ALASKA'S MINERAL WEALTH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 25, 30 June 1913, Page 2

ALASKA'S MINERAL WEALTH

EX-NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. In a footnote which .appeared to a cablegram recently relative to the despatch of the Stefansen expedition to tile Arctic regions, reference was made to the fact that in 1867 the then American Secretary for State was publicly denounced for spending 0,500,000 dollars of Government money for the purchase of Alaska—a territory which is to-day of fabulous -wealth. In that connection an extract from a' letter which Mr I'j von Berncwitz, of the Wellington ITarbor Board staff, has received from his brother, Mr Max von Bernewitz, an American journalist (a native of New Zealand) who recently returned from Alaska, is of interest. The writer is very much impressed with the mineral resources of that vast territory. He states that the principal mining centres include Cordova, Knik and Valdoz, where there are great coal and copperfields, the first-named being exploited by the United States Government. Valdoz last year produced 14,000 tons of copper worth 4,030,000 dollars. At Fairbanks there are alluvial and quartz; properties, with sixteen mills. The famous Treadwell lodes are situated at Janeau. Mills with 880 stampers crush 4000 tons a day, averaging 2 1 /, dollais per ton. Near by .Juneau is the Alaska Gold Mines Company's new mill, which is to put through (5000 tons of low grade ore daily. At Nome, on the Seward Peninsula, peculiar gold deposits are found in three successive beaches. Mining is carried on there by means of dredges, etc. North of Nonie is a fine dredging district. Tawana yields about r0,900,000 dollars worth of gold yearly, Tn various other districts 10,,500.000 dollars worth of gold was obtained last year.