The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-09-19
Department OF
Interior Broke
Faith, Charge!
Hoirerer, Independents
Win Use Sleds on
Frozen Roadbeds

ANCHORAGE, Alaska. Aug.
80. - (By Maill - undaunted by
the breaking Of faith ON the part
Of the interior department I'm
the abandonment OF independent
coal miners ON Moose creek.
these operators are preparing 10
mine and market coal during the
winter By use Of slcds over
flooded and frozen roadbed.
Overhead cost sheets show that
tonnage can be produced nc the
Henry Baxter mine. privately
owned. at less price than IL
now being paid by the United
States railroad for coal supplied
By an assisted mine located AL
most In conjunction with the In
terror departments Eska creek
mine. and owned by = former AZ.
tache Of tho Alaskan engineering
commission.
Owners OF leases along Moose
creek. requiring some six miles ol
railroad spur 60 connect with the
Chlckaloon coal road. are vehement
IN their structures upon the attitude
Of tho interior department in leasing
these units on tho strength OF :
prospectus showing rail spur and
then changing the route 20 chicka
loon. ~ miles further north. There
engineers have made n gigantic fix
zie OF developing coal for tho navy
HEAVY COSTS
ARE Run UP
Excessive costs. including a hall
million dollars laid out In surfacs
improvements before having devcl
oped tonnage 10 justify the cxpcndi
ture. were allowed 10 run M. No
wildcat institution ever perpotratet
such n gigantic monument TO inef
ftciency. Long underground galleries
and raises were run Ia country rock
searching for coal. elaborate bratfic'
works and other inexpedient aeces
sories 20 ground containing no Goa
stand staring the visitor IN the fac
A. he threads his way thru IN,
workings.
And while this was going on. met
who were not mining engineers. bu
Just hars.hca6ed coal miners. wcr'
opening immense bodies OF bitumin
Gus coal and marketing ~ at a wild
margin OF profit. with ample raj
facilities 20 the Evan Jones mine
promoted by n prospector for thu
government. local consumers ar
paying sf1 ten for coal. while othc
independent operators are willing 4
lay Il down on the railroad. ~ mile
from Anchorage. at 81 n ton. a
against haul Of 60 miles from
Eska 10 Anchorage
Now. under the stimulus OF ID
Foster Balm. chief OF the bureau o
mines. II Is proposed 10 allow III
bituminous fields 70 lie Idle. TO pu
obstacles In tho way Of private opel
ntors. that Alaska may be supple
with a sub-bituminous coal from
point so1 miles distant. with heav
grade and haul up Senana canyon
over Broad pass and into Anchorag'
and this from n mine managed an
controlled by a former enpIoye Z
the Alaska engineering commission
SCANDAL DOOR
SEEMS RISING
Underneath the entire coal mimi
situation OF Alaska appears the ode
Of n brewing scandal. Those me
who acquired leases on ono sectio
OF the Mnfanuska fields. where ther
Is abundance OF high grade coal. M
unit In opinion that some sinists
motive Is lurking underneath n
current of events.
A million dollars was expended !
the Chickaioon and Eska mines
the government TO develop coal 70
the navy and for operating the Ala
ka railroad. Instead of buiidin
spurs to the favorable prospects. IN
Alaska engineering commission e.
tended spurs TO two properties.
one OF which the superintendent ,
operations. after several years OF Q.
ploration and the erection Of comm
dious surface improvements. inciu
Ing sumptuous headquarters for hin