The Ely miner., 1912-03-22

OF the interior E1SHcr at chi
cago before the American Min
E ing congress has been pub
lished in pamphlet form. 1t 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 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 Bering river field
Secretary Fisher was preceded there
by DR.. j. A. Holmes, director OF the
bureau OF mines; by l.. 7. 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. H. O'Brien, who has conducted
the coal operations 'of the Copper
Queen; by George Watkins Evans,
coal miuing engineer of experience in
the northwest states, and by Sumner
8. Smith, who is mining engineer
and inspector of mines for Alaska.
Secretary Fisher, in his speech,
said: "At the very outset l 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
population is about $4,000 persons.
They are entitled to territorial gov
ernmeRt."
Wonderful Scenic Beauty.
Secretary Fisher further says: Il
found Alaska a country of wonderful
scenic beauty, which in itself will in
future years be one of it's greatest
financial assets. From all the infor
nation I could gather l believe it to
be a country of great mineral and
agricultural possibilities; indeed, |
should go further and say a country
CT great mineral and agricultural prob
abilities, needing development, ready
for development, and inviting devel-
opment, but held back chiefly by in
adequate transportation facilities and
inadequate laws
Secretary Fisher further says:
What Alaska needs more than all
else Is 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 COW
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
Bering river and Matanuska fields No
anywhere else on the Pacific coast,
and but little high grade bituminous
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 btu
niinous 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 it 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. 1t pos
sesses advantages in economy and
convenience of handling, and coal of
any kind cannot compete with it. But
oil cannot be used for smelling ores,
or for making steel, and for these
purposes 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 anthracite coal can
be landed aS Los Angeles or San Fran
cisco for IS or Sc per ton, 1t will drive
all other coal from the market for do
mestic use. One ton of anthracite
coal contains as much heating force as
two tons OF bituminous coal. In the
New England and Middle states no
other than anthracite coal is used for
domestic purposes, and none other
would be used here If 1t were avail
able at reasonable prices"
Secretary Fisher favors the con-.
struction by the government OF one
main trunk line of railroad from tide
vatsr to the Yukon, 500 miles Tia