The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-02-29
Three Aviators and Plane Mysteriously Disappear
LOCAL PEOPLE FORM COMP ANY
 TO MINE COAL
Immediate Development ol Old Harkrader Holdings
 Near Here Planned

To develop the old Harkrader holdings and adjoining areas in Kootznahoo Inlet into a produc- ing coal mine Is the object of the Admiralty Island Coal Company which has just been organized here, 1t was announced today by Robert s. Donaldson. pioneer coal mining man of interior Alaskd and well known mining engineer. He heads the company as Presi- dent and General Manager.
 The company's holdings com. prise 132 acres of patented land. known as the Harkrader group. and 2,273 acres adjoining it which are held under temporary de- velopment lease from the Federal government. Finances for develop ment work are assured and the company's plans call for immedi- ate launching of the program, MT. Donaldson said
 Local People Interested
 The organization of the new en- terprise has been in progress since late last year under the di- rection of MT. Donaldson and Howard II. Lerch. The latter. who is Secretary-Treasurer of the company, is pioneer of this sec ten, having resided here some 21 years. The project is backed by a number of local business lead CTS and several Seattle men friends of MT. Donaldson and MT. Lerch, who have subscribed to the stock issue. sss -ssss-es ,---.--s<-------
 The company will have it's headquarters in this city. Ii will be purely local enterprise and purchase its supplies on the local market, MT. Donaldson said to- day.
 The Board of Directors is com. posed of: John Reck. President of the First National Bank of this city, Wallis s. George. Presi- dent and General Manager of the Juneau Cold Storage and Presi dent of the local Chamber of Con- merce, Judge James Wickersham, former Delegate to Alaska, MT. Donaldson and MT. Lerch.
 Donaldson in Charge
 MT. Donaldson will have charge of the development program and mining work. He is an experience ed coal man In 1920 he staked the claims now operated by the Healy River Coal Corporation on the Alaska Railroad, and for more than five years was in charge of that property. At this time it is the largest coal pro ducer in the Territory. He sev- cred his connection with the in. terior company in 1926 on account of being called to the States by other business interests which oc- cupied his entire time until last Fall.
 MT. Donaldson will leave here in the near future for Seattle to inspect machinery and equipment for which arrangements have been made. This will be shipped to Killisnoo by steamer and transported from there to Kanalku Bay in Kootznahoo Inlet by small CT boats and barges
 MT. Lerch will leave here about March 15, for Kanalku Bay to erect a temporary development camp. A crew of about 15 men will be employed at the outset of development work, all experienced coal miners. It is expected later to expand this crew to approxi- mately loo employees of all kinds.
 Win Push Program
 Our development program will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible" MT Donaldson said n discussing plans. Exploratory work will be carried on as ex- peditiously as conditions will per nit Upon the outcome of this will depend the location of the permanent camp, which it may be found advantageous to locate in Salmon Bay We are confi- dent that we will have coal on the local market by August l."
 No difficulty is anticipated in finding market for all the coal the company can produce. While no definite plans have been made for supply other than local de- mands during the initial period of operations. the company has been assured by a Seattle coal sales company 1t will take 5000 tons weekly when it can be supplied in that amount, MT. Donaldson said.
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