Douglas Island news., 1919-03-21
ALASKA COAL
 FOR U. 5. NAVY
Further Tests Are to Be Made of Coal From Alaskan Fields
 Very Soon

Coal From Alaskan Fields
 Very Soon
 Various departments of the gov crnment from time to lime have in- vestigatcd the Alaskan coal fields. and on odd occasions serious efforts havo been made to develop these re- sources The Bureau of Mines, the Alaskan Engineering Commission and the Forestry Service have an done their little bit in the way of in- vcstigating and now the United States Navy Is preparing to make an effort to bring about some real development
 The general appropriation bin which failed of passage at the last Congress carried an item of Sl.OOO.- OOO which was 10 have been ox- pended under the direction of the Navy Department in developing the Matanuska and Boring River coal fields in order Co obtain coal for naval vessels operating on the Pa cific.
 Work Deferred for Year
 The bin will be brought up for passage as soon as congress recon venes and the item doubtless will bc allowed to remain. The failure Of the bin to pass at the last Congress sim ply deferred the work for year
 The Navy acting in conjunction with the Bureau Of Mines, operat- ing in both fields several years ago. taking out several hundred tons Of coal for testing purposes. The fuel from the Matanuska field was tried out i'm the battleship Maryland and was found far superior 10 that from the Pocahontas field of West Vir- ginia. the naval coal used for steam ing purposes. The coal from the Der ing River field proved unsatisiac- tory, but many who were in posi- ton Co know contend that the test was not a fair one-in that no care was taken in mining the coal from the Boring River field, and rocks and gravel were shoyeled into the sacks with the coal, and that the ma terial was allowed to lie on the beach for a year where it was wash ed by the tides and absorbed a large percentage 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 rcconvening of Congress.
 Under the leasing bin. which was passed by Congress in l9li, after a lot of public sentiment had been worked mp for it by Clifford Piuchot and the rabid conscrvationists. the fields did not receive the develop ment which it was anticipated would take place.
 Individuals or corporations were unwilling to cxpend large sums in the development of properties which they held under government lease this lease. under the regulations be- ing little more than a permit. The lessee was bound to keep his part of the contract. but the government reserved the privilege of changing the regulations under which thc lease could be operated at any time it deemed it wise and expedicnt 10 do so.
 Development Work Under Way
 About a year ago this regulation was changed and a more favorable form of lease was formulated. Since that time two leases have been taken in the Bering River field, and de- velopment work there is now under way. A light railroad has been built from the coast to the field by private enterprise, and whether or not the Navy Department does any actual work in the field, it doubt less will be given an opportunity 10 make another test of the coal. Tho lessees will have the coal to sell. and the Navy Department is a pros pective customer
 One of tho somewhat remarkable developments in connection with the Legislation affecting these fields is the fact that the Department Of the Interior has finally given a tardy. but none the less vigorous endorse ment 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 spending thousands Of dollars to take these lands out of the hands of the men who had located and start ed development work on them, The Times was the first newspaper Co oppose this view. It held that as a matter of justice and eXpediency the coal lands should be developed un- der the then existing laws-tho law of private ownership of land-the tav under which the great West