The Nenana news., 1922-06-06
DIRECTOR BAIN SEES COAL;
 SAYS NENANA HAS PLENTY

SOOO Qud4llg III lue Neualid' uSlQ 10 meet all of the requirements of h. terior Alaska, and the development of the big seams under lease to the Healy River Coal Corporation should result in stimulating mining activ- ities wherever the coal can be de- livered at moderate cost, in the opinion of Dr. H. Foster Bain. director of the federal bureau of mines, who arrived in Nenana yes terday, after a careful investigation of the big coal deposits or Healy Fork.
 Dr. Bain came to Alaska from his headquarters at Washington for the express purpose of making an in- vestigation of the Matanuska coal fields and it is understood that his report will be used by the depart ment of the interior as a basis for fixing the terms of any lease that may be negotiated between the de- partment and private interests for the operation of mines which have been upened up in that region by the government. Investigations in that field also have been conducted recently by representatives of the Lake & Coal Export Corporation, of West Virginia, the only company of the five approached by the depart ment, which has displayed any in terest in a leasing proposition.
 If time permits, Dr. Bain will make 9 trip into the Boring River field on his way back to the States, and he had also planned to visit Seward peninsula, but that part Of his original program already has been eliminated.
 Asked regarding the 'coal strike situation in the States and when it might be expected to end, Dr. Bain replied that while it was known at Washington, fully a year in advance that the strike would be called, there appeared 10 be no way of determining when the end might be expected. Both the miners and the operators have been wanting to fight for Q long time, he explained, and now that the fight is actually in progress, it probably will contin- ue until one side or the other is ready to surrender"
 In the meantime, Dr. Bain said, the mines that were not closed by the strike, are able to supply all of the demands for fuel that have de- veloped.
 The big trouble with the coal mining industry, Dr. Bain explained, is that the country has too many coal mines and about 150,000 too many coal miners in normal times. Another difficulty is the fact that not all of the mines can be operat- ed under similar conditions. Many of the mines are in localities where the standards of living are low and miners can be employed at low wages, unrestricted by union regu- lations. l. is also true that some of the mines have big seams Of coal, which can be mined very cheaply, while others. with small seams, are forced to operate under handicap. Then there is the problem of trans portation and the difficulty of find ing markets.
 The calling of the strike, Dr. Bain said, found the government prepared, with plentiful supplies of fuel on hand, and also prepared to take such action as might become necessary to maintain normal level of prices during the strike period .--.- ..=: .>=~. :=-:.s->~ s
 Regarding general conditions in Alaska, Dr. Bain is of the opinion that the territory has seen it's worst days Development will come, he belieyes-is bound to come. But he does not think the improvement in conditions will assume the propor- tions of 9 boom.
 Dr, Bain appeared to be very favorably impressed by the appear ance of Nenana and suggested that the location of the town had been wisely selected as point of gen. eral distribution for supplies and other freight hauled over the Alaska Railroad.
 Dr. Bain arrived at Healy from the coast on Saturday, aboard Col. Mears' private car and accompanied r.T