Douglas Island news., 1919-01-17

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 thc production of mineral fuels in ! Alaska in 1918. and lt is believed that substantial coal-miniug indus |try has at last started The output of coal in 1918 was about 77OOO tons. valued at Si35.OOO, compared with 53.955 tons valued at S2G5,- |317 in l9l7 The larger part came from the Matanuska field. which ! yielded 63.2OO tons The remainder came from eight or ten small mines ! iu various parts of the territory. All these mines. except in Che Matonus- ka and Boring River fields and u Port Graham. produced coal for To- cal use under frcc-use permits.
 In Che Matauuska field thc Eska Creek mines were operated regularly throughout Che year by the Alaskan Engineering Commission Co supply fuel for railroad and other govern mcut use. At che Chickaloou mine, also operated by Che Alaskan En- ginccring Commission, the work has consisted primarily of exploration and development, and only a small amount Of coal. won incidentally, has been produced. In 1918. for the first time. Matanusla coal was shipped beyond Anchorage Private operations preparatory to mining were continued by two lcssecs in Che Matuuuslla field, but their mines arc not yet productive.
 10 is reported that in the Boring River field the railroad has been cX- tended from its temporary terminus on Boring River Co Che mine of the Alaska Petroleum & Coal Company. in Che custcru part of Che field, and that small shipments of scmianthra- cite coal were made late in the year . A lease was granted In 1918 Co am 'other company for a tract Of somi- 'bitummous coal land in the western part of the field, and it is reported .that cxtcusiv operations preparatory Co mining are being undertaken.
 No Leases Granted
 In the Ncnana field mo leases have yet been granted, but small amount of Ignite was mined for use in the construction of the railroad
 In tho Cook inlet region Ignite was mined at Blun Point, on Port Graham. in thc Cache Creek district and on Little Susino River for local markets.
 In Northern Alaska Ignite mined near Uualal,li, on Norton Sound. was shipped Co Nome and SC. Michael, and uguitc mined on Kobuk River was shipped Co Kotzcbuc. It is re- ported that Ignite will be mined on Kugruk River. Seward Peninsula, during che coming winter for use at the placer mines on the nma- chuk.
 The Alaska petroleum output Is sum derived wholly from the single patented claim in the Katalla field. The old wells on this claim and the refinery wore operated as usual, and two new productive wells were drill ed. The total production was some 'what larger than i'm 1917.
 Tin Mining
 About 94A tons of cassitcrito, containing l13.OOO pounds of tin,was mined in Alaska in 1918. Most of this came from the York district, Seward Peninsula, where one Gin dredge was operated. Stream tin was also obtained by sluicing ot one mine in the York district and at , several mines in tho Hot Springs district Considerable work was done on the Lost River Gin lodes but no orc was mined The examin- ation of placer concentrates by Jh' Geological Survey has resulted in the discovery of stream tim i'm com centratcs from Ycntna River in aucl amount as to indicate that it possibly occurs i'm commercial quantities, and also in small amounts ip concen' trates from Boog Creek, in the Tol
 stel district; from Willow Creek
 near Nome; and from Riglagalil 7 River. fin the Kuskokwim delta. , The discovery of placer tin hal , been reported from Potato and Hum
 boldt Creeks. on Seward Peninsula and from Moran Creek, a tributary of the Mclozi River, where the gray , els are said to contain 2iA pounds o tim and 19 cents worth of gold t' , the cubic yard.
 r Miscellaneous Mining 8 Among the miscellaneous metallic
 products silver was produced iI