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 
Riv er 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 Y ukon. 
Prof. }. 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, d he pro¬ 
duction of silver in 1896 was valued at $45,798. 1 here 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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