The Cordova daily times., 1919-02-11

Kunajiri, Rangoon and Myogisan, had been assigned to the navy Tor use In carrying coal from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast for the big fleet that is to be on the Pacific next summer.
 The navy always refused to use state of Washington coal in it's ships. it maintains that the states soft coals are not of sufficiently high standard for the purpose Merchant ships of all nations and other gov ernment ships of this nation have used state of Washington coal and found it acceptable but not the navy.
 Numerous tests have demonstrated that coal of the Matanuska field in Alaska does meet navy requirements. The navy admits the fact. The extent and character of the coal areas in the Matanuska field have been known for many years. But coal is not con- ing out of the Matanuska field.
 Thus, with the world short of sea tonnage, ships have to be diverted from highly necessary purposes to carry coal from Virginia ports to the Pacific to supply the ships of the navy that are about to be sent to that coast
 Under date of November 20 last, Delegate Wickersham of Alaska, ap- piled to the commissioner of the gen. eral land office for information as to the operations under the leasing law. Under date of January 6, seven weeks later, MT. Wickersham received a re- ply from the commissioner saying:
 "You are advised as follows: CD There are three coal land leases in force in Alaska at this time; CD three tracts are either being mined or prospected under the leases; (3) one lease of 2,42O acres of land in the Boring river field; two leases of 1,400 and LAO acres in the Matanuska field, and none in the Nenana field are being worked or prospected; (4 names of lessees: Boring river field, Falcon Joslin, assigned to Boring River Coal Company, New York building, Seattle, Wash; Matanuska field Oliver La Duke and associates, and Lars Netland, who assigned to the Chickaloon Coal Company, Alaska building, San Francisco, Cal. The first named lease was made June 8, 1918, and embraces blocks Nos. IS, 19, 20, 22, 23 and "A, of the Boring river field, and the other leases were exc. cuted as of February 1, 1917, the first embracing blocks Nos. 2 and 3, the second embracing blocks 10 and Il in ] the Matanuska field.
 "I have no extra copies of any of these leases, but you will find the form, which was substantially fol. lowed, printed in the inclosed eircu- lar, containing coal land leasing law l and regulations. I also inclose a cir cular regarding the part of the Ne mana field which has been surveyed and offered for lease. One applica- tion to lease lands in this field was filed, but was withdrawn after publi, cation of notice of the same.
 My present information is that the La Duke ct al leassees have mined some coal, but that mining is temper arily suspended. Their mine is dist. ant few miles from the government railroad, necessitating a haul by wagon or sled which adds to the cost of mining. The Cchickaloon Com. pany has not progressed beyond the prospecting stage in development under it's lease, although I am told that considerable money has been ex- pended by it in the work. The Boring river lessee is engaged, as I understand it, in prospective work preliminary to opening up a. mine on the land"