The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-27
COAL IN ALASKA.
An Immense Amount OF It Ready for
Consumption.

Consumption.
James uGcClaskey. who came over from
Kiiiisnoo . couple of weeks ago. says the
Alaska News. took his departure on the
inlet. and will for the balance Of the sum
mer dig yellow nuggets instead of black
diamonds. In the development Of the coal
fields . short distance from killisnoo. Mr..
AcClaekey has shown q tenacity which
Is certainly worthy of the highest reward.
For many years he has worked In running
tannels. drifting and otherwise develop
lag the property 20 as to nft it from the
plane OF q mere prospect to that OF full
fiedged coal mine. During the past win
ter Mr.. McClaskey has run . tunnel in on
one of the veins sixty-six feet and has at
present about 100 tons of az excellent quail
ity of coal on the dump. Prof. Dali. OF
Smithsonian institution, Or. Becker and 4.
w. burlington. who constitute the COM
mission sent out by the United States gov
eminent a year ago to investigate and re-
port on the mineral resources Of Alaska.
during their examinations In this section
looked those coal fields over, and after
careful observations pronounced the sur
face groupings as being among the best
for quantity and quality they had ever
seen. With tho completion Of the work
now in view the mine would soon be able
to furnish immense supplies. The crop
pings show up for distance Of forty feet
lying In . sandstone formation. and Is so
easy Of access that vessels can be loaded
at small cost. Some years ago Mr.. Nc
Ciaskey shipped ninety tons OF this coal
TO juneau which gave good satisfaction.
Notwithstanding the fact that II was taken
from the ledge quite near the surface. At
different times an analysis has been made.
and steamers running in there have tested
the merits of the coal as q producer OF
steam In both cases extremely good re-
suits have been obtained. An ANALYSIS
made By the Nevada metailurgicai works.
of San Francisco. proved 1t to be a BIZ
luminous coking coal containing Fixed
CARBON. SIS per cent: volatile carbon, 81 4
per cent: ash. p per cent: moisture and
hygroscopsc water. 80 per cent: specific
gravity. 13oS Properly speaking Il IN a
good steam and gas coal. and win yield
IS per cent. IN very fair coke II com.
psrcs favorably with the Pittsburx Goals.
standing between them and Nova Scotia
Goals. the percentage OF volatile to fixed
carbon corresponding to those in this Alas.
ka product. and In some respects Is better
thar either. owing to its low percentage OF
ash Its steamine qualities has been given
several tests BY the engineers Of different
Alaska steamers and they unhssitatinriv
speak Of II In highly eommeniatorv terms
William Law. chief engineer on the Tone
ks. says: II found Il TO be q yerv rood
quality Of coal. giving as good results a.
the best Nsnaimo." J. A. Dawson. chief
engineer OF the Mexico. thinks ws,l Of thu
coal: "I do not hesitate to pronounce mi,
az good as any Sound coal: its lasts weII.
gives a good hot FIRE. ana VIII connars
fsvorsh'y with either Wellington or BLACK
Diamond There IS shout 20 per cent
ashes" sa-pound test Was also mad.
some time ago on one of the s,au
launches belonging 20 the United state,
survey Goat Pattersca That amour, AZ
coal steamed the Soat eight miles AZ h.r
greatest speed. ana =. no t.rns ara .ha en-
gineer have any trouble IA keen.nr M, All
the steam re wanted
That these raines WIN evensuaiYv NOV.
source OF great wealth 70 .h.lr own.rs
there can be no doubt. The local con-
sumption VIII average ! no tons a month
end with cheaper fuel that .rnoun, VII
soon double itself ss1 ~ would ,~.r, .ns,
with coal AZ SO 70 81 a ton n rrrs,u .,s
TIRE amount even now monthly u.ns tr-
Sesforr IN search OF a gold rslns need RI.
look further. The advantages which vv,,,,s
naturally accrue 20 Juneau in IN. cv~,,
OF the mines being opened up Ard operat-
81 can readily &c seen. and such viii W.
ecanteciy soon occur.