The daily Alaska citizen., 1919-03-18
LOCAL ORGANIZATION LAUNCHES DRIVE FOR
 GOVT POWER PLANT

llC SlOSdu O1 IlC hdlly Aldohd NiliLSi, "ALASKA CAN PAY THE NATIONS WAR DEBT" was unqualifiedly endorsed last night by the Alaska Chapter of the Amer ican Mining Congress when that organization enthusiastically adopted the report of the power committee as rendered by Chairman John A. Davis The extent of the investiga- tions of the above committee is shown fully by the report which is published in this issue of The Citizen.
 That the claims of Alaska's boosters are strictly conservative is indicated by the facts contained therein Experienced mining oper- ators who have spent years in the north esti- mate that there are 220,OOO,OOO cubic yards of gold bearing dirt worth more than $1OO,- 100000 ready to be worked when cost of pro- duction justifies the undertaking. The en- ergy required for the undertaking is placed at 10000 horsepower and the cost of installing the machinery necessary for producing and transmitting such energy is placed at S0,OO0.- ]OOO
 The report of the committee shows that not only the mining industry but also the agri- cultural industry and commercial life of the north are largely dependent upon the advent of cheaper power. In adopting this report the local chapter instructed the committee to prepare a bill covering its recommendations and embodying the power project. This will be forwarded together with the report to the National headquarters of the American Min ing Congress, at Washington, with the re- quest that every effort be made to secure the enactment of legislation submitted. The re- port of the committee follows in full
 INTRODUCTION
 The question of cheaper power stands out above all other conditions and requirements of the Interior of Alaska because it is the one Ipre-eminent and imperative need of the min ing industry of this vast country, and the key and cornerstone of all future mining develop ment. The placer workings, upon which this part of Alaska has been so dependent in the past, have reached the point where the cream has been skinned from most of the bonanzas and where future production must be had from dredging, or by some other mechanical means on large scale, the abundant lower grade gravels which yet remain. This is en- tirely out of the question with the present high cost of power. Lode mining, also, for any but the highest grade of ore is unthinkable under the present fuel conditions. THE FUEL SITUATION When the placer mines near Fairbanks were discovered in 1902, an abundance of fuel for power was to be had on the tree-cad Islopes and bottoms of the valleys. Wood was plentiful and could be obtained at reasona- ble cost. But after five or six years of using this timber as fuel shortage of wood began Ito be apparent which has increased and grown more stringent annually, and we have reach led the condition today where practically all ot the valuable timber on the important older cheeks has been cut and burned, and on sev- Ieral of them even the very stumps have beer torn out of the ground and used for fuel The cost of fuel wood has increased to the point where price of $16OO or $17.OO per cord is 5000 few years ago.
 Nenana Lienite
 Fuel is abundant, however, in the Nena ma field. Healy creek is estimated by the Geo. logical Survey to have more than 3,8oO,OO0- 900 tons and Lignite creek more than 5,7OO,- 100000 tons.
 Analyses show that this Ignite will contain from 20 to 30 per cent moisture 35 to 40 per cent of volatile matter, and that even the bet ter grades have not much more than S,OO0| b. t. u. per pound. They emphasize the fact that the fuel is lignite and not coal and, there fore, has number of disadvantages inherent in that type of fuel.
 Because of the moisture content freight charges must be paid on 800 to 600 pounds ot useless water in every ton of Ignite that is shipped to the consumer, and in addition the ton of raw Ignite does not represent ton ot fuel, but only l,4OO or 1,5O0 pounds When