The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-02-05
C0LD0U7pUT
 CONT INUING
 IN TERRITORY

DeSplJe preliIIliildly lSpoi to iC- gently issued by the Federal Gov ernment that show a diminished output of metallic minerals in AL aska, and especially of gold, dur ing the calendar year 1948 as com pared with the preceding year, other statistics bearing on the progress of Alaskas mineral industry during the past year that have been com piled by the Office of Territorial Commissioner of Mines tend to dis count the importance of the appar- ent decline in gold output.
 Also, it appears certain that fin al figures on gold production itself will show a substantial increase above the preliminary estimates for the year that have been announced from Washington. It even appears possible that it may prove to have Eeen greater in 1948 than in 1947. Statistics gathered and compiled by the Office of the Commissioner ot Mines show that during 1948 thirty dredges were in operation in the Territory as compared with 27 dur ing the previous year; and that 38 draglines were in active use as com- pared with 35 during l947. It is logical to presume that the increase in h eavy placer-e equipment thus shown will mean larger output of gold Active placer operations that employed smaller equipment, most ly in the form of a combination ot Lulldozer and hydraulic apparatus numbered 102, as compared with l0l that were productive during 1947.
 Cffsetting whatever decline that may have occurred in the produc- tion of gold is a substantial in- crease in the output of industrial minerals and fuels, particularly coal. Final figures on the 1948 out put of coal from Alaska mines show a production of 100000 tons. This output exceeds by approximately 47,000 tons the previous all-time high annual production-record which was established during the preceding year.
 During the past several years production in the Territory of sand, gravel and. stone, for use principally in airport and road construction. has taken rank in value with gold, coal and platinum in accounting for the total mineral wealth produced.
 The indicated value of Alaskas output of sand, gravel and stone during the year 1947, was close to $5,0O0 000. This sum is considerably greater than the estimated value of the coal produced and approxi- mately half that of the gold out put for that year. Although definite information on similar production during 1948 is not available, it is believed that there may have been an increase rather than decline in production of this important group of industrial minerals.
 Next to the high cost of equip ment and supplies and the scarcity and high cost of available labor that has continued to prevail during the past year, the greatest handicap to the progress of Alaska's mineral industry undoubtedly was the un- certainty and inadequacy of mari time shipping facilities. due to the strikes and other controversies.
 With these difficulties apparently settled by agreements covering a period of years and with lowered costs of production, for which there seems to be some hope, substantial even though not rapid recovery of the gold-mining branch of the in- dustry may reasonably be anticipated during the coming year.
 Further expansion, possibly on a large scale, in the mining of coal and in the production of industrial minerals during the coming year seems assured.
 The unprecedented high prices be- ing paid for metallic minerals oth- CT than gold, including lead, cop per, zinc and antimony, affords a strong stimulus for the develop ment of any deposits of these min- erals that may be found reasonably accessible to transportation facili- ties.
 Premium prices offered by the Atomic Energy Commission for uranium and related ores have al- ready resulted in active interest being displayed in the possibilities afforded in Alaska of finding and developing deposits of those atomic raw materials in the Territory and this interest is certain to grow during the coming year.
 Altogether the outlook for pro- gress in the mineral industry in AL aska during the year 1949, appears favOrab1e