The Chitina leader., 1913-05-20
Late Telegraph News

WASHINGTON May 20-There are many evidences to in- dcate the navy department anxious coal from Alaska the earliest possible That sufficient test fuel of the north has already been made satisfy the department of it's efficiency is evident from statement made yesterday before the Senate committee Territories Com mander Boyd member of the Bureau of Steam Engineering of the navy department testified that the coal from Alaska was beyond question suitable for naval purposes and that it better than Pochaonas coal The navy department is author y for the that incomplete tests of coal from the Berug river field indicate that it will prove valuable for sup plying Pacific fleet Final tests for determining the value of the Bering coal for naval will be made this by the Maryland which will sail for Alaska Pay master S. of the bureau cf Supplies and Accounts the navy department also testified yesterday before the mittee He declared that in ef it would take the whole commercial fleet carry coal the Pacific supply the government vessels and result would be para yzng of all industries The people os Alaska who demand the opening the coal of that territory have good feel encouraged that carry acon the desired end will be taken.
 WASHINGTON May 19-Leonard M Cox civil engineer of the Engineer Corps Navy appeared before the Senate Committee Territories late Saturday afternoon He member of the Alaska Railway Commission which recently made report recommending the construction of least 733 miles of railroad in Alaska at cost of S3500OOO Mir Cox gave the committee valuable data to routes and the of construction He also made the broad statement that the best harbor in Alaska for commercial and naval purposes Cordova He said further that the Cordova harbor could be fortified at reasonable cost and made imprenabe against attacks upon the part ot an enemy at 1t believed that this statement will have great weight not only with the Senators but also with the navy department in nd eating that coang station should be established at Cordova and branch line built from the Copper River and Northwest railway to the Boring river coal fields He favors either
 SEATTLE May 15-From advces received from Washing ton there general feeling here that the navy department is thoroughly n earnest in it's desire to settle the ton of the availability of Alaska coal for the of battle ships and cruisers the Pacific coast Notwithstanding the apparent waste of much of the 00 that approp ated year for the purpose bringing coal from the Der ing and Matanuska telds additional appropriation secured from the last to do the work outlined in the Naanuska field the efforts last and fall d reced entirely to the Bering field George w. Evans this city, has just been notified that he has been appointed head the government expedition to investigate the merits of the Matanuska coal for naval and commercial purposes He mining engineer of much note and has had considerable perence in Alaska particularly the Berng fields Mr Evans will have party of under him and they will make thor ough investigation of the Maanuska fields and he will fur ther direct the mining of certain of the coal for steam testing purposes Secretary Daniels has decided to have the coal brought from the mines to tide water by contract instead of the costly methods pursued in the Bering fields.
 Those presumably the inside insist that from the know edge already in the possession of the navy department they practically satisfied that the quality of the coal from the Der ing field superior to other fuel the Pacific coast and they anxious to have coang station established in
 earliest possible moment. The feeling is gen era that arrangement has already made between the navy department and the Copper River Northwestern rail- road by which branch line will be built tEs from connection te road the Berng River s.s The coal would then be brought to Cordoya where naval coang tion is likely to be established It also thought that the engagement includes the procuring by the railroad of sufficient coal to furnish motive power their road and for big smet CT that the Guggenhems will erect at Cordova.
 -o-o-o-
 WASHINGTON, May 14-Senator Key Pittman today i-- troduced bill revong the order of former President Roose welt creating the Chugach forest in Alas ka provides however that the coal lands shall not which almost treeess and the conditions such which almost reeIessh and the conditions such any for the conservation of absur The Senator contends that such scattered Der may be found for small should be freely available assist in developing enterprises and encourage settlers There still another forest in Alaska known gass in the Southeastern part of the territory is tended that this has abundance of overrpe timber of it of inferior quality the removal of which would tend the forests All of which the opinions of
 askans prove that the rules requirements