The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-07-14

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field vary in quality from a sub-bitu-
minous 20 a semi-bituminous. with
some anthracite, and are included in
folded and faulted Tertiary (EoceneO
shales, sandstones, and some con-
glomerates. aggregating 5000 feet in
thickness.
The coal beds vary from 8 to SO
feet in thickness. and the total area
known TO be underlain by coal az
gregates 461k square miles. However.
as much OF the field is covered by
gravels and none OF It has been sur.
veyed in detail. the coal bearing area
may " much larger. The total area
Of what may prove to be coal bear
ing rocks Is approximately 900 square
miles. Up to the present time there
has been no mean Of transporting
this coal TO market, so that no mining
has been done. but many beds have
been opened In prospecting.
The anthracite from Matanuska and
Boring rivers has no equivalent on the
Pacific coast, and It compares favor
ably with the Pennsylvania anthra-
cite. 1t ought to be put into the San
Francisco and other Pacific coast mar
kets at a cost far below that Of east
ern coal, in which case Il should have
no difficulty In entirely su%pplanting
the latter.
The Boring river semi-anthracite
and part Of the semi-bItuminous coal
from Matanuska is also better than
anything that is being mined I'm the
west. These Goals are the equivalent
OF the Poeahontas. New River, and
Georges Creek Goals OF the east, and
are eminently adapted for use on war
ships and for other purposes for which
a high grade, pure. "smokeless" steam
ing coal is required. and for these pur.
poses Will command a considerably
higher price than any coal now being
mined on the Pacific coast. or II Of
fered at equal prices. should read
fly drive the latter from the market
Part OF these Goals will produce
an excellent quality OF c~oke-better.
In fact Except possibly in content OF
phosphorus. regarding which no data
are aynilable). than coke which can
be produced from any OF the Wash,
ington or Vancouver island Goals, ard
equal 20 the oSle from Crows Nest
pass. n an important amelter indus
try grows up IN Alaska. as now seems
possible. the Alaska cooking Goals
should have the advantage. both OF
quality and OF transportation.
Mining developments in the Boring
river cold nelds OF thu Controller bay
region and IN the MatanuskR coal
fields OF the Cook inlet region have
been practically confined 10 surveys
for patents. assessment work, and
tran building. The most important
features are connected with the prob
lem OF railway construction.
No patents for coal land have YET
been granted.
The value OF these high grade fuels
OF Alaska probably exceeds that oil
the gold deposits. and the eIploith
ton OF these coal Aelds is OF the great
seaboard Of the continent These Goals
will furnish not only the high grad,
steam Goals needed for various indus
tries. but also the ecke for metallur
gical enterprises. u the iron orel
OF the territory prove valuable. th'
west coast may yet be supplied from
this source with the raw MATERIAL
for the manufacture OF iron and steel
In any event, the copper smGters car
be provided with coke OF q higi
grade.
The Goals from other know Alaski
fields than these are so STUFFED o
are OF such quality that they tan nn'
markets only WHARF excessive rate