The Alaska daily empire., 1922-12-12
DIRECTOR BANS REPORT.

The recent report of DR.. II. Foster Balm, Director
of the IT, S. Bureau of Mines, is devoted largely 10
Alaska almost rs per cent. of the entire document
dealing with matters of vital interest to the Terri
tory 1t is more than usually complete ana III itS
presentation of the metal mining, coal and oil mining
possibilities and relation to the development o.
the Territory, he phrases it, winning for CIVIL
izaton the great stretches of the North shows
the clear and lucid thought of an intelligent student
and observer
Dr. Balm has patered to previously formed
conception held by thousands Americans, including
MANY residents of Alaska, that in the Territory IS
the national coal pile, billions of billions OF tons OF
gh grade fuel ready for mining and capable OF being
proudced in such quantities as would food out al
other Goals in competitive market lie has pictured
something different entirely. He presents common
sense view of lands with coal deposits sufficient for
every local need, fer the home and the industry IN
the Territory; high grade fuels that present serious
problems of mining; of lew grade fuels suitable for
domestic needs capable OF extremely cheap production
costs but not desirable export. How large the pro-
duction of latter will be in the near future as ne
sees it, depends largely upon how extensive a de-
velopment takes place in the metal mining industry
and other lines of endeavor; whether or not there
will be any export movement of the former grade
rests great is the need of the navy for steam
ing coal and, presumably, upon the discovery OF BEDS
OF coal that can be mined in the light of present
knowledge, basis that will permit it to be
shipped Pacific Coast points in competition with
similar Goals from other sections.
If he conservative in his delineation of the
coal mining situation in Alaska he not less so in
reporting possible oil fields in the Territory Evil
IDENTIFY he is convinced that the lesson of years OF
practical experience is the only safe guide-that u.s.
the only test of oil field is in drilling There
some districts he said. that worthy OF actual
prospecting with drills and it is unlikely that
Gil will be brought in when wells drilled. The
Cold Bay field where drilling will be started
Chickaloon and Yakataga three named
desirable for prospecting.
The most encouraging fact about the whole report
IS Director Bans evident desire development
by implication did he suggest that further
strictiOn should be put any resource with which
his organization is connected. On the contrary he
makes suggestion that certain limitations i'm
posed may have be altered and terms offered
If development of possible oil lands the Arctic
slope is to be undertaken. Undoubtedly he is
in this matter. similar has been taken by
some other officials of the Department of the Interior
and tentative plan suggested several months ago to
put the suggestion into effect 1t is to be hoped that
the Director will be able accomplish something
AS a whole the report is valuable contribution
to the already overwhelming of documents
OFFICIAL and otherwise, which has been compiled on
the Territory 1t is sane well-balanced and an in
telligent effort to present picture of mining
and possibilities of the mining industry in Alaska as
the Bureau of Mines has made contacts with it,