The Cordova daily times., 1922-12-19

charge, is discussed by the director.
 Experts from the general staff of the bureau can and will be sent to Alaska on temporary service as oc- casion requires" Director Bain states Although the staff of the bureau in Alaska is small in proportion to the area and may seem inadequate in view of the variety of duties to be met and the difficulties involved in trade, it consists of picked men fa- miliar with the north and their sev- eral specialties, and for the present work it is believed to be sufficient. Coal Problems
 Coal has been aptly termed the handspring of civilization and al though a nigh and honorable posi- tion must be given petroleum as a fuel, it still remains true that over the world as a whole the possession of supplies of mineable coal is one of the best assurance of future pros perity that country can have. In Alaska, as has long been known, there are extensive areas within which coal occurs at widely scattered points. Thick beds, and coal of high intrinsic value are also known but over the problem of how to bring that coal into use has been waged a long and bitter controversy. No good purpose would be served by re- viewing this ancient ground of diff ference. 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 contri- bute to that development of the Ter ritory which the country as whole desires and the common good de- mands These are problems not new to the Bureau of Mines"
 A summary of the problems con fronting the bureau in the develop ment of the coal fields is given, be- ginning with the investigation made in 1911 by the first director of the bureau, the late Joseph A. Holmes, when he visited both the Matanuska and Boring River fields and gave personal attention to the problems involved. The difficulties experienced by the Alaska Engineering Commis- 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 lim- tied and is satisfied with coal of lower heating power, which, more over, can be mined at less price and in coarser sizes The Chickaloon coal unfortunately is friable, and, being mixed with rock and dirt, must be washed before being used. The cost of washing and loss involved are i'm 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 | it's the field within which 1t can meet competition.
 "The possible markets for Chicka- loon are:
 | "Q) The Navy, which desires a smokeless coal of high heating value for burning under forced draft and can use to advantage such coal as the Chickaloon despite the handicaps mentioned Under the conditions of transporting, sorting and handling coal inherent in Naval service, coarse sizes cannot be maintained, and SC Naval engineers have of necessity adapted their 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 tions being made and the firemen be- ing retained.
 "(2) Blacksmithing, where the ten dency to coking causes the fire to arch over and keeps the heat close to the steel in the forge.
 l "(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 a thorough try out, and decision whether or not to resume mining must wait upon a re- study made by the Navy Department of it's probable needs and sources of supply.
 HeaIy Coal
 ''The northern part of the rail- road and the industries dependent on it, will shortly enjoy an abundant