The Nome nugget., 1902-11-15
SnG * % A
 Fue! Supply * of Alaska
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S'rS's'''''s't''s'f' En his discussion of the coal resources of Alaska, in part ; ol the 22d annual report of tbe United States geological survey, A fired II. Brooks adds aOne brief comments on the other source, of fuel. In addition to coal, he says, there are three possible sources of fuel supply in Alaska, namely: timber, pe- troleum and peat: and of these. timber alone has been utilized. Southeastern Alaska is heavily forested and affords ample wood for fuel. Certain species of trees are found as far west as Kadiak island. Beyond Kadiak, to the west and north, the coast region of Alaska i, practically treeless. some Willows. and occe esionally spruce, are found in the sheltered regions: but for the most part the coastal belt is covered simply with moss, grass and low shrubs. This type of vegetation extends northward to Point Barrow and thence eastward. The moss and GraS5-cUvercd plain and the rolling plains are called tundrlS and are found on the northern conti- mental margins encircling the globc.
 The interior of Alaska has usually a sufficient supply of wood for ordinary purposes of building and mining and for fuel. The larger river valleys are often heavily forested with spruce and other trees. On the Yukon, near the international boundary, the timber line is at about 5000 feet: northward it de- creases in elevation, and on the koyu- kuk it is about 2500 feet. Still further to the north and west it further de- creases in altitude, and on the upper Kobuk the timber is said to be limited to the floor of the largest river valleys. Tn the northern Arctic drainage re- ports state that there is no timber eX- to conSiderab ble size. The kuskokwim, SIshi,na and Copper rivers all have timbered basins. During the great in Aux of population of the last three wears. much timber has been de- stroyed by fire in the dry summer months.
 In the northwestern aad northern parts of she territory, from Norton bay around to the mouth of the McAen- zie, the shore was once abundantly sup piled with driftwOod. The Eskimos, who have been using this wood for gen erations, are very economical in the matter of fuel, and, until the coming of that the driftwood was accumulated faster than it was used. This drift wood is brought down from the interior by the large rivers, whose banks are wooded. The cutting of the wood along the banks Of the Yukon has already decreased the annual contribution of driftwood to northern Boring sea. This together with the rapid exhaustion by the white man, of the supply which had accumclaed ed in the past, will soon cause the Eskimo, as well as the white man, to be independent on other sources for fuel. The North Arctic coast eastward from Point Barrow, which is but thinly populated by natives and seldom visit ed by whites, has some driftwood.
 The possibilities of using for fuel the the thick growth of vegetable matter which covers most of the treeless re- gions of Alaska, have been suggested. been put to practical test. During the months of June and July, 1900, exten- sive fires swept through much of the treeless region of Nome and other DOT tions of the Seward peninsula. The moss and grass, when dry, were found to burn rapidly with consderahl flame, and fires ran over nearly the en- tire region visited by prospectors dur ing the dry months. This fact makes it evident that the surface growth ot the tundra could be used for fuel, pro. vided it were properly dried. This ma terial has, in many cases, been accuHu
 lated to considerable thickness in pea, bogs.
 With regard to the third source O
 fuel supply, petroleum, we have no def
 nile knowledge of it's existence in com
 mercial quantities. It is reported tt
 have been found in Southeastern Alask:
 between Nakutat and Controller bays
 south of Mt. St. Elias, and also on tn
 east side of Cook inlet near Kachemal lbay,