Northwest History. Alaska, Mines & Mining -- Developments. United States.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1920
• Subjects: Alaska mines; navy; Seattle; mining operation; Alaska; coal fields; the Pacific; Secretary of the Navy; Josephus Daniels; Secretary of the Interior; John Barton Payne; Idaho; Yakima; inspection; irrigation projects; Washington; D. C.; Yellowstone national park; Senator Walsh; territory; government railway; Chikaloon fields; interior department; Eska; commercial use; Matanuska fields; Panama canal; Germany; conservation; the states; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Anchorage; Barton; Battleship; Pacific; Payne; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/101071

Alaska Mines To Be Developed: Daniel Promises Opening Of Country -- Navy Needs Are To Be Supplied. ALASKA MINES TO BE DEVELOPED Daniels Promises Opening of Country—Navy Needs Are to Be Supplied. SEATTLE, July 22.—Immediate extension of mining operations in government coal fields of Alaska has been ordered, to the end that Alaska coal may eventually provide fuel, not only for naval vessels, but for commercial ships plying the Pacific. This announcement was made here today by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Secretary of the Interior John Barton Payne, who returned to Seattle on the battleship Idaho from an inspection trip in the north. Tomorrow Mr. Daniels and Mr. Payne will be guests at a number of affairs in their honor and at midnight will leave for Yakima for an inspection of irrigation projects. Later they plan to proceed to Helena and will be guests of United States Senator "Walsh on a trip through Yellowstone national park-before returning to Washington, D. C. Alaska Development Assured. "The opening of a vast territory Is assured through operation of the government railway in Alaska, especially in agriculture, mining and fishing," Mr. Daniels said today. "One does not think of Alaska in terms of agriculture, but I saw grain growing six feet high a>od fine fields of oats, potatoes and other vegetables." "There is. $1,000,000 available through the navy bill for development of the Matanuska fields," he said. *I have directed that mining operations be pressed and suitable homes erected for the miners. We are now actually mining in the Chikaloon fields and the interior department is taking out coal at Eska for, railroad and commercial use. Coal Deposits Valuable. "The value of these deposits may be realized by remembering that the coal now used by the Pacific fleet is mined in the east and shipped to the Pacific through the Panama canal." In addition to the government coaling stations at Seward and Anchorage, a station may be constructed in the Aleutian islands for the use of commercial vessels. Mr. Payne said. In speaking of development of the territory, Mr. Payne said: "In Alaska too many things ars reserved. One almost thinks of Verboten' in Germany. Conservation in the states is most desirable, but what Alaska needs is more men and women and less government regulation."