Douglas Island news., 1920-06-04
TO MINE COAL
 IS THEIR PLAN
Naval Commission Now in Western Alaska Have Come North
 With But One Idea

"Wo came north Go mine coal" was tho straightforward answer Of Commander C. E Bowling Of Che navy commission. when asked yes- tcrday afternoon what was Che pur- pose ol Che navy commission on Che present trip Commander Bowling and his aides arrived ou Che Aia- mcda yesterday afternoon and will remain in Seward several days stud- yue thc situation at th.s end and win chen eo to Che Mauuuska coal fields. Che scene of where thc coh miasione activities win center
 Accompanying Commander Dowl- ing are Lieut. w. F. Hu. Lieut. U J. McNanus. L.out phu J. Weiss. Lieut. Harry H Tptm and Lieut. R T Cannon
 Commander Bowling and Lieut. m are accompanied by the.r vivo
 and Lieut. WciH is accompanied by hs sister The comm ion party Is making their headquarters at Che Hotel Seward while .u tho city.
 Commander Bowling looked a triac surprised yesterday anoaoon when asked for the purpose of Che navy .lmm. .ou. u.s auavcr however. came quickly and was os different from Che answers Of others heads of commissions aa there Is between day and night
 The navy comm .ou now n AIas- la has come for work
 0thc- comm s.ous. and their num- b.- scem to have beeu legion. have come to report, and chen ths has been forgotten
 According Co advance reports and from information obtained from Che members of One present commission. mining of coa win bc started iu thc Manuuka fields for Che Pacific 1cct Of Che American navy The lai uu be or should be- shipped Go raueablc water Tac primary thing Is to get One coal from Che earth and edition location where navy ships may have It for uao at any time Of tbe ycar whom wanted lf the pros- n, comm .on accomplshc th.s purpose t win harc donc what other commissions to Alaska. an put together have only thought oC not attempted
 Commander Bowling is am im- ur.a.yc man. impro,ses one like O reaf commander and one who means business Tbc other members of thc .omm.s ion also eivo one tho fine
 n. mnre ion that ney are dii- arcnt from members of former come missions scnt to Alaska. and have .omc Go execute. not to report
 There continually floats around section of Alaska that in some fu- lure Umc Portage Bay win be 9 site for con, buukcr and coai.ur
 station On Che map Portage Bay looks ube good suggestion. but Che twelve miles of railroad which would have to be built from Che present government railroad Co Portage Bay win not be built In a uieht There H practically five miles of tunnel work and tbon part Of Che roadway would !e8d over something that mo one seems to know cactly whether ftisa surface glacier or one oXtond- me down into Che earth for a great distance Then millions of dollars would have to bc spent in clearing out reefs. rocks and other prevonta- uyoa to navigation before any sane commander would attempt amy man. covering m Che bay On Che map. Portage Bay looks feasible but 'u reality a fortune would have to be
 spent to make chat location ayail- able Anchorage and Seward are. therefore. according to reports Of commissions. thc only two practical points for the outlet of Che Mata- ruska coat Seward Gateway