The Alaska daily empire., 1913-09-10
DIR. DOWNEY THINKS
 ALASKA COAL GOOD

Dr. J. 0. Downey, disbursing officer of the United States navy, who for more than year has been studying the Boring river coal fields, will rec ommend that the department endeav- or to have the government create a coal reserve in that field for the eX- elusive use of the United States navy. No matter what the report of the Maryland test might be Dr. DOwney is convinced that there is large field of good coal in the Boring district. This reserve may be in two tracts and will be limited in extent It will not in any way interfere with any rights that have been obtained in the field, nor will it in any way detract from the use of the field for commercial enterprises. No reservation will be made till the status of the land and all claims thereto are settled beyond controversy.
 The naval expert confirms theFstory that the coal which was mined for the Maryland test contains a large and unnecessary percentage of rock, shales bone, earth and other extraneous mat ter, and that the coal had been allowed to absorb moisture.
 In an interview in the Seattle Times Dr. Downey said:
 Plenty of Good Coal.
 "'We feel assured that the Boring river field contains lots of good coal, and the percentage of lump coal is very much larger than we expected. There are many difficulties to be met in the way of transportation problems, but all of them are of comparatively easy solution In the circumstances I feel justified in recommending that res ervation be made.
 "'The method of obtaining the coal is of secondary importance. Personal ly, I do not favor government opera tion, but would recommend that con- tract be made with a colliery company to mine and deliver certain amount of coal from the reserve each year, with a guarantee as to the quality and delivery. This contract would be not enough to guarantee the operation of a colliery exclusively for the navy, but with other coal mined for commercial purposes, it would be more than suffi- cient..'
 The Times continues:
 ''Dr. Downey had no criticism to of fer on the bureau of mines for filling the sacks with rock and other extran- eOus matter. He quietly handpicked a large amount of coal, removing as much as possible of the detritus, and recommended to the captain of the Maryland that he allow the coal to lie on the decks in the sun for several days to let the air absorb as much as possible of the moisture.
 Test May Be Fair.
 'In this way he believes a reason ably fair test will be assured, provided allowance is made for the waste mat ter which was not eliminated, and which will form clinkers on the grate bars. So as to offset the apparent eff forts of the bureau of mines to bring about a last estimate of the value of the fuel Dr. Downey selected a sam pie of 50 tons of the run-of-mine coal and forwarded it to Annapolis, where it will be tested by experts. Referring to the partial filling of the sacks with waste matter, Dr.. Downey, without criticism, said:
 "I caused large amount of the coal to be resacked and hand picked and should say that we threw away about or per cent of rock and other waste matter. To properly clean the coal with facilities at hand, however, was impossible. There is no doubt that the sample taken contained an un- due amount of extraneous matter, which would not have occurred had ordinary care been used. We asked for 800 tons of coal and got less than TOO tons, after the waste had been ta- ken out.
 Location Not Best.
 "1 think the location from which the bulk of the sample was taken was very poor one, and feel certain that amuch better grade of coal could have been obtained in other places, par tieularly in Carbon Mountain, where the measure is not crushed nor broken. Another condition which will detract from the value of the coal as compared with the West Virginia product is that the iremen are not accustomed to it.
 While Controller Bay is by no means an ideal harbor, believe it can be made to do service for the purpose