The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-12-28
Governor Would Have Territory
Placed Under Department
of Justice.
COAL DEPOSITS ARE VALUABLE
Encouragement Should Be Given
Those Engaged in Their
Development.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, D. C., December %
Early development of the great coal
fields of Alaska in order that States on
the Pacific Slope may be furnished with
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 irst-elass fuel of
American production, is advocated by
Governor sWilford B. Hoggatt, of Alas
ka, in his annual report for this year
before being succeeded by Governor
Walter E. Clark. -
Recommendations Of Importance
made by Governor Hoggatt include the
placing of the Governor under the
authority of the department of justice,
instead of the department OF the lnte-
Tior as at present; a fair method or
disposing of the coal lands of Alaska,
the inspection of the mines by the
United States Geological Survey IN or
der to protect workmen, the extension
TO natives of Alaska of the right to
seauire public lands and to hold and
transmit property, appropriations for
aids to navigation and the establish
ment of q lighthouse district or sub
district with a tender.
Encouragement should be given to
those engaged in mining coal in Alas
ka, says Governor Hoggatt. ''Unless
a way is found to open the coal fields
of Alaska, the population will decrease
and the unknown resources OF the coun-
try be undiscovered for an indefinite
period. Coal mining can be made
permanent and profitable industry in
Alaska and the establishment of camps
viii aid materially in the development
of its resources. Mining of coal on
Seward Peninsula would mean much
TO the people living in that section, as
the cost of fuel under present condi-
ti0ns is very high and the consumption
per capita is very great. The mineral
is widely distributed throughout Alas
Ia 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 locators,
development will follow rapidly, as
transportation seems to be assured.
Charges of fraud in the location of
coal lands should be sifted and deter
mined with expedition, and patents
issued to those entitled; and rejection
of patents promptly made to those who
have in any way violated the coal lands
laws relating to Alaska and the United
States.
Regarding the recommendation he
makes to change the Governor of Alaska
from the control of the department of
the interior to the department of JUS
tice, Governor Hoggatt says; <'The
provisions of the act for d 3ivil gov
eminent for Alaska provides that the
Governor shall have authority to see
that the laws of the district are en-
forced and to require the faithful dis
charge of their duties by the officials
appointed to administer the same. The
officials charged with the administra-
ton of the laws are under control of
the department of Justice. and it would
appear that if one of the principal
duties of the Governor is to see that
the officials perform their duties, he
should also be an official of the depart
ment OF Justice. | have, therefore, to
recommend that legislation to this end