The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-03-26

Birch produced the option which a
committee of the claimants had given
to Daniel Guggenheim July 20, 1907.
He declared that this option had been
accepted by the Guggenheims Decem-
ber Z of that year. The claimants.
however. had never lived up to its
terms. Cunningham, he said, in jan
uary or February, 1908, had contend
ed that the Guggenheims themselves
had voided the option by changing
their railroad base from Katalla to
Cordova and that furthermore the op-
ton was of no effect because q major
ity Of the claimants had never rati-
fed it.
Mr.. Brandeis sought to show that
Morgan and the Guggenheims with
their great power and influence in
this country" must have brought this
influencing power to bear during the
past two years in an effort to get pat
ents granted to the Cunningham claim
ants. Mr. Birch declared, however,
that he knew of no such efforts hav-
ing been made.
What could we have done," he pro-
tested.
"Ah! Mr.. Birch, you can answer
that far better than l." dramatically
exclaimed Mr.. Brandeis.
| AS to his estimate that the coal in
Alaska was worth fifty cents a ton
and that therefore the Cunningham
claims represented an actual value of
$25 100000, Mr.. Birch declared that
1t was just as sensible to say that the
icebergs in Alaska were of inestima-
BILE value. The icebergs. he said,
would be valuable if they could be
brought to market in this country.
So it was with the coal, but first
the transportation facilities had to be
provided.
Representative Graham asked the
witness number of questions design
ed to show that the Guggenheims
practically have monopoly of trans
/, portation facilities from the United
States. Mr.. Birch declared that the
] syndicate owned twelve ships, while
competing lines operate twenty-eight.
He denied that the Yukon and White
Pass railroad was controlled by the
syndicate or any of its members.
As to reaching the copper country,
Mr.. Birch said if anybody else wished
to get there they could do as the Gug-
genheims did and build railroad.
Birch testified the Guggenheims had
invested $15,000,O0O in Alaska. The
syndicate had paid no dividends as
yet.
Representative Madison wanted to
know if it wasn't true that there was
gigantic scheme on foot to control
great part of Alaska
THAT is your inference" remarked
the witness.
When the committee and Mr.. Bran
deis finally had concluded their direct
and cross examination of the witness
he was turned over to Mr.. Vertrees.
Mr.. Birch said the Alaska syndicate
had spent $1.000,00O in an Intellectual
attempt to construct harbor at Ka-
talla. This was In 1906 and 1907.
before there was an option on the Cum
ningham claims.
I'VE wanted to be near the coal
field" he said, "for we thought that
some day somebody would get patents
and open the fields so we could buy
the coal"
Mr.. Birch said it was in January or
February. 1908, that Cunningham
claimed the option agreement had been
made void by the action of the Gug-
genheims in changing their railroad
from katalla to Cordova.
Didn't he state further that it had
also been voided by the fact that few,
If any of his principals had ratified
the agreement? asked Mr.. Vertrees
HE did"
"And from that day to this has any
member of your syndicate by writing
or otherwise. indicated to Cunningham
that they still considered the option
agreement in effect?"
"No sir"
Mr.. Birch said he went to see Mr..
Garfield when he was secretary of the
interior, asking if some practical leg
islation could not be secured for Alas
ka.
But didn't get much satisfaction" !"
added the witness. subsequently.
however. law was passed in 1905.
I told Herbert Parsons "a member of
congress from New York; that
thought the bill robbed man of his
inheritant rights. Mr.. Parsons asked
me to write him a letter and to enclose
copies for Mr.. Garfield and for Mr..
Roosevelt.
The witness produced the letter and
it was read in evidence.
The objections to the bill were
largely technical in character and set
out in great detail
.,. .,..,.