The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-04-05

cage before the American Mn
ing congress has been pub
lished In pamphlet form. IL Is
valuable contribution 10 current lit.
erature. and deals with the Alaskan
problems in candid. careful and
statesmanlike manner. and deals with
them from the standpoint of one who
made close and prolonged investiga-
ton of Alaska during his heightened
visit there.
Secretary Fisher also availed him.
self of the data furnished by Alfred
II. Brooks, geologist in charge OF the
United States geological survey, who
for fourteen years has been studying
Alaskan conditions on the ground. Be
fore examining the Boring river field
Secretary Fisher was preceded there
by Or. J. A. Holmes. director of the
bureau OF mines: by l.. T. Wolfe, an
engineer OF large experience in coal
mining and railway construction; by
F. W. c. Whyte. who for years has
managed the coal mining and rail-
way construction department OF the
Anaconda Copper Mining company;
by T. II. O'Brien, who has conducted
the coal operations OF the Copper
Queen: by George Watkins Evans. a
coal mining engineer OF experience in
the northwest states, and by Sumner
S. Smith. who IS a mining engineer
and inspector OF mines for Alaska.
Secretary Fisher in his speech.
said: AT the very outset | wish TO
express the high opinion have
formed at the remarkably large and
fine body OF people who have become
permanent residents of Alaska.
There is a substantial percentage OF
men and women of the highest type of
American citizenship. The total popu-
lation is about $4,000 persons. They
are entitled 10 q territorial govern.
ment."
Wonderful Scenic Beauty.
Secretary Fisher further says: II
found Alaska country Of wonderful
scenic beauty. which in itself will in
future years be one OF its greatest
financial assets. From all the infor-
nation could gather | believe II 10
be country of great mineral and
agricultural possibilities: indeed. |
should go further and say a country
OF great mineral and agricultural prob.
abilities, needing development. ready
for development, and inviting develop.
hnt ho1l hagl chfan,. ht. Inn 10
quate transportation facilities and In.
adequate laws"
Secretary Fisher further says:
What Alaska needs more than all
else Is a trunk.line railroad from the
ocean TO the great interior valleys of
the Yukon and the Panama opening
up the country so that its future de-
may really be possible.
The vast interior valleys are GOV.
cred with luxuriant grasses and can
be made to raise cattle and sheep. and
even grain, IL proper seed and proper
methods are experimentally developed |
by scientific agriculture. But agricul. |
ture development cannot go forward |
where the local markets were small.
Secretary Fisher finds the coal de. |
posits of Alaska to consist OF the an
thracite and hlgh-grade bituminous |
coal, which Is found so far only in the |
Bering river and Matanuska fields. No |
anthracite coal has as yet been found |
anywhere else on the Pacific coast, |
and but little high grade bItuminous |
rnal M hitch II.
cept for cooking coal, anthracite coal |
and high-grade bituminous coal Alas.
ka cannot command the fuel market. |
There are great quantities OF Ignite |
and lowgrade bituminous coal
the Pacific northwest and |
British Columbia. Much OF the btu.
minous coal mined on Puget sound is
Of fair quality and fit for stearning
purposes. and when the freight and
handling charges on Alaskan coal are
taken into consideration IL Is clear
that the low grade coal will not be
ised on ocean steamers except those
plying to Alaskan ports.
For steaming purposes and for
leating purposes In manufacturing es-
Adjustments. California fuel oil is sun.
lanting coal in many fields. II pos
esses advantages in economy and con.
'enience of handling. and coal OF any
ind cannot compete with 1t. But oil
annot be used for smelling ores. or
or making steel, and for these pur.
'oses Alaska coking coal will hold the
market.
Trunk Line Favored.
when the anthracite coal fields OF
Alaska are opened, and railroads con.
tructed. SO that anthracite coal can