The Cordova daily times., 1919-04-03
BERINC COAL
 TO BE TESTED
 FOR THE NAVY

Various departments of the govern. ment from time to time have investi- gated the Alaskan coal fields, and on odd occasions serious efforts have been made to develop these resources The bureau of mines, the Alaskan en gineering commission and the forestry service have all done their little bit in the way of Investigating, and now the United States navy is preparing to make an effort to bring about some real development.
 The general appropriation bill which failed of passage at the last congress carried an item of s1 ,000, ,00( which was to have been expended under the direction of the navy de partment in developing the Matanuska and Boring river coal fields in order to obtain coal for naval vessels oper ating on the Pacific.
 Work Oeferred for Year
 The bill will be brought up for pas sage as soon as congress reconvenes and the item doubtless will be allowed to remain. The failure of the bill tc pass at the last congress simply de ferred the work for a year.
 The navy, acting in conjunction with the bureau of mines operating ir both fields several years ago, taking out several hundred tons of coal foI testing purposes. The fuel from the Matanuska field was tried out in the battleship Maryland and was found far superior to that from the Poca hontas field of West Virginia, the naval coal used for steaming purposes The coal from the Boring river field proved unsatisfactory, but many who were in position to know contend that the test was not fair One-in that no care was taken in mining the coal from the Boring river field, and rocks and gravel were shoveled into material was allowed to lie on the the sacks with the coal, and that the beach for a year, where it was washed by the tides and absorbed a large per. centage of salt.
 To Make Another Test
 The navy department probably will make another test of the Boring river coal under the appropriation which will be passed soon after the reconven ing of congress.
 Under the leasing bill, which was passed by congress in 1914, after lot of public sentiment had been worked up for it by Clifford Pinchot and the rabid conservationists, the fields did not receive the development which it was anticipated would take place.
 Individuals or corporations were un willing to expend large sums in the development of properties which they held under government lease, this lease, under the regulations, being little more than a permit. The lessee was bound to keep his part of the con. tract, but the government reserved the privilege of changing the regula, tions under which the lease could be operated at any time it deemed it wise and expedient to do so.
 Development Work Under Way
 About a year ago this regulation was changed and more favorable form of lease was formulated. Since that time two leases have been taken in the Boring river field, and develop ment work there is now under way. A light railroad has been built from the coast to the field by private en- terprise, and whether or not the navy department does any actual work In the field, 1t doubtless will be given an opportunity to make another test Of the coal. The lessees will have the coal to sell, and the navy department is a prospective customer.
 One of the somewhat remarkable developments in connection with the legislation affecting these fields is the fact that the department of the interior has finally given tardy but none the less vigorous endorsement to the attitude taken by the Times seven years ago.
 Conservation Craze Opposed
 When the conservation craze was at it's height and practically every department of the government was
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