46 
ALASKAN MINERAL RESOURCES IN 1906. 
of much importance. This has been because the better coal has not 
been well known until recently and can not be shipped without rail- 
way connections from the mines to tide water, and also because no 
adequate provision has been made for granting title to sufficient 
tracts to assure profits on the large investments which are required. 
The most active mining operations have been on Cook Inlet, in 
southwestern Alaska, on the Yukon, in Seward Peninsula, and at 
Cape Lisburne. All of these were for the purposes of local fuel on 
small coastwise or river steamers, at mining camps, and at canneries. 
The amount and value of t he coal produced in the last ten years are 
stated in the following table: 
Production of coal in Alaska, 1891 1906.° 
year. 
Quantity 
- 1 1 . . r 1 
tons . 
Value. 
Year. 
Quantity 
(short 
tons). 
2,212 
747 
C94 
3,774 
r,, ii.ii 
Value. 
L897 
2,0C0 
i.lUl 
i. in 
l.-M' 
!..; 
J28,0G0 
1 ..in 
L6,8C0 
16,800 
L902 
$19,048 
1898 
i'm ;; 
6,582 
1,725 
1900 
L905 
13,250 
20,000 
a The production for 189 L906 mated. That for the other years is according to returns 
from the operators as pu dished in M neral Resources of the In ted States. These figures are known 
derably belov the true produd ion, several operators do1 having reported a1 all. 
The most important developments which arc now going on are pre- 
paratory to mining the high-grade Matanuska and Bering River coal 
on a large scale for shipment away from the coal fields. These coals 
arc adapted to use" on ocean steamers and railways and for the manu- 
facture of coke, and for other purposes for which high-grade coal is 
required. Before they can be mined it will be necessary to build 
about 150 miles of railroad to reach the Matanuska coal, and from 25 
to 100 miles (according to the harbor chosen) to reach the Bering 
River coal. It is believed thai either of these projects is legitimate, 
and that if favorable title can be obtained both fields will be producing 
on a large scale within a few years. Railroads are now under con- 
struction to both these fields. 
The coal of the interior and northern parts of Alaska will probably 
bedependeni on local demands for its market as long as better coal 
remains nearer the seaboard. These local markets will depend chiefly 
on mining camps and will be transient or permanent according to 
whether the mining camp- are placer or lode. Such coal fields of the 
interior as may be on the line of railroads or near lode mines, especially 
if the ores are smelting ores and the coal cane.!)!" of coking, will attain 
considerable importance, bul these conditions are contingent on 
future discoveries and developments which can not be foretold. 
a Martin, G. C, Mar] coal: Bull. IT. S. Geol. Survey N< i,pp.l8-29. 
& Brooks, A. It., Railway routes: Bull. I . S. Geol. Survey No. 284, L90G, pp. 10-17. 
