The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-02-27
ALASKA's FUEL STORE.

The development of the territory oil
: Alaska is likely to be favored by the
fuel crisis, If it is not too soon over
or it's effects are not quickly forgot
ten.
Alaska, the nations treasure
house" has coal and OIL both in abun
dance, though little is being taken
out of the ground. The uncovered
amount is not easy to calculate, es
pecially as to oil, the geological signs
of which require confirmation by &C.
tual drilling.
Since the war began copper has
passed gold as the territorys most
valuable resource. The sudden need
|, for the former metal in vast quantities
has promoted mining on an unprecen-
denied scale So the urgent call for
fuel should give an impetus to coal
and oil development.
The whole country, particularly, of
course, the Pacific coast, is keenly in
! terested in the Alaska prospect. The
coast now imports" coal from the
east. That is expensive, and besides
coal is drawn from the Atlantic sea.
board which might be wanted here in
pinch, either for local consumption
or for shipping. And, as our exper,
fence this winter has warned us, eff.
ticient use of transportation facilities
may be a vital consideration. Chair
man Peabody, of the coal production
committee of the national council of
defense, told a senate committee that
shipping coal from the West Virfinia
fields to California is "a most horrible
misuse of equipment" Although the
coast is an oil producing section, the
astonishing statement is made that
the supply has been drawn down by
the war demand so that the Southern
Pacific railroad, which has long used
oil burning locomotives, has been com.
PEELED to go, back to coal on parts of
itA. system
Accordingly at this time Alaska
finds outside support in appealing to |
congress for legislation to promote the
development of these natural re-
The Alaska bureau of the
Seattle Chamber of Commerce and !
Club has adopted resoiu-
tions praying for the enactment of a
policy that will encourage the prGs-t
pector and invite capital to open up
the fuel regions on scale comment
surate with the prospect. In the east
the idea prevails because the govern-I
ment is constructing a railroad to, One'l
of the coal fields that the problem is /
being solved. The government enter
prise will be useful, so far as it goes,
but actually 1t does not touch the real I
problem. AS for oil, Alaska imports
thousands of barrels annually for |
domestic consumption-an extraordin-
airy illustration of carrying Goals to
Newcastle.
The case of Alaska reflects grew
Gus national situation respecting pub |
lie lands development. Development,
halted by the countrywide uprising IN
behalf of conservation of the nations
resources some years ago, has not
since been resumed on anything ap-
preaching the former scale. The con-
servation laws called for readjust-
ment of methods, and the war has
caught us with the process scarcely
begun.
The other day the senate passed a
bill to encourage and promote the
mining of coal and oil on the public
domain. Substantially the same bill
has failed heretofore several times in
the last few years because the house
and senate could not agree on certain
details. They will probably now agree,
| because the conditions demand an
immediate remedy. But apparently
Alaska will not receive much benefit
from the legislation. Conditions in the
territory require a special policy
The difficulties and the risks Of
exploitation are manifestly greater
there than in the public lands of the
states. The government of British
Columbia, where conditions are sim
liar, offers inducements to the pros
pector and capitalist which are prov
ing highly effective. The system
should have the consideration of con-
gress. Some such policy might be en-
grated on the bill now in course of
enactment or embodied in a special
Alaska act.-Providence, R. l., Jour
nal.
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Tomorrow is the last day for terri