SOME FEATURES OF THE BERING RIVER COAL FIELD, 

 ALASKA.* 



BY G. F. KAY. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



The Bering River coal field lies a few miles inland from the north 

 shore of Controller Bay, an indentation of the Pacific coast about 1,200 

 miles from Seattle. In this field are the Cunningham claims which 

 were given much publicity in connection with the Pinchot-Ballinger 

 controversy. Much of the coal area is within the drainage basin of 

 the Bering River (Fig. 1). To the north of the field is the Martin River 

 glacier, with the lofty, snowcapped Chugach range of mountains beyond ; 

 to the east of the field, and extending for many miles, is the Bering Piel- 

 mont glacier. 



The coal field is accessible by launch and small boat from the village 

 of Katalla, a calling port for passenger steamships. From Seattle to 

 Katalla, by way of the "inside passage," is a voyage of seven or eight 

 days; to Cordova, by the "outside passage," and thence to Katalla, is a 

 voyage of about five days. 



No railroad has yet been built into the coal field, although several 

 surveys have been made, and some construction work has been done. 

 Until a raiload has been completed and shipment has been made possible 

 from the coast, the field will remain undeveloped. The chief difficulty 

 in providing transportation facilities is the lack of good harbors on Con- 

 troller Bay and adjacent parts of the coast. The waters are shallow and 

 the coast storm swept. Many thousand of dollars have already been 

 expended in an endeavor to form sheltered harbors, but it can scarcely 

 be said that the efforts, thus far, have been successful. However, a 

 deep water channel, extending into Controller Bay and protected by 

 islands from the ocean storms has recently been mapped by the Coast 

 Survey. It would seem from present evidence that, when a thorough 

 knowledge of the coast has been obtained, the difficulties of securing 

 suitable harbors will not be insurmountable. 



'Sometimes named the Controller Bay Field or the Katalla Field. 



