MARKETS FOR ALASKA COAL. 
By G. C. Martin. 
INTRODUCTION. 
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The question of markets for Alaska coal is a vital one in connection with the presen 
activity in the development of coal lands. Numerous requests for information concerning 
the facts bearing on this question have been received, but the data are incomplete and scat 
tered. The following discussion is based on all facts which could be gathered from previou: 
compilations and from new investigations. The problem has already been discussed da 
Brooks/' but as more complete information is now available and as it seems well to giv< 
these facts a place in the Survey publications, the present paper has been prepared. 
PRESENT CONSUMPTION OF FUEL. 
AMOUNT AND SOURCES. 
The coal consumption of Alaska from June, 1904, to June, 1905, is estimated at 120,00( 
tons, derived from the following sources: 
Consumption of coal in Alaska. .June, I'.xi'f, to June, 1905. 
Long tons 
Local supply 6 2, (XX 
Imported from United states <-42,50< 
Imported from foreign countries, chiefly British Columbia <"7.">,50( 
120, (XX 
It is estimated that at least 137,000 tons additional are consumed by steamers plying 
between United States or foreign ports and Alaska. This fuel comes largely from the home 
ports of the steamers or chiefly from Puget Sound. The fuel of local coastwise and rivei 
boats is, however, included in the total of 120,000 tons. The total coal consumed in Alaska 
and on voyages thereto is at least 257,000 long tons. 
This is not the entire amount of fuel used, for there is a large but unknown amount of 
wood burned and over 2,700,000 gallons of crude petroleum and 7(K),(M)() gallons of naphtha 
were shipped to Alaska during 1905, 
DISPOSAL. 
This coal is consumed approximately as follows: 
Distribution of coal consumed in Alaska, June, 1904, 1° June, 1905. 
Towns and mines: Long tons. 
Southeastern Alaska <* 55,001 
Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, and Alaska Peninsula <*.">, 00C 
Seward Peninsula d 3.">, 00C 
a Brooks, A. H., The outlook for coal mining in Alaska: Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Eng., vol. 36, 1905, |»p- 
683-702. 
b Estimated. 
c From table on p. 19. 
d Rough estimate. The individual items may not be exact, but the total of these items (120,000 
tons), as given in the preceding table, is fairly aecurate. 
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