THE MINING INDUSTRY IN 1905. 9 
COAL. 
The coal fields of Alaska still remain practically undeveloped, and most of them must 
await the construction of railways before their product can be marketed. Much prospect bag 
was, however, done, notably in the Controller Bay and Matanuska fields, which arc de- 
scribed by Mr. Martin on pages 65-77 and 88-100. Interest in the coal fields has been 
stimulated by the surveys of several railway routes in the Controller Bay field and by con- 
struction work on the Alaska Central Railway, which will tap the Matanuska Held. A little 
coal for local use was mined in the Cook Inlet region, on lower Yukon River, and in Seward 
Peninsula. These operations were mostly confined to lignitic or to low-grade bituminous 
coals. 
LESSER MINERALS. 
Mr. Wright presents a statement (pp. 55-60) on the nonmetallic resources of southeastern 
Alaska, including granite, marble, gypsum, and mineral water. Of these only the marble 
and mineral water have been developed. The marble industry promises well. Though 
there is quite likely to be marble found in other parts of the Territory, unless it be on the 
Pacific tide water it can have only very remote value. The mineral waters of the Panhandle 
are being bottled on a small scale for local use. The developments of the tin ores are fully 
treated elsewhere by Mr. Hess (pp. 145-157). Some prospecting of the cinnabar deposits on 
the lower Kuskokwim has been done.a 
But little progress has been made in the search for oil pools. During the season of 1905 
four rigs have been drilling for petroleum in Alaska — two at Controller Bay, one at Cook 
Inlet, and one at Cold Bay. Members of the Survey have visited only the wells on Con- 
troller Bay, neither of which have, up to date, proved successful. 
The outcome of all the drilling in Alaska has shown that very complete and first-class out- 
fits are necessary ; and because of this and of the other unfavorable circumstances, such as 
shortness of the season, high freights and wages, and remoteness from labor, supplies, and 
repair shops, drilling has proved extremely expensive. One of the important factors to 
consider in this northern region is whether even successful wells will justify the great drilling 
and operating costs, in competition with the more favorably situated fields to the south. 
oSpurr, J. £., A reconnaissance in southwestern Alaska: Twentieth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, 
pt. 1, 1900, pp. 261-262. 
