The Alaska prospector., 1903-04-09

port of the United States Geological survey, Brooks gives some interesting information regarding the coal deposits of Alaska. The following description is from his report:
 "The occurrence of coal in Alaska, as in the western United States, is limited to the rocks of the later geological periods (the Mesozoic and Tertiary). The rocks of these ages have an extensive distribution in the territory, and in a number of widely separated localities worka- ble coal beds have been found. In 1852. the Russian-American com pany prepared to mine coal at Port Graham on the western side of Kenai peninsula, but soon aban- doned their operations, though an American company mined coal at Port Chatham and supplied the Russian company's steamers for about ten years longer.
 "The Firestone mine has been worked for local use since 1880. The Admiralty Coal and Fuel com pany did considerable development work in 1900 at Point Gardner. In 1872, coal was mined at Coal bay, Unga island, for the United States steamship Humboldt, and the mining of these Southern Alaska coals has gone on in small way for number of years. In 1888. the Alaska Coal company began mining at Kachemak bay. west of kenai peninsula; since 1899, the Cook Inlet Coal Fields company seems to have controlled this field, and is now operating extensively. Since 1893, the Alaska Packers association has been mining inter- mitently at Chignik river, South eastern Alaska Peninsula. The coals of the Yukon river attracted little attention until the discovery of gold in the Klondike region in 1897.
 Much investigation of the coal supply of the Yukon river has taken place. In addition to coal mines in British Northwest terri tory, the Alaska Exploration com pany started some developments about 60 miles above Circle City on the Upper Yukon. The oldest mine is Drew's, opposite the mouth of Hess creek, where the workings are extensive and the equipment includes steam hoisting apparatus, coal bunkers, etc. The Pioneer mine, below Hess creek, and 30 miles above Rampant, is similarly equipped. Both mines produced considerable coal in 1900. Near Nulato, farther down the Yukon, the Blatchford and the Pickard mines produced some coal, and the Clemens Thein mine and the Will Hams mine, both between Nulato and Anvik were both small pro- ducers in 1900. As a result of the development of the Cape Nome gold fields, the Cape Lisburne coal de- posits, in Northwestern Alaska, have attracted renewed attention, and the Corwin 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.
 1.-The eoals are chiefly Ignite. some bituminous coals, and in a few localities, semi-anthracite. De- velOpments so far, have been en- tirely along waterways. The southeastern and southwestern Alaska coal fields are on the tide water, along a coast affording good harbors, open to navigation the entire year. They can be mined cheaply, and can find a ready market for local steamboat and domestic use"
 In addition to these deposits on the Yukon and along the coast, the Copper river valley contains con- siderable coal. Although, owing