The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-14
COAL FIELDS OF ALASKA
LITTLE DEVELOPMENT so FAR, En-
CEPT ALONG WATERWAYS.
Output Probably Less than 5000 Tons,
Largely from the Mines Along
the Yukon River.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-Alaska en-
braces about 100000 square miles and
stretches through nearly twenty degrees of
latitude and fifty degrees of longitude.
Practically no detailed Investigations of
any part of this vast territoy have been
made and az least a third part of it's area
has not even received preliminary topo-
graphic and geologic surveys. Our knowl-
edge of its mineral resources is therefore
very incomplete. What is known of its
coal resources has been compiled and is
presented by Alfred H. Brooks in Part III
of the twenty-second annual report of the
United States Geological Survey, now in
press. This compilation is not from printed
sources alone, but is largely from manu-
script notes made on the spot by Mr.
Brooks himself and by others. The Goals
of the Yukon river attracted little atten-
ton until the discovery of gold in the Klon-
dixie region I'm 1897. Within a year there
were probably upwards Of hundred steam
ers on the Yukon river, with wood selling
at from IS to $50 cord and with no wood
to buy on the lower Yukon below the Holy
Cross Mission. Soon some of the larger
companies established a cOaling station at
st. Michael for the use of river steamers;
but with the resultant disadvantage that
the steamer must take most coal when
she has most freight. Much investigation
of the coal supply of the Yukon river has
taken place. In addition TO coal mines in
British Northwest territory, the Alaska
Exploration Company started some develop
ments about sixty miles above Circle City,
ba V,,lr -
Drew's, opposite the mouth of Hess creek,
where the workings are extensive and the
equipment includes steam hoisting appara-
tus, coal bunkers, etc. The Pioneer mine,
below Hess creek and thirty miles above
Rampant, is similarly equipped. Both mines
produced considerable coal in 1900 Near
Nulato. farther down the Yukon the
Blatchford and the Pickart mines produced
some coal; and the Clemens THEM mine and
the Williams mine, both between Nulato
and Anvik, were small producers in 1900
As a result of the development of the Cape
Nome gold fields, the Cape Lisburne coal
deposits, in northwestern Alaska, have at
tracted renewed attention, and the Cor
win Trading Company is now engaged in
endeavoring to develop these deposits to
supply Nome and the whaling ships. which
have heretofore brought their coal from
Puget sound.
The Goals are chiefly lignites, with some
bitumnous Goals, and in a few localities
semianthracites. Developments so far have
been entirely along waterways. The
southeastern and southwestern Alaska coal
fields are on the tidewater along a coast
affording good harbors open to navigation
the entire year. They can be mined cheap
ly and can find a ready market for local
steamboat and domestic use. No develop
mentS have been made of the higher grade
Goals of southern Alaska. These higher
grade Goals are worthy of the attention
of prospector and capitalist. for, if found
to occur in sufficient quantities, they could
compete with all other Goals in the Pacific
coast market. The Yukon Goals, as de-
veloped, depend entirely on their local mar
ket; their grade is too low for expectation.
But the Yukon Goals seem to vary greatly
in character, and careful preliminary work
should be done before a mine is developed
The Yukon Goals are said to bring about SIC
ton at the mines Nome has offered a
splendid market for coal during the last
500 per ton, with an average price of
about $40 to $50 per ton during the sum-
mer of 1900. 1t was this that led to the de-
velopment of the Cape Lisburne field.
where the Goals are of a semibituminous
character, which is only 200 miles distant
In 1900 about 1900 tons OF coal were
shipped as cargo to Alaska from Washing
ton ports, and probably still more was i'm
ported from British Columbia. No accu-
kan mines obtainable. but the total is
probably between 1000 and 5000 tons, OF
which about a third is from mines on the
Yukon river. Brief mention is made In the
report of the three other sources of fuel
supply. namely, peat. wood and petroleum