The Holbrook news., 1912-05-10


 cago before the American Min
 ing congress has been pub
 lished in pamphlet form It is a valuable contribution to current lit erature. and deals with the Alaskan problems in a candid, careful and statesmanlike manner, and deals with them from the standpoint of one who made a close and prolonged investiga- tion of Alaska during his heightened visit there.
 Secretary Fisher also availed him self of the data furnished by Alfred H. 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 Dr. J. A. Holmes, director of the bureau of mines; by L. T. Wolle, 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. H. 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 I 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 vigorous, law-abiding, law-respecting men and women of the highest type of American citizenship. The total popu- lation is about 65,OOO persons. They are entitled to a territorial govern ment-
 Wonderful Scenic Beauty.
 Secretary Fisher further says: "T scenic beauty, which in itself will in future years be one of its greatest financial assets From all the infor- nation I could gather I believe it to be a 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 ment, but held back chiefly by made 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 it's future de- velopment 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, if 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 high-grade bituminous coal, which is found so far only in the Boring river and Matanuska fields. No | anthracite coal has as yet been found ! anywhere else on the Pacific coast. and but little high grade bituminops coal, or high grade coking coal Ex- cept for coking coal, anthracite coal | and high-grade bituminous coal Alas ka cannot command the fuel market | There are great quantities of Ignite and low-grade bituminous coal throughout the Pacific northwest and British Columbia Much of the bitu- minous coal mined on Puget sound is of fair quality and fit for steaming purposes, and when the freight and handling charges on Alaskan coal are taken into consideration 1t Is clear that the low grade coal will not be used on ocean steamers except those plying to Alaskan ports.
 For steaming purposes and for heating purposes in manufacturing es- tablishments, California fuel oil is sup planting coal in many fields. It pos sesses advantages in economy and con- venience of handling. and coal of any kind cannot compete with it. But oil cannot be used for smelting ores. or for making steel. and for these pur- poses Alaska coking coal will hold the market.
 Trunk Line Favored.
 ''When the anthracite coal fields of Alaska are opened. and railroads con structed. so that Ds ara e coal can