Arizona republican., 1909-08-26
A GUARDED TREASURE
From Which the World Has Been Barred Subject of Controversy Between In terior Department and Forestry Service.

Washington, Aug 25.-Alaska is now going through the stages of de- velopment that have become familiar to the world in the case of California.
 As with Alaska, California first found itself in the lime light because of it's wealth in gold. It was not long before the men who had come to dig gold found that the state had magnificent possibilities in other di- rections. and now the range of pro- auctions from the mines and soil and the sea itself is greater and more valuable in California than in any other state.
 Alaska, despite it's furs and its forests. attracted little attention until the gold rush to the Klondike set in. Even the government had taken little interest in the great waste of country which had been bought. under much adverse criticism, from Russia. But now it is pretty well understood that the coal fields are likely to he more valuable than the gold mines; that the forests are probably worth just as much: that the copper and tin and other minerals will pour a steady stream of wealth into the lap Of the Pacific coast. and that the fisheries and other sources of wealth will swell the pactolean stream. Then comes agriculture. for this land is yet to win fame for the products of its fields and orchards.
 The press has had considerable to say during the past week or ten days about the Cunningham coal claims in Alaska. These claims, it appears. have been a bone of contention be- tween the interior department and the forest service The forest service, 1t Is understood. has taken exception to the manner in which the work of investigating the claims has been carried on, and it justifies itself not only on the ground that the coal lands under dispute are located for the most part in the Chugach national forest but on the broader claim that as part of the national resources they ought to be inteligently conserved. The in terior department h1ots at the conten- tions of the forest service and de- clares that it is proceeding with rapidity and certainty to settle any questions that may exist as to the rights of the claimants tO prove up and get title And while the battle between the high officials has ragged in Washington. the people who for years have yearned to get some of that fine coal for their steambOats, railroads and factory furnaces, have been wondering how long they would have to import coal from Australia at s14 per ton. when millions of tons of the best steaming coal that ever lay out of doors could be mined right at tide water in Alaska for about S2 per ton
 Alaska has been developing fast of late The commerce on the Pacific coast with our northern territory has been making great strides-and yet the greatest agent in modern civiliza- tion-coal-has been tied up in Alaska SO that no one could touch ar ounce of it. All coal entries in Alaska have been tied up for the past four years. Men who put their little fortunes into these claims. as well as capitalists who have invested larger amounts. have seen their money ht idle and their fond hopes decay while two government departments warred with each other and secret agents nosed around looking for some excuse to keep that coal locked up still longer in the bowels of the earth.
 It is stated now, however on tho authority of an officer of the interior deuortuoent that the legal questions in one set of claims will be settled within a few weeks, or perhaps months, at least.