MARKETS FOR ALASKA COAL. 29 
It may be seen from these tables that the anthracite from Matanuska and Bering rivers 
has no equivalent on the Pacific coast , and thai it compares favorably with the Pennsylvania 
anthracite. It ought to be put into the San Francisco and other Pacific coast markets at a 
cost far below that of eastern coal, in which case ii should have no difficulty in enl irely sup- 
planting the latter. 
The Bering River semianthracite and part of the semibituminous coal from Matanuska is 
also better than anything that is being mined in the West. These coals are the equivalent 
of the Pocahontas, New Payer, and Georges Creek coals of the East and are eminently 
adapted for use on war ships and for other purposes for which a high-grade, pure, " smoke- 
less" steaming coal is required, and for these purposes will command a considerably higher- 
price than any coal now being mined on the Pacific coast, or if offered at equal prices should 
readily drive the latter from the market. 
Part of these coals will produce an excellent quality of coke — better, in fact (except possi- 
bly in content of phosphorus, regarding which no data are available), than coke which can 
be produced from any of the Washington or Vancouver Island coals and equal to the coke 
from Crows Nest Pass. If an important smelter industry grows up in Alaska, as now seems 
possible, the Alaska coking coals should have the advantage both of quality and of 
transportation. 
The coals from other known Alaska fields than these are so situated or are of such quality 
that they can find markets only where excessive rates on outside coals give them an advan- 
tage — that is, their markets must be local and probably small. 
