Douglas Island news., 1919-05-23
U. s. NAVY WANTS
 ALASKA COAL
Naval Committee Investigating AL asba Coal Beds Fay0ubly
 Impressed


 from .b UaauusEu ig.d a' mile, from Au.borasc. lr Che bitumiuou. arrr.. u lU, .uur. ul development meet tbe present expectations ot th, commission appointed by Che sccrc Gar, r. bc navy to investigate Alas Gl beJs v.It yieV io ohtIiuIn- .f.ammr .mru. for varsh.ra The Nauuu.su uHJ. controlled by thc government and subject to rcscryo- rm for iH exclusive use close Co rleuatcr and connected with federal vEsraee sites Hy Q government rail- rolT uT.r. Go .He navy advantages 10 auao. acquire elsewhere
 tuau.. ot hc bigh-eradc 0ual- iy of tH. coal. confidence iu thc lar.r quantity or tGc deposits and arrr,.r uI .ur G.l to devote part %. tn. .#I .u Che usc ol tbc navy v.r. expressed following thor us.. investigation. by member. of H. naval commission.
 rr. commission consists of Cap rn s F. w N.u.Ir. Captain L. E Gr..ury rI Lieutenant b. A.amu. rrr.G s..... naval officers from che ruee. Sumd navy yard. Uremerroa W..u. sumu.. s smith. head oI rHe .oa. mining department of che Alaskan Eara.ru Commission and TrroIo-. gH.p.u. of tHc United sares geological survey. both or whom Hrt. tH..r headquarters n Nn.Hnae.
 Al tH. u..n.. O. tHe navy de- urrm.nt ....r... tNu years ago passed . Mu .nronr.uue Sl.ooo.- ... ur m.esus..ra and developing m a nr.mr.r. way. tor naval uur nu..s coat G.r..e m Alaska hu. mr hu wa. repealed before amy of m. funds u.r. nl. tu use. Tho de m-mr. nIu Hat another br urH- similar appropriation .ru b. introduced at tHe special session %. .uuer.- The wording %. thc hu |. tH.r .siUHU.Nn0 or s0 much ,r.r.u- . may na necessary m f.. discretion nI rU. secretary of tH. navy. may he H-.I uy U.m m m'rrr coat ur contracting for th. .mr m t.... u ,uH porting che same auH m providing Che necessary du.s. .n- usr m supplying Lips herewith. and Che secretary of che navy s hereby authorized to select from .re nrHH. Onl. lands rl Alaska such area. as m.r ho necessary for uss by him .or .ae purpose herein stated
 aTrr navy want. cp.I" said Cgu. rm EreIr. chairman or tHc com mission. m .,nH.uue tbe eo1I-aul mtr.HeaHuu rr H.m and lssociotgs. .THr navy wants .ual u thc Pacific. Tue navy want. UnaiH. coal u tbc rguH. Tt.rtr.It know from press report. fm. m. Pacific ro.. t. to bc r.,.HHu.r.. m much larger .uIe tHm heretofore 10 probably uU. G reports ar. correct. bc % strong u..t u. au types ol war vcs- sells. from dryaIuau-ht. t1 suhm1- rrr .ha.ers Vessels ol fH.s fleet may be operating in Alaskan waters for ar adequate naval coal supply mru1Iy therefore. che necessity for am gdreurt, naval coal supply .ru be readily realized
 .THc nav. commission is charged witch Che futy ul aseerta.nur iuso- ur n. possible thc detailed facts r.uur. .u .rc quantity of coal ez- sms m re Nafanu.ka beds. Che transportation facilities from Che place of production to udcvator. thc pier and water facilities. and Che availability of labor
 "We shah make our report to Che navy department. which. In turn. win decide upon @ plan and then probably submit its recommendations to congress ] have no hositoncy In saving tcsts of 'ra,urussa coal have shown 10 possesses aU Che necessary stcammG qualities. Tho commission has visited Che Gelf and personally. ] ann inclined ta believe Che beds can bc developed to produce odc- ruatc quantities for navy use. Ccr- taiuIy thc navy hopes Che field win prove Iiwitless
 'It view or che fact that congress ras once made a generous appropri- stior for Che purpose of developing Che uauuu-Ea coal field. It seems reasonable to suppose because or Che continuing need of che navy. cha, Che appropriation win bc renewed.
 Captain Gregory hopes Che deyel ormeu. of tFe NltauusEa field by thc navy win ucccssitatc his return Go Alaska.
 "l ann encouraged to believe" Inc said. "that Che naval commissous visit to Che Nutuuuska field win lead Go practical benefits Go Che navy. and one ot its results. sincerely hope win bc to occasion another trip by me Co Alaska In tbc future"
 The great benefit chat would ac cruc Go Alaska incidentally Co th, operation of units In tbe Matanusk, field by Che navy s emphasized bl