The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-26
ALASKACAN
FILL COAST
Coal BINS
$1,000, 900 lob at Chica-
loon Awakens America to
Territory's Possibilities
ny LEE ,. SHIFTS


moment the outstanding hope for q
lasting answer 10 the coal question
IN America. and by winter the first
effects Of the timorous tapping OF
our great northern treasure house
should be felt
small mountains OF the highest
grade coal are hcspcd up at Chica-
loon, and construction crews under
the direction Of naval officers are
rushing work on q washing plant 50
that the coal may be transported TO
Seward and made available for the
Pacific fleet
AFFECTS EVERY INDUSTRY
IN UNITED STATES
Tho mililon-doiiar JOB under way
at Chicaioon affects every household.
every industry In the United states.
II promises the Independence OF
the Pacific coast from Eastern fuel
sources aud the ultimate end OF The
costly shipment OF fuel thru the Pan
ANA canal and over the continent.
The navy Is about 10 make use OF
q few pinches OF natural wealth so
vast that surveys and explorations
and estimates thus far made have re-
v~aied only a small percentage OF IL
Present activity in the eastern
NAtxnuska coal field prcsages the
awakening OF America 10 the real
value OF her last frontier.
Transportation OF coal to Ncwcas'
Gle. the classic example Of economic
folly. has for years been duplicated
on . large scale In the shipment Of
coal and fuel oil to Alaska from the
States and from British Columbia
MOUNTAINS
Or COAL
The United States geological sur
10y says. In anaiyzing coal prospects
b Alaska: 1T Is therefore probably
GAfe to say that the minimum esti
mate OF Alaska's coal resources
should be placed at 1900 .ooo. 900
sons and that the actual tonnage
may Be many times that amount"
Such An array Of cyphers makes
but . haxy impression on any mind
that does not function as an adding
machine. But the next statement Of
ths government u more comprchcn-
oible:
These figures indicate coal re-
sources far In excess Of the original
coal supply Of Pennsylvania
The governors OF SIX New England
otAtes last month assembled reports
on the fuel outlook and were faced
By the realization that the Pacific
coast made heavy demands on cast.
ern coal. requiring so-day roundtrip
tourneyu for the cars.
Al the very time the detailed IN
formation was published there was
shipped thru tho Panama canal In
one week. for navy uses. i1.Tss tons
u the highest grade coal
lrPHERSON WRITES
10 SIX GOVERNORS
J. l. Mcpherson. manager Of the
Alaska bureau Of the Commercial
club. wrote to the SIX governors. CIV
ing them . glimpse Of the conditions
that have placed Alaskan resources
under lock and key and then lost the
key.
McPherson, himself An Alaskan
pioneer. has led the prolonged cam
paign to awaken eastern politicians
20 the problems Of the territory.
In seeking the explanation OF Alas
ka's long sleep. with an entire popu-
lation of but about $4,000. including
1000 natives. two predominant fac
tors are encountered.
The chaotic supervision Of
Alaskan affairs by /, govern
mental bureaus. overlapping.
conflicting and confused In funo
ton and authority.
A rigid conservation policy
prompted by the costly expert
ences Of the United States with
exploiting corporations that have
grabbed natural resources and
have exploited them regardless
Of general welfare.
BUREAUCRACY Is
NOBODY'S FAULT
The bureaucratic government r.
the fault of no one In particular.
Administrative questions are passed
from Alaska 10 Washington and
back again. frequently with stop
overs At Seattle, until the mae Of
red tape completely throttles many
q pioneering plan.
The conservation policy has kept
capital. big and little. out Of Alaska
Leasing laws. including the new
law for the opening OF the on fields.
have not met Alaskan needs, Il Is
asserted.
Two bills. now awaiting the con.
sideration OF congress, are designed
70 open the way for settlement in
Alaska; the Curry bill In the house
and the New bill in the senate. From
these measures IL Is expected TO
shape legislation which will give TO
Alaska a government Of It's own: a
territorial commission, OF Aiaskans,
empowered to bring IN the settlers
and capital necessary for the con
quest Of the last frontier.