Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1912 — RESOURCES OF ALASKA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RESOURCES OF ALASKA

THE address made by Secretary of the Interior Fisher at Chicago before the American Min--1 ing congress has been published in pamphlet form. It is a valuable contribution to current literature, and deals with the Alaskan problems in a candid, careful' and statesmanlike manner, and deals with them from the standpoint of one who made a close and prolonged investigation of Alaska during his lengthened visit there. Secretary Fisher also availed himself of the data furnished by Alfred H. Brooks, geologist in charge of the United States geological survey, who for fourteen years has been studying Alaskan conditions on the ground. Before examining the Bering river field Secretary Fisher was preceded there by Dr. J. A. Holmes, - director of the bureau of mines; by L. T. Wolle, an engineer of large experience In coal mining and railway construction; by F. W. C. Whyte, who for years has managed the coal mining and railway construction department of the Anaconda Copper Mining company; by T. H. O’Brien, who has conducted the coal operations of the Copper Queen; by George Watkins Evans, a coal mining engineer of experience in the northwest states, and by Sumner 8. Smith,, who is a mining engineer and inspector of mines for Alaska. Secretary Fisher, in his speech, said: “At the very outset I wish to express the high opinion I have formed at the remarkably large and fine body of people who have become pennanent residents of Alaska. . . . There is a substantial percentage of vigorous, law-abiding, law-respecting men and women of the highest type of American citizenship. The total population is about 65,000 persons. They are entitled to a territorial government.”

Wonderful Scenic Beauty. Secretary Fisher further says: "I found Alaska a country of wonderful scenic beauty, which ih itself will in future years toe one- of itr greatest financial assets. From all the information I could gather I believe it to be a country of great mineral and agricultural possibilities; indeed, 1 should go further and say a country of great mineral and-agricnltoral prob* abilities, needing development, ready for development, and inviting development, but held back chiefly by inadequate transportation facilities and Inadequate laws.” Secretary Fisher further says: "What Alaska needs more than all else is a trunk-line railroad from the ocean to the great Inferior valleys of the Yukon and the Panama opening up the country so that its future development may really be possible. „ “The vast Interior valleys are covered with luxuriant grasses and can be made to raise cattle and sheep, and even grain, If proper seed and proper methods are experimentally developed by scientific agriculture. But agriculture development cannot go forward where the local markets were small. Secretary Fisher finds the coal deposits of Alaska to consist of the anthracite and high-grade bituminous coal, which is found so far only in the Bering river and Matanuska fields. No anthracite coal has as yet been found anywhere else on the Pacific coast, and but little high grade bituminous coal, or high grade coking coal. Except for coking coal, anthracite coal and high-grade bituminous coal Alaska cannot command the fuel market. There are great quantities of lignite and low-grade bituminous coal throughout the Pacific northwest and British Columbia. Much of the bituminous coal mined on Puget sound Is of fair quality and fit for steaming purposes, and when the freight and handling charges on Alaskan coal are taken into consideration it is dear that the low grade coal will not be used on ocean steamers except those plying to Alaskan ports. . "Ftor steaming purposes and fo# heating purposes in manufacturing establishments, California fuej oil is supplanting coal in many Adds. It possesses advantages in economy and convenience of handling, and coal of any kind cannot compete with it. But oil cannot be used for smelting ores, or for making steel, and for these purposes Alaska coking coal will hold ike market . Trunk Line Favored.; "When the anthracite opal fields of Alaska are opened, and railroads constructed, so that anthracite coal earn

be landed at Los Angeles or San Francisco for $5 or $6 per ton, it will drive all other coal from the market for domestic use. One ton of anthracite coal contains as much heatlpg force as two tons of bituminous coal. In the New England and Middle states no other than anthracite coal is used for domestic purposes, and nonq other would be used here if it were available at reasonable prices.” Secretary Fisher favors the construction by the government of one main trunk line of railroad from tidewater to the Yukon, 600 miles. The railroads now in operation in Alaska consist of the Copper River and Northwestern road, which leads from Cordova on Prince William Sound, 200 miles up the Copper River to the Bonanza copper field, the Alaska Northern railroad, which started from Seward on Bering Strait for the Mat*nuska coal fields and the Yukon, but stopped discouraged seventy-one miles north of Seward, and the pioneer Alaskan road, the White PaHS and Yukon narrow gauge, which is mostly in British territory. “All railroad construction was stopped when Alaskan coal lands were withdrawn from entry. The direction of the Alaskh Northern offer to sell or practically to give their road to the government if it will assume the out-, standing bonds amounting to $4,600,006. “It is generally and erroneously considered that Alaska is uninhabitable on account of the cold. Southern Alaska and its cities, Juneau, Sitka, and Wrangel, are in the same latitude with the north of Ireland and England, and the south of Scotland. The thriving city of Cordova is on the same latitude sb Norway, Sweden, Petersburg, and the winter range of the thermometer is higher than In Washington, D. C.” Secretary Fisher favors a Bystem of leasing the coal lands of Alaska on the Canada-Yukon territory system of an annual rental of $1 per acre for twenty-one years. 5 cents per ton royalty on the coal extracted and nos more than 2,500 acres to be leased, to one applicant. The Cordova Chamber of Commerce, which at the time of Secretary Fisher’s visit, disapproved of a leasing system for Alaska coal "lands, : has since reconsidered" ltr iRF' * tion. It expresses its confidence in Secretary Fisher and avows its ap-' proval of policy that will secure prompt action In some direction that will promote development.

WISHING OUT GOLD IN ALASKA