New-York tribune., 1909-11-09
ELIOT'S WARNING
Points TO Danger from Control
of POzrfr Sources.

Dr. Charles ". Eliot, as president Of the
National conservation Association. sutH"r-
ized statement yesterday ON the danger
Of The moncpoIIsfic control 90 TIE sources
Of power an this country. which Is declared
20 he urgent. The statement is Tn the form
Of an appeal 20 the American people an1
deals particularly with the much discussed
question Of the coal fields Of AiasSs and
sheds new light on that situation the
statement is as follows.
The National Conservation Association -
convinced OF the urgent need of lrnrne'iia,. .,.
great sources of heat and mechanical PoN
eT IN the U1lted States from n~inT se]en
hy monopoiistic organization arg .'.s.s 70
IN the interest OF the whole people. the-e
sources are waterfalls and coal Under tne
prsrficalIt' ir1rossib,e Ths following state
ment describes the situation With respect
To coal lands; 4.
The present coal land Law attempts 20
prevent coal monopoly ny requiring srnsIl
entries b. claimants h0 intend 20 dcfeiep
the mines for their own benefit. But re
sPects does not protect the public Interest
Since. however. the existing Law, maze
ouste though u -. affords the only pro1-S
ton which the public nov have, rs PpoFF
siOns should be vigorously enforced
The coal lands in the possession or we
United States are being Tsp,a'S "a. SpSorp W. ~
great fields 81 Alaska estimated 20 contain
fifteen billion tons. still remain TIE herlt4sS
coal land law Of the United states. that -
Alaska - even worse. for there the gof ert-
ment is absolutely limited 20 charss a
so an aere. which. according 20 pubic
statement by the director Of the Jnited
States Geological Survey. Is lass than "ne-
tenth OF the real value Of these coal lands.
There are already about nine hundred en-
tries in the Alaska coal field IL Is true
that The field was recently Withdrawn from
entry. bat the legality 81 that withdrawal
has been questioned. Even " the nine hun
should be declared fraudulent, new ciaim-
ants NAV ME on these lands under the Oh
without restriction against monopoly and
visions
We have urged the present adninistrs
ticn - POSTPONE for the common good, th-
trial Of these CLAIMS and We have no
doubt. in view OF the facts and of the
policy of the administration as declared bY
President Tart W MS speech 81 Spokane.
Wash. on SeDtsmbar q. that our request
will be granted. There Is a limit. however,
beyond which such DELAY cannot 20. should
Congress fail 10 act at the corning session,
IL is possible that the opportunity 20 OBJ
tain adequate legislation for ths coal lands
still IN possession OF the United states VIII
be lost
The situation with respect 70 water pow
development. both IN the public der1ain
and on 1avigable streams. is substantially
similar 70 that with respect 70 coal The
water powers cannot Be effectively dsvsl-
oped IN the public interest under the ex-
listing Law
We therefore appeal 70 ~. American pee
pie 20 bring the urgent needs Of ths sttua-
tion 20 the attention OF their Representa-
tives IN Congress, IN order that Compre-
henSivs legislation upon this vital matter
may be enacted a. the next session OF Con
greSs. To this end every individual cttt-
gen Is urged 20 do his part and TO act al