Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-14
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MAKING MAPS OF THE COUNTRY

were accessible IT would supply the whole world for
100 years and probably leave much to spare
II the coal amounts to only fifteen billions it would
heat and move the world for fifteen years. and if We
had it on shipboard in the markets would make
US rich beyond the dreams of avarice. l have seen
the value estimated in billions of dollars 1t would
be worth that if it could be dumped down few tons
at time in the chief markets of the world but
lies now the statement makes think of the words
of the japanese schooboy 1T is to laugh" OF the
fifteen billion tons which the minimum figures of
the biologists estimates, about four and onehalf
billions the Arctic slope, where it is locked
in ice for most of the year. 1t is beyond ranges of
mountains, which could hardly be crossed, seas
from where the coal could carried to any mar.
ket on earth Another four billion lie in the
interior of Alaska, in the plateau region of which
have written, and it is safe say that it will never
be worth anything except for local consumption The
greater part of the balance, comprising more than
six billion tons by conservative estimate, is in south
eastern Alaska, the Pacific coast These last
beds live working quantity, and they will some
day have great part in the industry and wealth of
the world.
Coal at Half a Cent a Ton
In my talk with DR.. Brooks 1 asked him as to
the government values of these lands. He replied
that all withheld from sale, pending the
government investigation and the trouble concern
ing the titles and that he had estimated their value
at half cent ton in the ground. This seems
ridculously low, but at this rate he says the
lands the Pacific coast would be worth from
$50 to $500 per
l here ventured a suggestion that if Pierpont
Morgan or one of the Guggenheims wished to per-
petuate his wealth he might 500 900 in such
lands with the understanding that they were to be
mined only by his Observation-Disclosures one hun
dred years from now.
ut would seem So" replied DR.. Brooks but we
have had discussion concerning prospective values
that makes that matter very questionable Even
If the lands could be bought at $40 acre, which
has been the law to the public coal lands of Alaska
and should be kept one hundred years. they would
have to yield big amount of coal pay the interest
charges. / have had one of the fnanciers figuring
upon the possibilities.
He says that at $40 an acre the Investment in
100 years by annually compromising the interest at
per would make every there cost So 634 not
counting the taxes Now, If the investment $780,
600 instead of $40 the interest charges and principal
in 100 years would amount to the enormous OF
$26340 900. You must also remember that the coal
has to be still gotten out of the earth and that you
cannot be absolutely as to Just what is under
the ground. In all this We have left out the ques-
ton of taxes which would go up as the other coal
mines nearby developed, that there is great
doubt to the advisablity of century holding of
Alaska coal"
The Market for Coal.
Kwent with DR.. Brooks the maps Of his
cent explorations and took a look at the Boring
river and Matanuska coal fields which being
genhems have already built a railroad which is not
more than twenty-five miles from the Boring
river beds The coal Of this region is excellent, vary
ing from anthracite to valuable sembitumnous. The
beds something like forty square miles, and
they will yield from 10000 to 1000 tons to the
acre. The Matanuska field is not much farther away
and 1t is probable that there other fields in the
immediate vicinity This coal could be made quickly
available and it would command a good price in the
market.
In talking with Dr. Brooks l was told that the
coal trade OF the Pacific is largely monopolized
by the British, who are working valuable mines
Vancouver Island from which they supply Puget
sound. San Francisco and other places. The Van
couVer coal delivered at tidewater sells for high
$3.50 a ton and is sold at wholesale in Seattle at
S.. In California coal is bringing from Sc to
SIS ton, and the Pacific seaboard of Alaska the
retail prices run from So to $15 per ton At Nome
coal is selling for from $1S to $685. and these prices
will probably continue until the Alaskan coal fields
are opened. Just at present there Ignite
fields being worked the Seward peninsula. This
contrary law. and the miners have been warned