The Alaska daily empire., 1918-02-18
ALASKA'S FUEL STORE

(providence R. L. JournaD
 The development of the Territory or Alasha is likely to be favored by fuel crisis, if 1t is not too soon over it's effects are not quickly lopsoeeh ~
 Alaska "the nations treasure nous nouse ; heing ta and oil both in abundance, though little IS peiie l ken out the ground. The uncovered ahoui. iio II, o easy to calculate, especially as to OIL tne i signs of which require confirmation by actual dris
 Since the war began copper has passed solu az the Territory's most valuable resource me suuuen need for the former metal in vast quantl1es nas t promoted mining unprecedented scale 30 anI tn1 urgent call for fuel should give an impetus 'o 'o" and oil development. . ouao tho
 The whole country, particularly of course course e .ne Pacific Coast is keenly interested in the Alaska pros pect The Coast imports coal rom tne Ias' .s That is expensive and besides coal is drawn rom 'e Atlantic seaboard which might be wanted nere IL pinch either for local consumption or TOT shlpphe And as our experience this winter has warned us efficient use of transportation facilities may be vita consideration Chairman Peabody or the coai pIouu s tion committee of the National Council ol Deleise s told a Senate committee that shipping coal rom tne West Virginia fields to California is "a most horrl ble misuse of equipment Although the Coast IS all made that the supply has been drawn down by the war demand that the Southern Pacific railroad @ which has long used oil burning locomotives mas teen compelled go back to coal on parts or US system
 Accordingly at this time Alaska finds outside sup port appealing to Congress for legislation to promote the development of these natural resources lie Alaska Bureau of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Club has adopted resolutions praying for the enactment of policy that will encourage the prospector and invite capital to open the fuel re gions on a csale commensurate with the prospect ID the East the idea prevails because the government is 
 the problem is being solved. The government enter prise will useful far it but actually Il does not touch the real problem As for oil, Alaska imports thousands of barrels annually for domestic consumpton-an extraordinary illustration of carrying coals to Newcastle
 The case of Alaska reflects grieyous national situation respecting public lands development De veopment, halted by the countrywide uprising in be conservation of this nations resources some years ago. has not since been resumed on anything approaching the former scale The conservation laws called for readjustment of methods, and the war has caught us with the process scarcely begun.
 The other day the Senate passed bill to encour age 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 because the House and Senate could not agree certain d tails They will probably because the con ditions demand immediate remedy. But apparently Alaska will receive much benefit from the legisla tion Conditions in the Territory require special policy
 The difficulties and the risks of exploitation are manfestly greater there than in the public lands oi the States. The government of British Columbia where conditions similar, offers Inducements to the prospector and capitalist which proving highly effective The system should have the consideration of Congress. Some such policy might be engrafted on the bill in course of enactment embodied in special Alaska act.