The Alaska daily empire., 1919-12-22
REVIEW MADE OF MINES
 AND UNEMPLOYMENT
Continued from Page One)


 production basis. washing plant is badly needed but the coal, with only . small amount of hand picking, | gives excellent satisfaction for all 1 railroad requirements. The Chicka- | loon mine, of high,grade naval coal, !! is being developed, and it is hoped will shortly be also placed on a production basis.
 In the Bering River field as a result of development work on a lease in the western part of the field, | several good veins of semi-b -bitumin- ous coal have been cut, ranging from 50 inches to l5 feet. Here. too. washed although there are sections of one vein, having good walls, which appear to be very clean. The lessee is very confident that further develop ment work will prove the mine.
 In the matter of coal once more or. There must be an export outlet. It is probable that trans-pacific coaEburning ships will find it ad- vaMageous to establish a coal supply in the Alcutian Islands not far from the great circle sailing routes be the Orient A naval base in Alaska will demand coal in quantity. which can best be supplied from our coal fields. The opening up of the coal fields and their connection with rail and water transportation will event uallv result in the building of smehcr on Prince William Sound. whereat all the ores of the district can he reduced When this happens many of the low-grade mines. not now workable to profit. will become active producers./
 The company operating a mine along the Government railroad near the Little Susitna River has been quite active on small scale during lhe year, the monthly average output being 135 tons. he coal being market cd principally in Anchorage and Seward. quantity however being
 shipped to the copper mine at Latouche for experimental purposes
 In the Nenana field mine has been opened up near mile 336 Of the i Government railroad on the west side of the Ncnana River about 1R
 niles below the point where IIoseana 1 Mignite), Creek flows into the Nena- na The Alaska Engineering Com mission has let contract for 5000 tons to the firm operating at this nont. A fair grade of Ignite was also discovered on the right of way of the railroad at mile 3S7 and contract let for 2.750 tonss As the surveyed coal lands are on the op- Iposite side of the river and are not situated in leasing blocks, some difficulty has been encountered in procuring necessary capital for de- velopment. This situation should be remedied by the Government com- pleting the survey of this portion of the field and placing it into leasing units It is hardly probable that suf- ficient coal can be mined on the west side of the Nenana River to supply the needs of Fairbanks. and steps should be tAken as speedily as isl consistent with the plans of the com mission to construct a branch line into the coal fields proper.
 Petroleum
 It seems probable at present that Congress will enact laws at this 7ession which will permit the develop, ment of oil fields which are known to be of value. Under existing laws aH oil fields are withdrawn from either entry or lease. There is only one patented claim in all of Alaska. A few operators. having faith in ultimate action by the Government, have maintained their interest in the ] Territory for years and have been !; active in endeayoring to procure | which will allow develop | ment. In all fairness surely the | can not much longer | prohibit an industry which means SC | much to the Territory On the one patented claim lying in the Katalla i field the owners are producing. in a l small way, pumping and refining about fifty barrels per day The oil Is very high grade and of paraffin base. The product finds a ready mar-1 ket There arc approximately 1000 gas boats in Alaska. practically al! of which are importing their oils from the States. This demand in it 1 self would create quite an industry. eliminating the still greater demand i for fuel oil used by steamers ana mines IL fs noted that the oil pro. | due.ion and consumption curves have crossed and. if for no other reason ihan' to help reduce the exhorbitant prices now paid for oils. every en- should he held out to the developers of the fields.
 Other Minerals
 Of the other, minerals, it is nee cessary to make comment in addi- ton to that contained in the report of the Geological Survey following. With an increased market and avail. able transportation. Alaska will come ,.ou sn fy,a en,.e, iy, fhe nrofiuction 0s