MOOSE PASS MINER
By L. H. Allen
12 issues for $2.00 by subscription
Single copy 250
LAST YEAR’S MINERAL YIELD
TOPS TWENTY-FOUR MILLIONS
According to a preliminary statement of
the Geological Survey, Unitec1 States de
partment of the Interior the minerals pro
duced from Alaska mines during 1939 had an
estimated value of $24,888,000. Thia
amount brings the total value of the miner
al output of Alaska since 1880 to more
than $800,000,000.
As compared with 1938 there is a de
crease in 1939 of $3,700,000 in the total
production of minerals. But the record
for 1938 was exceedingly high and none of
the big copper mines were operating during
1939 which in 1938 produced copper to the
value of $3,000,000.
The gold produced from Alaska mines in
1939 is estimated worth $22,900,000. This
value i6 greater than for any other year
in the history of mining in Alaska with
last year as the one exception. Lart
year’s output was $270,000 greater than
this year's.
The production of platinum xn 1939 was
less than in 1938, the total approximate
ly 25,300 fine ounces, valued at $936,000.
In spite of the decrease, the 1939 produc
tion places Alaska among the half dozen
largest platinum producing countries of
the world. The greater part of Alaska's
platinum comes from the Goodnews region
near the mouth of the Kuskokwim. The con
tinued large output of platinum from the
mines of Alaska goes far toward making the
United States independent of foreign sup
ply. In computing the value of the pro
duction for 1939 the average price for the
composite material was tentatively assumed
to be $37 an ounce.
In 1939 the proportion of gold produced
from lode deposits and from placer is esti
mated to be about 68 to 32, or $15,556,000
from placers and $7,344,000 from lodes.Tho
the combined total amount of gold from
these sources was about the same in 1939
as in 1938, the proportion differs, the
gold produced from lodes in 1939 being
worth about $929,000 less than 1938 and
that from placers about $659,000 more.
Of the gold won from placers, the most
was recovered by dredges, of which there
were 44 in operation in various parts of
Alaska during 1939. This number does not
include one dredge in the Goo' news district
of the Kuskokwim region which was engaged
in mining placer platinum metals.
Other minerals contributing to the 1939
output were silver, coal,lead, tin, lime
rock, antimony and copper.
(Because the nail was held up by the
strike in Seattle, we are late in getting
details of Alice Ebing's weuding to Ensign
Eugene N. Webb, a member of Patrol Squad
ron 45, U.S.Fleet Aircraft Scouting Force.)
The wedding took place at Yuma, Ariz.,
on December 16th. The ceremony was read
by the Reverend Raymond G. Acheson of the
Yuma Presbyterian church. The bride wore
a blue dressmaker suit with suede acces
sories. Ensign D. H. Rice of the same
squadron as the bridegroom, was one of the
witnesses. The newlyweds are now living
at 415 F avenue, Apartment 2C, Coronado,
Cal. The following additional details,
interesting to her Moose Pass friends, are
taken from the bride's letteri
"We spent the Christmas holidays in Mis
souri with my husband's parents and his
[brother. Our welcome there was sincere
land hearty, complete with snow and cold
weather and a most generous Santa Claus.
When eastward bound, we drove the South
ern route, at times only a few miles from
the Mexico border. We visited Mrs.Lucy
Rogers, Mrs. Maples and Eunice Adelle at
baaing, New Mex. Also went thru the fam
ous Carlsbad Caverns.
We came back to California by way of the
Grand Canyon. It was filled with cloude
iand an odd mixture of snow and sunshine
but while we stood on the brink, trying to
imagine what lay at our feet, a great up-*
draft cleared the fog. There it was!. . f
breath-taking, wonderful and so immense. "
At all other points along the South rim it
was clear enough to get a perfect view.
It was a perfect trip all the way but
we are glad to be at hone at Coronauo. It
is a tiny and very lovely town on an is
land across a narrow channel from San Di
ego. The streets are wide and tree-shad
ed, traffic is sparse and small lovely
|homes abundant.
A friend of mine from Sitka and an En
sign in Gene's squadron were married only
a short time before we were. They live a
few blocks from us. It is so much fun
having someone I know here. We drive a
round in the. afternoons while Gene and
Tommy fly and do our shopping and look at
the lovely beaches we’re going to swim in
soon. She was raised in Alaska the same
as I and she likes California too.
My husband joins me in wishing you and
all of Moose Pass and my many friends there
the best of New Year's greetings and wishes."
Mrs. E. L. Robbins was hostess to the
Sewing club last Wednesday afternoon. En
joying the occasion were Mrs. Ralph Reid,
Mrs. Roy Thurston, Mrs. Bob Saxton, Mrs.
Harry* I*. Smith. Mrs. Robbins served ice
cream topped with a peach-pineapple-cherry
conaenfe, cocoanlit cakes, coffee and tea.
Ralph Reid paid a business trip visit
to Seward last weekend.