IX 



Mineral Resources — The Klondike Gold Region. 



Gold, silver, copper, lead, and iron are found in Alaska. Mr. 

 Wilson says (Guide to the Yukon Gold Fields) that ever since 

 the Territory was discovered, the Indians have shown much native 

 copper, and mountains of the ore are said to exist in the Copper 

 River region. This section is so little known, however, that 

 much time must elapse before it will become accessible. Large 

 beds of iron and coal are known to exist in many parts of" Alaska, 

 especially in the Yukon. 



Prof. J. Edward Spurr, of the United States Geological Sur- 

 vey, says that all gold in Alaska is alloyed with a small amount 

 of silver; and pure native silver is frequently found. The pro- 

 duction of silver in 1896 was valued at $45,798. There was a 

 good yield of platinum in the Yukon district. 



Governor Knapp of Alaska, in his report for 1892, says that 

 mining districts had been organized in the vicinity of Sitka, on 

 Douglas Island, on Cook Inlet (where $120,000 worth of gold was 

 produced in 1896), on Portage Bay, on Kadiak Island, and in the 

 Yukon Valley. The Treadwell Mining Company, on Douglas 

 Island, has a very large quartz mill with 240 stamps. The vein 

 is 400 feet in width, carrying free gold and auriferous pyrites, and 

 outcrops on a steep hillside. The ore is of such very low grade 

 that were it not for the peculiarly advantageous situation of the 

 mine, which reduces cost to a minimum, it could hardly be worked 

 at a profit. The report of Governor Sheakley for 1894 says that 



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