The Cordova daily times., 1915-05-06
SURVEYS BERING RIVER COAL FIELDS
 MADE AND CAN BE USED UNDER LAW
HE geologists and experts that have made study both the Boring River and the Matanuska fields pro

both the Berng River and the MatanuSka fields pro-
 them very similar to quality and physical conditions In proof of this is but necessary refer reports of the geoogsts that have made study of both fields and to the analyses of the coal made by the Bureau of Mines In fact it believed by many experts who familiar with both ed that the Boring River field contains greater quan tty of coal suitable for navy than does the Manska, and while the of the Matanuska is about onehrd greater there greater aoUnt of high grade eamng required by the navy in the Boring River field.
 It IS fact that while the test made of the Matanuska coal has proven it suitable for naval use, little of the quantity available The fact that suitable coal is found in vein does not prove the field justify the conclusion that there abundance of that kind of coal that field Neither does the failure to find the right kind of coal justify the condemnation of the field In fact grades of coal may be found the ven and is we'll known that the coal from the Pocahonas field that is used by the navy not only from particular from a particular section of that seam
 It is well established that there great quantity of coal in the Boring River field suitable for commercial purposes Hundreds of thousands of dollars expended by the orig ina locators in developing mines Accurate surveys made of much of the ground and buildings erected If the government desired it could avail itself of these surveys thus expedite the leasing of the coal land in the River field The law for the leasing of these fields provides any survey made under the authority by the approval of the de- parment of the interior be adopted and used for this pose If this done many of the properties could be put working basis almost as railroad could be built to them thorough test could then be made of this field to ascertain whether not it contained naval coal If it found that the field contained naval would not be for present. great commercial use for this coal.
 Bulletin of Geological Survey at page 65 estimates that in the Berng River field there least 26 square Ot anthracite and semanthrace coal 20 miles of semi btumnous and at teast 2 square miles uncassfed Tests made of the semi btumnous coal to its cokng qualities 82 of buet and the conclusion reached that all of this coal would make excellent coke.
 Coke is absolutely necessary in the reduction In the Copper River valley and the Prince William Sound district immense bodies of copper ore partially veoped and only waiting cheap transportation and the coal and coke necessary for operation and reduction The deve opment of this copper going steadily forward when the government 19O6 stepped in and not only withdrew from try in Alaska but actually stopped and prevented the of Alaska coal for purpose whatever This resulted cessary n the dsconnuance of the development of all rs except those which the of such great that 1t could be shipped 500 miles to the Tacoma shelter This the situation today and the situation that the people Alaska expect the building of rearoads leasing of the coal lands to correct
 From economic and business standpoint there is every Copper River Northwestern Railway at Mile 3S with the Belng River coal fields This would require only about 38 miles of construction which could be accomplished during the working The coal could then be brought to tdewater where could be used to assist in the construction other lines and the the great expense of importing foreign coal for this purpose At the time this would bring 1t to common point with the only known copper pcs of Alaska namely those of the Copper River valley and Prince William Sound By the time field is developed these alone will establish market for 500O0 for mining and smelling purposes This is four times the amount of coal the the Pacific coas hence repeat that there every for constructing this line first Besides more than probable that in the development of this ed suggested before there will be found than sufficient coal for the use of the navy the Pacific coast.