Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-23
ANNUAL REPORT or GOVERNOR
URGES RELIEF FOR PACIFIC
COAST.
FIELDS ABLE TO SUPPLY
LARGE TERRITORY IN WEST
Governor Also Urges Congress to
Transfer Control of Territory from
Interior to Justice Department
Railways Needed to Develop Natural
Resources.

Washington, Dec 23.-Early devel-
opnlent of the great coal fields of
Alaska in order that states on the Pa
cific slope may be furnished with a
high grade coal at less cost than the
product now brought half way around
the world and that the warships OF the
United States navy in the Pacific may
be provided with a first class fuel of
American production, is advocated by
Governor MILFORD B. Hoggatt, of Alas
ka, in his annual report for this year
before being succeeded by Governor
Walter E. Clark.
Alaska, according to Governor Hog
gait, passed a year of quiet develop
ment of its resources and without any
marked incidents to excite unusual in
terest. The population remained prac-
tically the same, there having been a
redistribution but no gain. Commerce
between Alaska and the United States
increased satisfactory experiments in
raising grain and cattle were made and
the mining industries were successful
and without recurrence of the labor
troubles which naturally interfered
with operations last year.
Recommendations of importance
made by Governor Hoggatt include the
placing of the governor under the au-
tflority of the department of justice,
instead of the department of the inter
Tor as at present, a fair method of dis
posing of the coal lands of Alaska, the
inspection of the mines by the United
States geological survey in order to
protect workmen, the extension to ma
tives of Alaska of the right to acquire
public lands and to hold and transmit
property, appropriations for aids to
navigation and the establishment Of a
light house district or sub district with
a tender.
Coal Fields the Main Thing.
encouragement should be given to
Alaska" says Governor Hoggatt "Un-
less way is found to open the coal
fields of Alaska. the population will
decrease and the unknown resources OF
the country be undiscovered for an in
definite period. Coal mining can be
made a permanent and profitable indus
try in Alaska and the establishment OF
camps will aid materially in the devel-
opment of its resources: Mining OF
| coal on Seward Peninsula would mean
much to the people living in that sec
ton, as the cost of fuel under present
conditions is very high and the con-
sumption per capita is very great. The
mineral is widely distributed thruout
Alaska and is found to be of very high
grade in the Matanuska and Bering
River valleys. Workable deposits are
also to be found on Seward Peninsula
NO titles having been secured to any
coal lands in Alaska development OF
the deposits has not been made. Once
title to the lands is given to the To-
Gators, development seems to be as
sured Charges of fraud in the loca
| ton of coal lands should be sifted and
| determined with expedition and pat
ents issued to those entitled, and re-
lection of patents promptly made to
those who have in any way violated
the coal lands laws relating to Alaska
and the United States.
Wants Railroads Built.
THE future development of Alaska
will depend very largely upon all-the-
year-round easy communication be.
tween the coast and the interior. This
naturally depends upon transportation
facilities. There seem to be ample
business reasons to warrant the con-
struction of railroads from the coast
to the Bering river and Matanuska Goa
fields, and to the copper mines in the
Alaskan range of mountains. Beyond
these points there is no present business
/ to warrant capital unaided, to con.
struct railroads. Sufficient knowledge Of
feasible routes from the coast to the
4 interior believe, is now to be had ant
could be obtained by the government
thru a board of army and railroad en-
gineers, who should determine upor
such lines as should be built for the
development of Alaska"