East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-08-24

beNeriy, Mdss', aug. Zf'-rOr the
second time Attorney GeneSale Wick.
ershap has had referred to him an
Alaskan land case which has been a
slumbering volcano in the United
States interior department for two
years.
The matter involves coal lands in
Alaska valued at many millions OF
dollars and which are nearly as ex-
tensive as the coal deposits in the
state of Pennsylvania.
There are now 700 claims involved.
1t seems that over two years ago
claims were filed on coal lands on the
Alaskan coast near the Chugach for
est reserve where tremendous depos-
its of coal had been located. James
r. Garfield was at this time secre-
tary of the interior. There had been
legislation by congress to prevent
large tracts of coal land from fall
ing into the hands Of single holders.
That is, to prevent possible formation
Of monopoly. A bill was put
through congress allowing as many
as four coal claims to be worked to-
gether. but in case more than four
claims were consolidated the title to
the claims would fail.
Some of the first Alaskan claims
were owned by Clarence Cunningham
of Walla Walla, Wash. and some
were held for United States Senators.
l.. r. Gavis, chief of the field divi-
sion of the general land office in
charge of the district which includes
Alaska, investigated these claims and
filed with the land office at Wash
ington evidence which he had secur-
ed and which he maintained showed
that the names of deckhands and
others had, been used in filing these
claims. and that they were fraudu-
lent. Richard A. Ballinger was COM
missioner of the land office when this
evidence was filed. Secretary Gar
fields attention was attracted to the
case and he began TO take steps to
cancel the claims. Ballinger resign
ed from the land office and became
attorney for Cunningham. AS attor-
ney he urged that patents be issued
for the land, and brief was filed in
the interior department urging Gar
field to issue the patents. Garfield
Soon after Ballinger became
secretary of the interior, succeeding
he directed that the charges
against the Cunningham claims (3S Of
them in alb were insufficient and
directed the claims be "clear listed"
for patent in the land office. CLAWS
protested against this decision and
his protest being unavailing, he went
to Washington to urge his proof of
fraud. Arriving at Washington he
found that the claims had been sent
back to be patented without hearing.
CLAWS then secured the submission
IF all the papers in the case to At |
orney General Wickersham. and |
ruled that at least a |
nearing must be held and CLAWS re-
urned to Seattle to prepare his case
or an immediate hearing. An order
vas given to CLAWS by the land Of !,
ice to the effect that the hearing
would not be held at Juneau, but
hat under special arrangement
With the claimants the commission
r of the general land office would
make the decision direct on the basis
# evidence taken by a special rep
esentative."
CLAWS protested against this and
eceived a letter from the land office
that his activity was un-
esirable, and that for his own sake
would better cease. He continued
D protest, and although he felt that
e knew more about these cases than
nyone else, they were taken from
i'm and given to Special Agent
heridan in Denver, man who had
ad only one years experience and
as entirely unfamiliar with the
lses. Sheridan was directed to ex-
edite the case
CLAWS then made a final protest
yainst the hearing being held before 4
le government could finish the coll
ction of evidence, and he wrote and
ired to the law officer of the forestry
.rvice, Shaw, urging that the forest
people do all in their power to avoid /
lsty action. The forestry service
nd jurisdiction because part of the
val claims lie in the Chugach forest y
serve.
HITDon tho rpnraeeptotiop 90 S,,,,. | 7
'cretary Wilson wrote to Secretary J