THE MINING INDUSTRY IN 1905. 7 
been given to prospecting for auriferous veins. It is probably true that a large part of the 
gold placers have been concentrated from the gold contained in disseminated quartz veins, 
but there is, nevertheless, the possibility that workable lode deposits may yet be found. 
GOLD PLACERS. 
As already stated, the most important development in the placer fields has taken place in 
the Fairbanks district, which produced over half the placer-gold output of the Territory for 
1905. Seward Peninsula was, however, also a large producer, and smaller amounts were 
recovered in southeastern Alaska and the Copper River-Cook Inlet region. The Porcupine 
district leads in the placer-gold production of southeastern Alaska, though there is some 
output from the Juneau district. Beach mining still continues along the Pacific coast west- 
ward from Lituya Bay. This gold, which appears to be the result of wave concentration 
from glacial deposits, has not been found in sufficient amount to warrant exploitation in 
any but a small way. The entire product of the beach mining, embracing the Pacific sea- 
board of Alaska, is probably between $50,000 and $100,000 per year. 
Operations continue in the Copper River basin in spite of the fact that the very high cost 
of transportation makes mining exceedingly expensive. Two districts are producing placer 
gold — the Nizina, where a number of claims were in operation during the past year, and the 
Chisana, where mining was also active. The output of this field for 1905 is estimated at 
$300,000. 
The northern part of the Kenai Peninsula has produced placer gold for twelve years. 
During this period there has been a steady growth of the mining industry and a proportion- 
ate increase in the annual output, which is now estimated at about $200,000. The extensive 
gravel deposits, steep gradients, and abundant water supply make this field eminently suit- 
able for hydraulic mining. According to Mr. H. H. Hildreth, United States commissioner 
at Seward, the completion of several hydraulic plants is the most important development 
during the past season. 
Gold is also reported from the western tributaries of the lower Sushitna which head in the 
Alaska Range. C. W. Purington reports that gold has been discovered on Peters Creek, a 
tributary of the Kahiltna, which flows into Chulitna River. The gravels are said to be not 
over 5 to 7 feet in depth, and the diggings are reported to yield from $10 to $20 to the man. 
It is said that about 200 men visited this district last year and that 75 are wintering there. 
A small hydraulic plant has been at work on Willow Creek, an easterly tributary of the 
Sushitna, and a small amount of gold produced. Some auriferous gravels are also reported 
from other parts of the Sushitna basin, though no values have been found that would yield 
returns under present conditions. 
The Yukon region is described in detail by Prindle elsewhere in this report (pp. 109-127) 
and need not be dwelt on here. While the interest of mining men has been concentrated on 
the Fairbanks district, other fields have received some attention. Of special interest is the 
development of some placers on Salcha River, indicating a wider distribution of the work- 
able placers than previously known. Of still greater interest is the reported strike of very 
ich gravels southwest of the Tanana in the Kantishna Valley. This would seem to indical e 
hat the gold belt turns to the southwest, and at least suggests that the gold reported in the 
nnoko River basin may be derived from a continuation of the same belt of rocks. 
The production of Seward Peninsula has not shown the increase expected by some. This is 
argely because, as shown by Mr. Moffit (pp. 132-144) much of the attention of mining men 
pas given to dead work and also because of an unfavorable season. There can be no doubt 
hat within the next few years there will be a very large increase in the output of the penin- 
uia. Gold has been reported from tributaries of Norton Bay for some years, but only 
ecently has it been produced from this district in commercial quantities. It is reported 
hat claims have been worked on Bonanza Creek, a tributary of the Inglutalik, which enters 
forton Bay from the east. These claims have been worked since 1900 by means of a small 
umping plant, Nuggets worth from $5 to $10 have been found. The stream gradients in 
lis field are very low, which increases the cost of mining. 
Bull. 284—06 2 
