A
decrease in the production of gold of $2,892,579 and an increase in the
output of silver of 5,158,731 fine ounces, are shown by the mines
reports for the United States for 1913, as compared with the figures
for 1912. These changes are in the same direction as they were in 1912
when the gold production decreased $4,174,324 and the silver output
increased 4,932,715 fine ounces as compared with the yield of 1911.
The
principal producing States ranked as follows in 1913 in output of gold:
California, Colorado, Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Arizona, Utah,
Montana, Oregon, and Idaho. No other State besides these has produced
over $1,000,000 in the last four years. The most notable increases in
gold production in 1913 were $857,669 in Oregon, $693,480 in
California, $298,191 in the Philippines, and $261,701 in Arizona. The
heaviest decreases were $1,661,050 in Nevada, $1,519,138 in Alaska,
$700,622 in Utah, $572,076 in South Dakota, and $441,646 in Colorado.
Of the 23 geographic divisions given in the table as producing gold in
1913 the production increased in 12 and decreased in 11.
The
principal silver-producing States ranked as follows in output for 1913:
Nevada, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and
California. No other State has produced 1,000,000 ounces in silver in
the last three years. The largest increases in silver output in 1913
were 1,721,020 ounces in Nevada, 1,694,448 ounces in Idaho, 1,113,185
ounces in Colorado, 1,087,563 ounces in Montana, and 457,704 ounces in
Arizona. The largest decreases in silver yield were 751,068 ounces in
Utah and 233/2S0 ounces in Michigan. Of the 28 geographic divisions
given as producing silver there was increased output in 16 and
decreased yield in 12. Four increases and four decreases were of
trifling significance, however.
MINE PRODUCTION OF GOLD AND SILVER., BY STATES.
ALASKA.
It
is estimated by A. H. Brooks, of the United States Geological Survey,
that the total output of gold lode mines of Alaska, from earliest
mining in 1882 to the end of 1913, has been $62,626,113, and that since
mining began in 1880 the Alaska placers have produced $165,480,848. The
total output of silver from auriferous lode mines has been 1,096,336
fine ounces and from placers 1,710,503 fine ounces.1
Gold.—The
gold production of Alaska in 1913 was $15,626,813, against $17,145,951
in 1912. The vield from siliceous ores was $4,814,813, against
$5,002,399 in 1912, and that from copper ores was $132,000, against
$153,552 in 1912. The remainder of the output was from placers and
amounted to $10,680,000 in 1913, against $11,990,000 in 1912, and
$12,540,000 in 1911.
From
the Pacific coast belt, including southeastern Alaska and Prince Wdliam
Sound, the production of gold in 1913 was $4,529,529 in 1913, against
$4,904,753 in 1912, a falling off of $375,224. From the Copper Eiver
and Cook Inlet region it was $378,643, against $358,401 in 1912. From
the Yukon and Kuskokwim basins it was $8,183,641, against $8,857,797 in
1912, a decrease of $674,156, and from the Seward Peninsula and
northwestern Alaska it was $2,535,000, against $3,025,000, a loss of
$490,000. The decreased output of gold in Alaska in 1913 was chiefly
due to the dry season in the Yukon
1 U. S. Geol. Survey Mineral Resources, 1913, pt. 1, p. 217, 1914.
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