. at .3.9 cents a pound, this lead va wsrth about, $69,000.,