The Cordova daily times., 1921-02-02
BROWN COAL IN
 ALASKA SOON
 BE DEVELOPED

Utilization of Alaska's vast deposits Of brown coal, hitherto classified as valueless from a commercial and in- dustrial standpoint, through a process Of distillation, will probably be under taken in the near fuelre, according to statement made by Governor | Thomas Riggs, who believes that the problem heretofore confronting Alas ka in connection with this coal has been solved by Dr. F. Frank, of San Francisco, chemist of national promi- hence. Dr, Frank predicts revolution ary changes in the smelling, coking and chemical industries as the result of his researches.
 Dr. Frank has been studying and ex- perimenting with. Alaska brown coal fir several yeabs, and has advised Gov. Rigge that he has, by laboratory experimenting produced a process for tEe utilization of this fuel which has been so successful that it was decided to build full size commercial expert mental plant for practical uses. The pant, which is now under construc- tion in Oakland, Calif., will be capable of working up from 10 to 30 tons of coal per day and according to Dr. Frank, twill demonstrate on a practi- cal scale just what we can and what we cannot do." That it is not promotion scheme" for purposes of selfish exploitation, is indicated by the statement of Dr. Frank that the capital, $100,00O has been entirely furnished by his associ- ates who have formed the Thermo- Catalysis Inc, and the new plant is owned by that company. The machin- cry, it was stated, was being delivered the first of this year and the wheels end of February.
 There are vast deposits of this fuel in Alaska, according to Gov. Riggs. It lies in thick layers all along the shores of Cook Inlet where it is easily accessible to tidewater shipping. Cor respondence has already taken place between Dr. Frank, Gov. Riggs and the department of interior and ar engagements made for the former to have access to several leasing units in the Cook inlet country in the develop ment of the industry. Dr. Frank also stated to Gov, Riggs that he had writ ten Assistant Secretary of the Interior Vogelsang saying that it was pre- ferred to get results from practical tests at the new factory before sub mitting definite proposition to the department, 1t being very difficult to make any offer which is based on a process which runs on it's face con- trary to accepted and established practice such as the one that has been developed. Dr. Frank states also I've believe that in two or three months Il we can convince all the skeptics by pointing to a real practical plant. In ~EAAS SFOASJ FNo AohFS CAOu5h SOn1luSuCS in the process to risk our own money we believe that if successful, it will bring about great changes in the smelting, coking and chemical indus tries.
 Brown coal, according to Dr. Frank, lends itself to extraction better than the higher grades of lignites. The res- idue becomes finely divided coke which could be be used for power plants. Amonia gas, tar, paraffine oil, tutuol oil, heavy lubricating oils and fuel oil are all produced from the brown coal by distillation.
 Dr. Franks investigations were started prior to the entry of the Unit ed States into the war were halted by that and he entered the service of the government as a chemist. Since 1918 he has devoted himself to perfecting his process. He was in Alaska for several weeks last summer and has made several previous trips to the territory studying conditions and the brown coal fields. Dr. Frank Is also authority for the statement that the wild grasses along Cook inlet are es- pecially adopted for the manufacture of grass paper.