( 24 ) 
only necessary to state that the yield the first summer was thirty 
thousand dollars, and that the number of miners at this point has 
increased each year, and now reaches hundreds. From personal 
observations at Auk, and information received from the officers of 
the monthly steamer, it is known that much gold has already 
being obtained. Inability to continue mining operations during the 
winter, absence of capital, and distant transportation of necessary 
working materials for quartz-mining have only retarded the indus¬ 
try. Prior to 18S2 mining at this point was chiefly placer ; but the 
expected arrival of a stamping-mill for quartz-mining has probably 
produced results agreeable to the most hopeful. A discharged 
United States soldier, a resident of Sitka, in 1881 was the pos¬ 
sessor of a gold mine located fifteen or twenty miles distant. An 
examination of the quartz impressed us with its value. It was 
discovered by the owner shortly after the transfer of the Territory, 
while serving as an enlisted man at Sitka, a small force of United 
States troops being maintained there at that time. The ex-soldier 
lamented his inability, for want of capital, to work the mine more 
extensively, but stated that, notwithstanding his primitive means 
for crushing the quartz, necessarily attended with great labor, he 
could, with the aid of a son and trusty Indian, obtain, when indus¬ 
trious, about fifteen hundred dollars in gold each year. Prospect¬ 
ors claim the existence of gold at other points. 
Among other industries is the American-Russian Ice Company, 
at Kodiak, where it has extensive ice houses, which are kept filled, 
yet no shipments are made. It was once engaged in profitable 
trade, but recently has accepted the proposition of San Francisco 
companies not to enter into competition with them. 
Coal has been found at different places along the coast, but ig¬ 
norance prevails as to its quality, the surface coal only having 
been examined. So far as experimented with, the results have 
been satisfactory, and justify early and thorough investigation. 
44 Copper and petroleum have been discovered on Copper River; 
lead on Whale Bay and in Kodiak Island ; iron and graphite in 
many places ; marble and sulphur in large quantities; bismuth in 
Vostovia Mountain ; and kaolin, fireclay, gypsum, amethysts, 
zeolites, garnets, agates, carnelians and fossil ivory are also found.” 
Maritime industry has received attention. At Wooded Island 
