The Alaska daily empire., 1915-09-17
CAN
 BE LEASED
 THIS YEAR

The coal lands of Alaska win bt ready for leasing before the end of the present year, according to George watlliu Evans. selected by the Unit. ed States government to make a sur yey of the Boring coal fields with ref erence to the division of the coal areas into workable units. Having completed his field work. Mr. Evans arrived in Juneau on the Alameda Go. day and will remain here until the de- parture of the Admiral Farragut Sun day. Mir. Evans will complete his re- port. maps. drawings. etc. at his of- flee in Seattle and forward his report Co Washington.
 Mir. Evans work consisted of sep. arating the coal fields into working units. the purpose being to make the separate units of as nearly equal val ue as possible and to have them grouped in such 9 way that their work ing would be practicable. This not only required that he measure the dc- posits as nearly as conditions would permit but it made it necessary for him to form his units in such a man. ner as to conform Go geological and topographic conditions. Also. his re- port win indicate the best method of approach and the most feasible man ner to mine each unit.
 The units mapped by Mr. Evans va ry in size from a half square mile to four square miles.
 Boring Fields Examined.
 The government will make its re- servuons Of coal areas from the re- port of MT. Evans. The selections will be made by the President. though, of course. they will probably be based upon the recommendation of the Sec retary of the Interior.
 Mir. Evans estimates that the in- formation that will be in the hands of the Interior Department will permit the offering Of the units to prospec- tive lessors before the first of the year
 Contrary Go former reports. MT. Ev- ans confined his work this summer to ! the Bering coal fields He has al- ready made a report on the Matanus- ka field on the strength of his work | there in 1913 when he superintended ! the mining of the coal for the naval ! test.
 A detailed report will be made on the Matanuslla coal fields by Sumner S. Smith, mine inspector, who is now on the ground. He will have the ad- ! vantage of the former report made by MT. Evans Mr. Evans says the gov ernmeut will have all the information ! readyl to make leases in that field as well as the Boring field in time for those leasing to begin active develop ! ment work with the opening of the season next year.
 Praise for Administration.
 llr. Evans says there is no question but that Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane is doing all within his power Co give the people a square deal" on the coal lands question In Alaska. and that he realizes that the essence of the proposition is the speedy opening of the lands. The ! coal lands leasing bill became a law less than a year ago. and practically . all of the preliminary work has been ] completed already He says. further, that President Woodrow Wilson is backing and supporting Secretary of the Interior Lane in expediting the ! coal lands work.
 George Watkin Evans is recognized 1 everywhere as one of the country's ! most capable experts on all things pertaining to coal and coal mining ! He is not only a capable geologist, but | an experienced coal mining engineer. !
 MT. Evans is at the Alaska hotel 1