The Cordova daily times., 1921-03-10

luEARS MAKES STATEMENT OF
 STEWARDSHIP

After hearing Colonel Frederick Mears, as he expressed it "give an ac. count of his stewardship" on his re. cent visit to Washington, where he saw the sundry civil appropriations bill cut 50 per cent, but secured the full amount he had asked for in fin lshing the United States railroad President Frank Reid of the Anchor age chamber of commerce at the luncheon last week, pledged the un- divided support of the chamber to Colonel Mears and his efforts. Colonel Mears states that Dan Sutherland was present at the con- mittee conferences and with Chair. man Good supported all efforts in he. half of Alaska
 In appearing before the chamber and frankly outlining his policy, Col onel Mears set at rest all misunder- standing as to the year 1921. and while not dwelling upon coal de- velopment aside from the outlined schedule, said enough to assure everyone that there would be no curtailment of operations at Eska ! and .Chickaloon.
 It will now be up to the navy de. partment when and how much coal will be required, and upon the initia- tive Of the new secretary of the navy and the demands of Admiral Hugh Rodman, commander of the Pacific fleet, as to when the coal loading station will be erected. The plans covering this phase of Alaskan de- velopment are now in the hands of the proper department for complete survey. These plans include the question of Anchorage as loading base, Seward as an auxiliary base and a station in Dutch Harbor for | the navy and for commercial steam ships, and the Portage bay project i On his visit to Anchorage, Admiral Rodman centered his findings on An chOrage as the main supply base and every question, including thawing plant and season for moving coal to Pacific bases, was touched upon and included in the survey may by Com mander Bowling of the Alaska navy coal commission, assisted by Lieut.. Richard Clifford, engineer of he coal commission.
 He favored storing approximately 100000 tons of coal at Seward to be available when the Anchorage har- bore was closed to navigation. The Portage bay project was shelved With Portland and other cities be- stirring themselves to secure a share of Alaskan trade and receive in turn Alaskan coal, it would appear that private capital now faces the oppor- tunity of a lifetime in getting coal leases opened and preparation made to supply the demand which is com ing shortly.
 Colonel Mears' announcement that the washing plant at Sutton would be available to private enterprise wipes out one of the most serious problems in coal mining-the production of clean coal that will hold market against the coal of British Columbia. Until greater pressure zones are reached, the coal coming from Es- ka and Chickaloon mines will re- main fine and therefore will continue to be steam coal. Future opera tions will determine these pressure zones and with greater compression more lump may be looked for.
 There are many unconfirmed ru- mors of big steamship interests plan ming to contest the Pacific shipping business with Japan. One of these rumors is to the effect that big in- terests are planning a line of ships through the Panama canal, to deliver { cargoes from the Atlantic seaboard to Japan, it having been proved that a carload of freight may be transported in half the time via the canal, as is required to transport it by rail from the Atlantic seaboard.