The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-16

ducing just one billion tons per an
mum and at this rate il this coal We're
accessible it would supply the whole
world for $50 years and probably have
much to spare.
If the coal amounts to only fifteen
billions it would heat and move the
world for fifteen years, and If we had
it on ~snipboard or in the markets II
would make us rich beyond the dreams
of avarice. 1 have seen the value es-
timated in billions of dollars. 1t
would be worth that If il could Dc
dumped down a few tons at a time In
the chief markets Of the WORK., but
as it lies now the statement makes one
think of the words f the japanese
~schoolboy: 1T is to laugh OF the
fifteen billion tons which are the min
imum figures of the biologists esti-
mates about four and one-half billions
are on the Arctic slope, where It is
locked in ice for most of the year. Ii
is beyond ranges of mountains. when
could hardly be crossed, and on seas
from where the coal could not be car
concerning prospective values that
makes that matter a very questionable
one. Even if the lands could be
bought at SO an acre, which has been
the law as to the public coal lands
Of Alaska, and should be kept one
hundred years, they would have to
J NJ " oAo A4oohN 800 - H0S 49,
interest charges. I have had one Of
the inanciers figuring upon the pos
sibilities.
He says that at SO an acre the
investment in 100 years by annually
compromising the interest at 5 per cent
would make every acre there cost
1854, not counting the taxes. Now,
If the investment were 100000 in
stead Of $40 the interest charges and
principal in 100 years would mount
to the enormous sum Of S26,340, 900,
or if it we're a million dollars the
total cost OF the land would then be
$263,4OO, 900. You must also remem-
Der that the Goa has to be still got
ten out Of the earth, and that you
cannot be absolutely sure as to just
what is under the ground. In all
this we have left out the question Of
coal mines nearby were developed, SO
that there is great doubt as to the
adyisability of a century holding OF
Alaska coal"
The Market For Coal.
| went with DR.. Brooks over the
maps Of his recent explorations and
oOk a look at the Boring river and
Matanuska Goa fields, which are now
being discussed Neither is far from
the sea, and the ~Guggenheims have
already built a railroad which is not
more han twenty-five miles or so
from the Boring river beds. The
coal Of this region is excellent, vary
ing from anthracite to valuable semi
bituminous. The beds cover some
thing like forty square miles, and they
will yield from 10000 to 100000 tons
to the acre. The Matanuska field
is not much farther away, and it is
probable that there are other fields
in h immediate vicinity. This coal
could be made quickly available, and
it would command a good price in h
market.
In talking with DR.. Brooks I was
told that the coal rad Of the Pacific
is now largely monopolized by the
British, who are working valuable
mines on Vancouver Island, from
which they supply Puget sound, San
couver coal delivered at tidewater sells
for as high as $3.50 a ton and is
sold at wholesale in Seattle at IS.
In California coal is now bringing
from Sc to SIS a ton, and on the Pa
cifc seaboard Of Alaska the retail
At Nome coal is selling for from SIS
to s25, and these prices will probably
continue until the Alaskan coal fields
are opened. lust at present there are
some ignite fields being worked on
the Seward peninsula This is con-
trary to law, and the miners have
oeen warned to desist. They are far
off in the wilderness, however, and
the warnings are not needed.
Japan and Our Coal Fields.
In view Of the present talk Of a
possible war with Japan, the Boring
river coal beds assume great i'm
portance as a supply point of the sb;ps
OF our navy. In such an event much
OF our coal would nave to be ship
ped by rail across the continent or he
carried about through the Strait of
magellan to San Francisco. In the
latter case it is estimated that at least
one-ffth Of every cargo brought would
De used up In steaming that distance.
anu ms would be IN addition TO the
cost Of the coal itself. The fra;ohf
rates by rail would be The
Bering river oal beds are about &c
miles BY water from Puget sound. and
lhey are not far from the exceuent