The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-12-22
OUR COAL CASE

News to have been made by Englneer-in- Charge Browne to the effect that the Alas kan Engineering commission views the lay ing of steel across the Panama river so as to connect Fairbanks with the coal fields as a purely business proposition is a correct interpretation of the views of the commits sion it is possible that the people of this district will be forced to abandon the idea of using coal as fuel for some years. In view of the reasoning upon which such an attitude is adopted it is not unreasonable to conclude that the men in charge of the road $ construction will refuse to make the needed connection until such time as the permanent bridge is put in.
 The Citizen believes that the commis- sion is not justified in it's demand for a guarantee of enough tonnage from the Me- mana coal fields to pay for laying the track Immediate tonnage is not the prime requi- site. MT. Browne's assumption that re- 'quirement on his part of haul that will cover his tracklaying expenses is based on sound business princi ples is itself open to contest. The bona fide business man bases his policies not so much on an immediate return, especially if he be just launching a business proposition, as upon the develop Iment of his trade and the increase in vol ume of sales in the future. It is the excep- tional business that shows a profit at it's outset.
 As far as absolute need of the Nenana lcoal is concerned, at the present time there is little demand for it. The circumstances surrounding the use of wood as a fuel in this country make for such condition In the mining industry, which is the prin- |ciple mainstay of this interior country, it is necessary for the operators to contract for their fuel supply practically twelve months before it can be used The same thing, even tho in lesser way, applies to the individual buyers of fuel in town If we waited until we needed the wood be- fore it was ordered cut and hauled from the woods, the mines would be out of exis- tence and the people freeze to death in their homes. Our fuel supply must be ar ranged for ahead of time. Thus, the oper- ators have contracted for and had delivered wood for the coming season. If they bought coal it would have to be stored for another year before it would be needed, subject to deterioration and tying up money that is needed for other development work.
 The coal, if it can be secured at req sonable rate, offers chance for cheaper fuel. But it will have to be tested on considerable scale before it is known that it can be used efficiently. Cheapness cuts little figure unless it will also serve the miners purposes The operators agree that test is desirable. But they are not going to pack the coal across the Panama river on their backs, nor pay an exhorbitant rate to get it across. If the commission will pro- vide an opportunity that will give the oper- ators and the citizens of Fairbanks chance to prove the desirability of coal as a fuel, the rolling stock and motive power now in use on the line between Fairbanks and north Nenana will be hard pressed to handle the tonnage required to fill the de- mand for fuel next season. There are two sides to every business proposition. MT. Browne has wares to sell in the form of facilities. If he can demon strate that he has a desirable commodity to transport he need have no fear of the ultimate profit of his business.
 Sometimes we feel like we could get better results out of our automobile if we could drive it with a blacksnake whip.-l