The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-04-29
Expect 100000 Ton. This Year.

Expect 100000 Tons This Year. It is predicted that this year more than 100000 tons of coal will be taken from the mines and hauled on the government railroad and that ir a comparatively short time the ships of the Navy in the Pacific ocean can get their coal from Alaska.
 All of the coal mined last year was used in Alaska and most of it by the railroad which hauled it. The fact that the local demand was met by local production is looked upon as showing net gain of more than 50, 900 tons in the tonnage for use of the United States and its allies. Had it been necessary to ship this coal from the Pacific coast of continental United States. the entire cargo space of two ships of the size of the U. S transport Cook would have been re quired for the whole season.
 Increased Fish Food Production. Another striking effect of the speed up policy which all Alaska adopted was the great increase during 1917 of fish food production; the total val. ues of fish products jumped from s22.O0O.OOO to $42.0OO.O00. almost double. In 1917 Alaska sent to the United States more than 250,000, ,000 pounds of canned salmon alone, an increase of 22.000, ,000 pounds over the output of the previous year. During the same period Alaska fishermen harvested from her seas and rivers nearly 12.0O0,000 pounds of fresh fish, other than salmon, an increase over 1916 of more than 100000 pounds, and in the way of smoked, dried and other cured fish Alaska exported more than 6,50O.0O0 pounds. an in crease of something more than 1.000,- 900 pounds over 1916 Altogether, Alaska sent out of her borders in 1917 more than 26S S.5O0,0OO pounds of fish food, or more than 25,000,000 pounds above her production of 1916.
 Secretary Lanes Comments.
 Secretary of the Interior Lane, who has charge of Alaskan affairs, com menting on the 1917 record made by the territory, said:
 "The results at this time, with a greater part of the world hungry, are most gratifying. Alaska has an en- ergetic, patriotic pioneer population which understands fully what the war means, although so far removed from the seat of action. Every citizen is enlisted in the effort to increase pro- duction, knowing that the greatest good Alaska can accomplish is in a recent bulletin, declares that the use of this country and the allies at this moment. The results last year show the effect of organized, patriotic ac- tion. This year will yield far greater results"
 Geological Survey Statement.
 The United States Geological Sur vey, in a recent bulletin, declares that the most important event of the year in connection with coal mining in Alaska was the completion of the Matanuska branch of the government railroad. The survey places the coal production of Alaska in 1917 at 61,000 tons. valued at s3OO,OOO. with the largest production coming from the Eska creek mines in the Matanuska field. Coal also was mined at the Doherty mine in the Matanuska field, at the Bluff Point mine on Cook In let, on Cache creek, and near Candle. The high-grade coal on Chickaloon river is now being opened by the Alaskan Engineering Commission for it's own use in the construction and operation of the railroad, the coal lands in the Nenana field have been subdivided for leasing by private parties. and the government road is being pushed southward to this field from Nenana on the Panama river. It is believed the railroad will reach this field and make the coal available for river shipment this coming sum- mer.