The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-12-09
Balm MAKES
REPORT UPON
INDUSTRIES
CONTINUED From Page Oae.)

over the pr 1lem OF how TO bring that
coal into use has been waged long
| and bitter controversy. No good
purpose would be served by review
ing this ancient ground OF difference.
! The practical problem is what can
now be done to bring out such coal
as can be used and how the coal
! fields can be made to contribute to
| TIL development of the Territory
WIN ch the country Is a whole desires
and the common good demands.
/ These arc problems not new to the
Blrclu Oh Mines"
A summary Of the problems con
fronting the bureau in the develop
mont OF the coal fields is givcl, be
ginning VIA the Investigation made
in 1911 by the first director CT the
bureau, the late Joseph A. Holm rs.
when he visited beth the Mltanuskl
and Boring River fields and gave
personal attention to the problems
involved The difficulties experienced
by the Alaska Engineering Commits
sion in the development of the Eska
mine is also given.
Commercial Features
In discussing the commercial fea-
lures of mining coal in the Mata
nuska district the report states.
"The local market for coal is lin
tied and is satisfied with coal Ct
lower heating power, which, more
over, can be mined at less price and
in coarser sizes. The Chickaloon coal
unfor; unately is friable. and, being
mixed with rock and dirt, must be
washed before being used. The cost
of washing and loss involved are inn
portant factors in the final price OF
any shipping product, and the fine
ness, as to size. of the coal which
can be sent to market severely linn
its the field within which it can
meet competition
THE possible markets for Chcka
loon are
90 The navy, which desires a
: smokeess coal of high heating value
for burning under forced draft and
can use t. advantage such coal as
the Chickaloon despite the handicaps
mentioned Under tile conditions Of
transporting. sorting and handling
coal Inherent in naval service, coarse
sizes cannot be maintained, and So
naval engineers have of necessity
adapted heir methods of burning to
what they have TO use. Engineers
designing land plants rarely have to
meet such conditions. and accordingly |
few of the ordinary steam plants can
burn Chickaloon coal without altera
tons being made and the firemen be-
ing retained.
"(2) Blacksmthing, where the
tendency to cOking causes the fire
ID arch over ana keeps the heat close
% the steel in the forge.
"(3) Coke making. where the in
itial size of the coal PARTICLES is rela-
lively unimportant.
"At present the navy is taking
5000 tons of washed Chickaloon coal.
which will be given thorough try
out, and decision whether or not to
resume mining must wait upon a
restudy made by the Navy Depart
ment CT US probable needs and
sources of supply.
Healy Coal
"The northern part of the rail
road, and the industries dependent
on it, will shortly enjoy an abundant
supply of cheap coal from the mines
opening on Healy River.
"The natural field for sale OF the
Healy coal will be the interior and
that part Of the railway north of
Broad Pass, but the amount avail !
mining can be made so low that
coal can, If necessary, be supplied
to the whole railway line. Normally |
the higher quality Of the Matanuska |
Goals and the shorter distance from |
mine to market will offset the higher
mining cost, and opening the Healy |
mines does not therefore cut off the |
future Of those in the southern field. |
The Ignite mines of the Nenana
field proper will. however, be unable |
TO stand the competition of equally
cheap and better grade coal, and
further development there will prob
ably cease.
Development Necessary
The government railroad must
look 10 development of mines of
other minerals than coal il ii is to he
successful business venture. There
are numerous mining districts in
being, or in prospect, tributary to