Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-11-28
alaska WANTS
COAL MINES
OPENED
DEVELOPMENT HIAMPERED
BY SCARCITY OF FUEL
Governor Depreciates Foolish
Policy Of Allowing People to.
Suffer From Cold in Sight of
InexhaustabIe Supply Of Fuel
nv Morninr Journal Special Leased wIrsi

INV Morning journal Special Leased WIrel
washington. Noy. 27.- Expressing
!, as his opiuion that the want of
eboap fuel and the delay in opening
mn the Alaskan coal fields are the
strongest adverse factors in the pres
ont problem of territorial progress,
Governor Walter +. Clark, of Alaska,
IN his annual report to the secretary
or the interior. made public today,
declares that 'the ill-advised policy
of forbidding all Development Of the
large coal resources Of Alaska, or OF
placing such restrictions on develop
ment as to make the embarkation of
private capital impossible. Is to be
deprecated. while the poles Of con-
servation by rroperFnse is to be en-
couregd.'
This coal" he says, is needed for
The industries of the territory and for
the physical comfort of our people
ANA on no account should it be with
held from these uses
The present impossibility OF mining
roal. either under title or lease, he
explains. is in measure responsible
for the suspension of one of the prin-
cipal railroads This has caused
general feeling Of discouragement
over the business situation in those
PARTS Of Alaska where development
ana settlement ought to be going ON
most rapidly.
Governor Clark saws it appeared in
public discussions Of the subject that
the cbpos ition to opening the Alaslia
coal fields Springs chiefly from two
sources-those persons VINO fear
monopoly and those who would have
I,ia al
the future" He further gays that
while the present coal land law Is
not good one, III certainly lends no
hope to mCnopoists, but rather IS
calculated to discourage the embarka-
tion of capital
In declaring his hone FOR the adop-
ton of the leasing system to develop
these lands. Governor clark SAYS
1T will be found quite feasible, nc-
cording 90 tho best authorities, To de.
wise suitable terms for leases pro-
tecting both the public ana the oper-
ators. and insuring intelligent con-
serva ton
The governor says that the view OF
the extremist that all the Alaskan
coal should be Kept rs " reserve sup
ply has nothing to commend II,
conservative estimate made by Aired
IA. Brooks, OF the geological survey
shows that at the present rete OF con
the Alaska Goals would last
five or six thousand Years At the
end Of that period he continues
''posteritv may be using solar energy
or some other means than coal for
light. heat and power,
Little progress has been made ID
railroad building in the northwest
territory during the past year. It IS
asserted The officers of the Alaska
Northern railway, which will tap the
Mantanuska coal fields. declare that
the principal factor in preventing
continuation of construction is the nm
settled state of the coal land question
aud the inability OF any citizen Ia
obtain title or lease to those lands
Governor Clark recommends gov
ernmcm aid for the railroads IN the
form Of guarantee OF interest on
their bonds He declares that the
opening OF new wagon roads and tlalls
with the accompanying lower ireight
rates on supplies. has enabled mining
60 he carried on in districts which
either could not have opened at an, or
would have offered only precarlous
opportunity to the miner.
The governor recommends tiat
under the present conditions Of fuel
tory reaches q more advanced stage
Of development the government
should make no charge On the cut
ting OF firewood,
II is also recommended that large
portions If not All. of the Chngach ma
tioual forest be restored 10 the puhlic
domain, as many thousand acres ol
this reservation are almost treeiesS'
aud The conditions are such as to rem
der any measures for the cnnserNa-
iion OF water absurdity unnecessary
Agricultural possibilities in the ter
ritory declares the governor are ho
longer In doubt.
Certain changes in the mining laws
are recommended. These are stV
characterized to discourage specnla-
tion among nonresident claimants
who give powers of attorney 70 some
perse in the territory
Signal corps men who have charge
of the telegraph system in Aiaska
are commended by the governor.
They endure great hardships IN inc
maintenance of some oi the INES ana
are Ito Ice commended for their brave
Efforts which result in Keeping the
lines open with remarkably few inter-
ruptions" lie declares the ocean
cable will have To- he replaced IN
few years unless large improve
ment in wireless communication takes
place.
The visit of Attorney General Wick
crsham and Secretary of commerce
and Labor Nasel to Alaska in July
and August. he saws was extremely
gratifying to the people
Discussing the serious defect IN
fho code laws. caused hv the absence
Of legal requirement for the reguia-
tion ct births, marriages and deaths
in the territory. the governor says
that instances have multiplied in the
iast few wears illustra ting Ia strik-
ing way the evils which must surely
result from the absence of vital rec
erds.
Dcmestic coal 10 Tho value II SenS--
tas was shipped To Alaska from the
I nited States during the fiscal year
ended June 70 according 10 the Re
port. In addition 10 this foreign coal
valued "a S35s.4a5 was imported dur
fuss fn4s s-..af- trffrfrfr clio total Of all