The Nenana daily news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1918-1921, 1918-05-11
LYNN EXPLORING
COAL BODY NEAR
RAILROAD GRADE
Discovery of Fuel at New Location
May Hasten Delivery at Towns
On River.

coal of the veins discovered in a
cut on the right of way near Resi-
dency 3 (35-mile), Mr.. W. J. Lynn
has sunk a shaft to the depth of
about 80 feet on the roadbed close
to the bank on which the coal out
groupings are plainly shown.
This coal outcropping was re-
ferred to in a report made to the
Alaskan Engineering commission
some time ago by Resident Engineer
George B. Richardson, and was pub
lished in these columns. Two veins
are clearly defined on the face of
the cut in a sandstone formation,
and, according to a miner with con-
siderable experience in the coal min
ing business, sufficient indications
were present of the existence of
third vein at lower level, to and
running parallel with the two ex-
posed veins. 1t would appear to
be the accepted theory in the bust
ness of coal mining that where out
groupings of many veins are found,
the lowest one invariably is the
largest and best developed vein,
while the quality of the coal is al
ways much superior to that found
in the veins OVERLAPPING it.
At depth of 25 feet from the
roadbed a vein of coal about five
feet thick was encountred, but the
quality of the coal did not seem to
be very good, the percentage of
moisture being very high. Billy
Lynn, who is working the shaft all
by himself, thought that he had
struck another vein several feet be-
low the one encountered on the 25-
foot level, but was unable to give
this as his definite opinion because
the water came in at this juncture,
forcing him to abandon operations
temporarily. He thinks that he has
reached the level of the river bed
and may have to abandon the shaft
altogether, and to satisfy himself
as to the feasibility of continuing
on down with the shaft in search
for the big lower vein, means to
pump out the shaft and put his
theory to the test.
AS stated in these columns some
time ago, it was the opinion of a
mining man that the pitch of the
coal as shown in the outcropping
veins, could be followed to the hills
beyond, where all of the veins could
be uncovered by stripping the over
hang and the coal mined to advant
age without mourning the additional
expense of having to sink a shaft
for it. To do this, considerable
prospecting will have to be under
taken with even chances of success.
1t is probable that should the water
hamper operations to any great ex-
tent, Billy Lynn may do some pros
pecting elsewhere and uncover the
vein he is in search of on the hill
side and well away from any fear
of water trouble.
A small quantity of coal has been
hoisted from the shaft and will
probably be used to fire the boiler
OF Piledriver No. 2, which is now
engaged in driving the piles for the
bank erosion and flood protection
scheme on Residency 3 (35-mile)
and withina hundred yards of Billy's
mine. He does not, however, look
for very promising results from the
use of this fuel here, owing to the
high percentage of moisture it
carries.
Apparently the tests and analysis
made of the Ignite coal to deter
mine it's composition and qualities
have not been very exhaustive and
it is therefore very difficult mat
ter to figure on what should nearly
be the proper percentage of moisture
this fuel ordinarily is supposed to
carry. In table which summarizes
the composition of Alaskan Goals,
published in a pamphlet containing
the regulations governing the coal
land leases in the territory, under
the head of Ignite, the following