The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-24
UNCLE SAM AT. LAST
AROUSED TO ACT
Government Takes Notice of
Wonderful Value of Coal De-
pOsits in Alaska.
MOVE FOR PERMANENT
RETENTION OF TITLE
Beveridge Introduces Bill Pro-
yiding for Withdrawal From
Entry of All Coal Lands.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Thc re-
cent startling testimony concerning the
value of coal deposits in Alaska given
before the senate committee on terri
tories by Manager Birch of the Gug.
genheim"M Morgan Alaskan syndicate has
resulted in a movement in the senate
In the interest of the permanent reten-
tion OF the title to the Alaska coal de-
posts by the United States and bills
looking 10 that end were introduced to-
day by Senator Beveridge chairman of
the committee on territories
One bill provides for the Withdrawal
from all forms of entry or sale Of all
the coal deposits of Alaska and the
other for the leasing OF them The
leasing measure prohibits the leasing
or more than 2600 acres TO more than
one person or association, or for more
than thirty years.
lt Is provided that the surface over
lying coal deposits may be disposed of
under the land laws.
Needs Of Government.
In presenting the bills Mr.. Beyeridpe
spoke of Mr. Birch IS revelations and
presented many other figures TO show
the enormous value of the denosits.
which he predicted would be needed
IN time not only by the Pacific coast
but by the entire country,
, he placed the gross value of the
Berlng river and Matanuska deposits
at two billion dollars and said the re.
searches of the geodetical survey had
revealed many other deposits IN the
territory. lie gave fifteen billion as
the total tonnage of the territory.
On Mr.. Bcveridge's testimony the
bills were referred to the committee on
public lands and Senator Nelson, chair.
man or that committee. gave assurance
that legislation would be recommended
Must Guard Possessions.
Commenting further on the conserva.
tlon OF Alaskan coal, Mr.. Bevcridpe
said II was necessary that this great
fuel reserve should NOT pass from the
ownership of the United States.
1t Is necessary. 'he said, "iha,
II should be developed, and il is clear
that some steps should he taken TO
safeguard II from private ownership
aud 10 provide for IFS DEVELOPMENT By
lease. -
He called attention TO the fact that,
If disposed of at all. the Alaska coal
land must be disposed Of at flat rate
of SO an acre. He pointed out that
IN 1906 President Roosevelt withdrew
all these coal lands from entry. but
that no law had ever been passed con
frmlng this withdrawal. II was 10
confirm this withdrawal aud 10 make
il the act of congress itself that Le
introduced the first bill.
Too Long Delay.
Speaking of the second bin he said
congress too long had DELAYED the ap-
pIication of this plain principle of
public policy TO the various mineral
deposits that once belonged to the ma
tion.
Had this been done in the case of
the iron orc deposits which long since
have passed into private bands.'' said
Mr., Bcycridgc, "tbe nation TODAY
would have gone far toward paving
the expenses of the government. aud
at the same time special interests now
owning and operating these orc de.
posits would make reasonable profits
instead of the enormous profits tba,
have gone 10 build up some of the
mghuest aggregatIonS of capital and
some of the tremendous fortunes in this
country, indeed. in the history of the
world. -