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SHAD. F. 8ANDF0RD, . Editor.
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OUTSIDE INFORMATION REGARDING NOME-SEATTLE MAIL SERVICE
First Summer mail to leave Seattle about June 1st for Nome direct
Last Summer mail to leave Seattle about October 10 for Nome direct
First Winter mail to leave Seattle about October 15 for Nome direct
I just Winter mail to leave Seattle about March 15 for Nome direct
Parcels post and Wells Fargo for Nome, only handled during summer
months.
Only packages sent during winter with first class postage paid on
same will reach destination.
Absolutely necessary to pay first class postage on advertising cuts if
you desire them to come over winter route.
All packages or parcels intended to reaching destination during win
ter will lay in Seattle office until opening navigation, unless they have
first class postage paid on same.
Average number of days required for mail to reach Nome from
Seattle over winter route is about 45 days.
Average time during summer from Seattle to Nome 10 days each
way.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14th. 1919
— MINING IN ALASKA IN 1918
(Advance Statement by United States Geological Survey.
The annual report on the mineral resources and mine production of
Alaska, in 1918 is now in preparation under the direction of G. C. Martin, ol
the I'nited States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior. Some of
the more important features of the report, especially those relating to mining,
developments, are abstracted in the following statement. Complete statistics
of the mineral production of Alaska can not be collected within three or foui
months after the end of the year, but meanwhile It is desirable to publish the
preliminary estimates. The preparation of this statement was undertaken
under serious difficulties, due chiefly to the fact that the staff of the Alaska
division of the Geological Survey has been depleted by the entrance of most
of the geologists into the Army or into various- kinds of war work. Conse
quently several of the more important mining districts in Alaska were noli
visited by Survey geologists this year. Many of the mineral producers re
sponded to a special appeal for advance information, and it is believed thal
the actual figures will not vary greatly from the preliminary estimates here
given.
Mineral Production.
The* value of the mineral output of Alaska in 1918 is estimated at $28,
900,000, a decrease of almost $12,000,000 from the value in 1917 and the smallesl
since 1914. The decrease was chiefly in copper and gold anl was due tc
shortage of labor and ships and high cost of mining. There was an increase
of more than 60 per cent in the production of mineral fuels, and a slight
increase of chrome ore. The only new item among Alaska mineral p|oducfe
in 1918 is palladium. Since 1880 Alaska has produced gold silver, copper
and other minerals worth more than $419,000,000.
Alaska mines produced gold to the value of about $10,000,000 in 1818
compared with $14,650,000 in 1917. The total value of the gold mined in the
Territory is now about $302,000,000, of which $213,500,000 has been won froir
placers. In 1918 about 69.400,00 pounds of copper was produced in Alaska
valued at $24,240,000. The total copper produced to date is 499,000,000 pounds
valued at $105,800,000. The value of Alaska’s lesser mineral products in 191?
was as follows: Silver. $870,000; coal, $435,000; tin, $90,000; lead, $85,000;
miscellaneous metallic products, including chrome ore. tungsten, palladium
platinum, and antimony, $117,000; and miscellaneous nonmetallic products
Including petroleum, marble, gypsum, lime and bricks, ? ,120,000.
Copper Mining.
The copper production of Alaska In 1918 pas about 69,400,000 pounds
valued at $17,180,000, obtained from about 720,000 tons of ore. This is lest
than the production in 1917, which was 88,793,000 pounds, valued at $24,240,000
obtained from 660,000 tons of ore. The reduction in output was due to short
age of labor and ships. During the year 14 copper mines were operated
compared with 17 in 1917. Six mines in the Ketchikan district yielded
1.781.000 pounds of copper; four mines In the Prince William Sound district
yielded 15,060,000 pounds; and four mines in the Chitina district yielded
52.585.000 pounds.
Gold Placer Mining.
The value of the placer gold produced in Alaska in 1918 is about
$6,100,000, derived by regions as follows: Yukon basin, $4,325,000; Sewart
P^njlasulat $1^40,000; Copper River. $300,000; Cook Inlet*Susitna region
9715.000: Kuskokwim region, 990,000: miscellaneous. JS0.000. The total pro
duction in 1917 was $9,910,000. The decrease In 1011 was general throughout
the Territory, except In the ChistocMna district, where there was a 50 per
cent Increase, and In the tipper Yukon districts, where there may have been
a 'slight Increase. The decrease wae In general due to curtailment of opera
dons because of shortage of labor and high cost of supplies. Twenty-eight
dredges were operated in 1911—50 In Seward Peninsula. 3 in the Idltarod dis
trict, 2 tn the Fairbanks district, and 1 each In the Circle. Yentna, and
Kuskokwim districts. Thirty si* dredges were operated In 1017.
Geld Lode Mining.
About 25 gold lode mines were operated in 1010. compared with 31 In
1917. The value of the lode gold mined In 1019 Is about $3,790,000, com
pared with $4,580,000 in 1017. The decrease wns due partly to '.he disaster
at the Treadwell mine la April, 1017, and partly to curtailment of operations,
especially In the Juneau district, because-of shortage of labor. In Fairbanks
district seven small mines operated pari of the yunr. yla ding a total output
about half as large as in 191?.
Miaeral Fuels.
There was n ntotable Increase In the production of mineral fuels In
Alaska in 1913, and it is believed that a substantial coal-mining Industry has
at last started. The output of coal in 1918 was about 77.000 tons, valued at
7436,000, compared with 53,966 tons, valued at 9266.317, in 1917. The larger
part came from the Matanuska Held, which yielded 62,200 tons. The remainder
came from eight or ten small mines In various parts of the Territory. All
these mines, except in the Matanuska and Bering River fields and at Port
Graham, produced coal for local use under free-use permits.
In 1918 for the first time Matanuska coal was shipped beyond Anchorage.
Private operations preparatory to mining were continued by two lessees In
the Matanuska field, but their mines are not yet productive.
In the Nenana field no leases have yet been granted, but a small
amount of lignite was mined for use In the construction of the railroad.
In the Cook Inlet region lignite was mined at Bluff Point, on Port
Graham, in tho Cache Creek district, and on Little Susltna River for local
markets.
In northern Alaska lignite mined near Unalaklik, on Norton Sound,
was shipped to Nome and St. Michael, and lignite mined on Kobuk River
was shipped 'to Kotzebue.
The Alaska petroleum output is still derived wholly from the single
patdhted claim in the Kutalla field. The old wells on this claim and the
refined-'were operated as usual, and two new productive wells were drilled.
The total production was somewhat larger than In -917.
Tin Mining.
About 95 tons of cassltertte, containing 119,000 pounds of tin, was
mined in Alaska in 1918. Most of-thl* came from the York district, Seward
Peninsula, where one tin dredge wn» operated. Stream tin was also obtained
by sluicing at one mine in the York district and at several mines in the Hot
Springs district. Considerable work was done on the Lost River tin lodes,
put no ore was mined. The examination of placor concentrates by the
Geological Survey has resulted In tho discovery of stream tin In concentrate!
from Yentna River in such amount as to Indicate that it possibly occurs It
commercial quantities, and also In small amounts In concentrates from Boob
Creek, invthe Tolstoi district; from Willow Creek, near Nome; end from
Riglagalik, fliver, in the Kuskokwdm Delta. The discovery of placer tin hat
been repor^d from Potato and Humboldt creeks, on Seward Peninsula, and
from Moran Creek, a tributary of Meloal River, where the gravels are said t<
contain 2% pounds of tin and 10 Cents' Worth of gold to the cubic yard.
MMenllanesu* Mining.
Amonk the miscellaneous Metallic products silver was produced In 1*1!
only from copper and gold mbles. and lead only from gold mines. The silver,
lead mine in the Fairbanks district was net operated. Borne sliver-lead ore
was mined but not shipped from a min* In Reward Peninsula. Chrome on
was mined atr^ort Chatham on a somewhat larger scale than In 1*17. Th<
production pf tungsten contlnasd wt'several mines in the Fairbanks district
and Seward Peninsula, but the total output wax only about 11 tons, valued at
*22,000. A vein of scheellto has been discovered near Sitka. The mining ol
antimony ore (stibnlte) almost ceased because of low prices. The discover]
of large bodies of stibnlte In tho Broad Pass'and Kantiahna districts Is reported
One of the most Interesting events of the year in connection wltt
Alaska mining is tho production of palladium from the copper ore of the Sail
Chuck mine, -near Ketchikan. The recover]' of substantial amounts of palled,
him and of some platinum lsautheMlesJly reported. Platinum was recovered
.'.Iso from the gold placers of the Dime Creek district. Seward Peninsula, It
larger 'amounts than last year.
Among the miscellaneous nonmstalUc products rouble was quarried Is
about the same amount ae In 1*17. Tho production of gypsum decreased, ai
the gypsum mine on Chichagof Island has not operated since March, when th<
mine buildings were burned. Some bricks and quicklime ware made neat
Anchorage, as In 1*17, and It la reported that brtek* and other clay product!
are to be made at Nenana. No graphite was mined In Ills.
toward Peninsula.
The value of the Mineral production of SSword Peninsula In 111* wai
about *1.210,000, compared with **,7471000 in 1017. , Of the output In 1011
*1,140,000 represents the value of the placer gold and $70,000 the value of th<
miscellaneous prod acts, Including-tin, tontoten. Silver and platinum.
T*Wr*preduction Of placer poMwostess-tban half than of 1017 Mid wai
tho smallest since 11$$. The dsertdsswma doe to labor difficulties, to thi
high cost of operating, and to unfavorable cttmatlo conditions. Including deei
frost, scanty water and a short season. The production of placer gold bj
districts was gs follows;
Nome. $4*5,000; Solomon. -$i$,000; Council, $MI,000; Falrhaven
*118.000; Koytik, *145,000: Kougarok, $40,000; Port Clarence. $7,000.
Twenty gold dredge* operated during the season of 1111, eight lesi
than In H17. Tho dredges employed 14$: men and produced gold worth abou
$451,000, or 39.5 per cent of the total production of Seward Peninsula.
The production of tungsten was lass than in 1017. It was wholl'
incident to the mining of placer gold, no operation* being conducted In 1*1
for the recovery of scheelite alone. ,
About 56 ounces of platinum was recovered from the gold placers o
Seward Peninsula. Most of this came from Dime Crook, in tho Koyul
district, but a small amount was obtained from Bear Creek In the Fhlrhavei
district.
I W. J. ROWE I
Dealer in iswtfam j
] | Horaas F'ojt Sale]
' i
nift ALARM bluNALb
it.Standard Oil i\,
It.Cantona Cold Storage
II.J. /. Season Co, offlce
if.Headquarters Saloon
ft.The Lobby
«4. .Plonoen Igloo
If.Catholic Church
11.Paiet's residen t
SI. Yorkey’s Cigar Store
41.opp. Webb's Mark* .
Engine House, Phone Main 9?.
f whistle# water. 3 are out
THE NOME WEEKLY NUGGET
_ 50cts. per Month.
i MEET ME
I at the $
| BOARD OF |
f TRADE |
EstablisheJ June 1000
AMi Biak ii'j aim
Silt Deposit (oapjiy
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL 1.25,000
PAID UP CAPITAL. 10,090
A Qtnaral Rankins Busimu Tran*
aaata*.
Niiers & Merdwots
Bilk of Aliska
NMIB. ALASKA •
OpM * • $100,000
Gald Dust Purchased
and Assayed