The Alaska daily empire., 1920-12-13

>>>>----->>sssas-.-- mine could be so conducted. Tn, Chickaloon mine had not been suffi eiAntly developed to permit of an ac cMrate estimate being made of the 4uAntity Of coal in the mine. It was roughly estimated. however, that there were exposed 250,000 tons ol .a1iifable coal
 J $,ooo,ooo Appropriated
 Congress in appropriation fol "Fnei and Transportation, 1921" pro- vided for the expenditure of $l,00o, 600 to be used for mining and trans. portation of coal from Alaska.
 Following this legislation, the Navy Alaskan Coal Commission, with Commander o. c. Bowling as senior member, was appointed by the De partment and in May, 1920, arrived in Alaska to undertake this work. He; is pressing it with intelligence and diligence"
 The Secretary briefly reviewed TO- suits and observations of his tri' to Alaska last summer and told O. his inspection of the Chickaloop coal mine.
 "This mine is located in leasing unit No. 12,' he said, land contains a total of 480 acres. A shaft ha: been sunk to depth of 571 feet, which opens 16 foot seam of coal with their tunnels at different levels which Inave been used for explorine the coal. Up to July. 1920, total of 9,793 tons of coal have been taken out. There were approximately 150, '800 to 100000 tons in sight. This coal, when washed, comes up to the high Navy standard. On this visit with the Secretary of the Interior by which Navy coal will be washed by the plant operated by the Alaska Railroad, thus obviating what had been supposed would be the necessity of the construction of separate washing plant for the navy coal con- mission. It will hayS capacity of 40 tons per hour and be capable of handling coal mined by both the In terior and Navy Departments"
 Transportation Facilities
 Regarding the transportation facil- ities for getting out the coal, the Secretary says
 %-"The Alaskan Engineering Commits sion under the Department of the Interior has completed a standard gauge railroad from Seward north ward via Anchorage for a distance of 246 miles. This road is ultimately to extend to Fairbanks on the Ia iiana River in Central Alaska, 46S miles from Seward. This railroad is of excellent construction and has in volved the solution of many engin- eering problems, particularly the con- struction of the road over the moun- tain range between Seward and An chorage, presenting many difficulties. The bridge over the Susitna River will have an arch second only 70 that of Hell Gate. From Seward to Anchorage the road crosses the mountains on 2.2 per cent grade The branch railroad leaves the main line at Matanuska, which is 37 miles from Anchorage. and goes to the Navy Chickaloon mines, a distancs of 37 miles from Matanuska and 74 miles from Anchorage
 "At Anchorage a rock and ballasteG mole has been constructed from the shore with wharf 300 feet long at it's end, running parallel with the axis of the harbor (Knik Arm). ani in about 30 feet of water at low tide. This mole stood the test of the weather last winter and is in excellent condition It is intended to further extend the mole so that the wharf will be on the 36-foot lin !. at low water. There is a small har Dor at Seward where the water is open all the year and is navigable in winter weather.
 Conclusions Reached
 "The best expert opinion is that the indications of a large supply oi coal satisfactory for the Navy's pu.. poses is such as to warrant ene,. getic continuation of the exploration work in the Chickaloon mines, and
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