Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-13
AIAsKA's GREAT COAL RESERVE.

~
The question of the conservation OF
Americas natural resources Is not n
new subject. The drain upon the resour-
ces and the necessity for their economical
utilization were recognized by many who
made n study OF them long before their
probable exhaustion had been reduced
70 terms OF decades and years. In q
recent statement the L. s. Geological
Survey estimates the total exhaustion
OF easily mined coal, at the present rate
OF increase In production and consump-
tion, as likely TO occur in tho century
following the present one, providing new
large coal fields are not In the meantime
discovered. At the same time the Survey
IL doing ifs best to make Just such dis
coveries as Will upset these figures. Out
side OF the Investigations OF the coal de-
posits Of the United States tho Survey
has for some years been making n study
of the coal supply OF the world and over
six years ago began definite exam'na-
ton of coal In Alaska. The result of the
latter investigation has been an excel
lent showing Of coal In that territory.
n score or more OF large conl fields bcng
shown on the coal map Just published
IN Survey Bulletin 335. The combined area
Of these fields is very great, although
small In compa rison with the immense
area OF the territory. Furthermore. II Is
| not possible. even with the large amount
of work accomplished. that all OF the coal
areas of Alaska should ne known by this
| time. Additional exploration and investi-
cation may be rich In results.
EXTENSIVE EXPLORATION RE
QUIRED.
| "Fully one-fourth OF Alaska, or approx
matcly 10000 square miles. is little more
than an unopened book 20 us, so far as
Its precious and useful minerals are con-
cerned,' said Alfred II. Brooks. the chief
gcologist of the Alaskan division of the
United States Geological Survey, Just
| b"fore leaving washington for ms annu-
III SWING round the circle IN 'he p'R
NORTHWESTERN ''r'ltorE' We KNOW ''"'
pa,su,,,. ,,,., aua ao,,I ao,d. ,,,,ol,
| ,,.u, t,r,,, , NM. -, -. .no ,,i.,
c,,o ooo, ra.o,,.. 80 A,a.,, rho cav,
1Is,,,rro cool noi, ,,,,.,s.,,,,s ~, ,,cs,or,
o,d ., u.,,, t.. ,,r,,,,h,, ,.r,,o con, oroo
ma. va, d,.or,,,,,o, :, t. ,,t ,,,,ossth,o
th,, ,ho ara, az ,ir,,,.o AND ,,,-,1o
hI,urino,,s co,l MAJ, no aop,,,o thc nros-
ant know, cool ,reo T., tho ,crr,,or,,
r.h,oh l., a,.ar 90 no ,,,,o.. ,ru.s r.Lo
oo.l -, Na.,.o ,,,,o, t., o,,,,,,v ,rn,r
ua,;,o ., ,.,,, 49,. ,,,,,ara, ,.or,,I,.
,,.,,,, ,,o ,,,,o,,, raoa,,,',,, cooi -, W..
,.i,, g, , 49,, ,,,.,.,.,,, ,
r,,Lo ,oo, aa,, oo,,,r 4, ,ho .o,oros.
,,.. 20 .,,,, 400, .,, ,,,.,, 4, ,...,,,,.,,,,
,.o,,,a L. , ,no,,u,ra,,,,, r,,,,,, co,,,o NJ
,,a ,,, .,,,,,,,. -. a., .,,.,,,r,, 40 -,
woo, ,t,toi.,,,.a ,a,.o e,..o,,a1 .,,,.o,,,,
T., .,oo,,. tn,t ,.oro co Foot % sol,d coal "
D., ~, A.,., ,,,,a,,,.., 90 ,,e
ounce, T.. ,h,s ,.,,. n,,i.,,,r,, 49,, ,rv..,tt
ca.,o, ~ Acct ooo, WOW, -, ,r,, o.
u.,s,,,, s,,,,,,,nr,. ., ,ho ,,rosar, rnou.l.
o,,,. 20 ,A, ,,,,, -a,,,.,.e 90 ,na .o,.r,,o-,.
$50, ,,,, ~, ,,,l ,,ho. ,ro,.,o,s c,,r.
,., i,,,as,,ootto,s
inO'i''-o' or go" ~ 10 'N'1''
-io'>"'
AS FAR back as l%-' said Nr. Brooks
the geological survey began system
attic study of Alaska coal fields. com
mencing with geologic reconnaissance
OF the low grade bituminous ana Ignite
Goals o. the Yukon region. In 19o, 1903
1901, and 1903 investigations were made
or the Nenana fields near FAIRBANKS II
1908, work was begun on the coal held'
or the Controller Bay region ana III 1914
the Matsanuska field was studied II
geologic detail IN these feids ther'
are 10 square miles Oh iandS uhderiali
by workable Goals containing anthracite
ana plt"irihous lnels Oh 'he hieheS
grade. In l~G the iiereho'eh Say p''u
.nnoua coal region was studied d! Sur
vey BeoioGlSts Al NV coal Investigations
were made or the southeaS'erh AIaSk'
coal fields. winch nave NOT however
proved or economic H'!portance' IN ~"
the geologic study OF 'He cape lhspurn'
, coal region was commenced ms is
bituminous coal held containing sou Goa
that ranges from 10" 10 hiBh sra"'
ana at present us poun"hres are only
= partially known In I'~ survey wori
was commenced IN the large hshite Ielu
Inc Work or tNe trtCIoelCal survey u