The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-12-01
PROPOSED LFC|SLA-
ton FOR ALASKA
Especial to the Silver State.)

! here in force during the winter and
will strongly urge congress to grant
legislation which will tend to encour
age the settlement and development of
that territory. They believe that they
are entitled to liberal laws under
which the immense natural resources
of the country may be developed.
The Alaska delegation will, it is
understood, be headed this winter as
it was last, by Governor Walter E.
Clarke, who, through personal ac-
quaintance with conditions in that ter
ritory, has become an ardent advocate
of the reforms which the people
there have been demanding, and who
will use all of his influence to see
that congress gives substantial recog-
milton to their claims. 1t is under
stood that in his annual report to
President Taft, he has made strong
recommendations which include the
opening of the coal lands under some
system to be determined upon to pro-
tect the interests of the government
and yet enable the people Of Alaska
to proceed with the work of develop
ment, which has been seriously fet-
tered hitherto and by their inability
to make use of the exceedingly valu-
able coal measures lying at their very
doors.
The details of Governor Clarke g
recommendations are not yet made
public, but he recently finished a tour
of Investigation of the entire territory
and on his return made the following
statement:
More liberal treatment by the Fed
eral government is absolutely neces-
sary. / haven t for long time reeog-
nized this as true, but our affairs have
now reached point where it will be
absolutely discreditable further to
withhold helpful action.
"My journey through Alaska, which
occupied seventy-two days, has con
vinced me that this territory cannot
proceed further with any development
of a permanent character until we
have better means for transportation
and the privilege of using our own
coal. Freight rates are exceedingly
high--in many cases necessarily 50.
Our coal more than onehalf Of which
is imported from foreign countries.
costs $ls ton at points within few
miles of these native fields of ours,
which are more extensive and of bet
ter quality than any to be found west
of Pennsylvania. No country has ever
experienced large industrial or com.
mercial development without cheap
transportation and cheap fuel Why
should II be expected that Alaska will
be developed without these same
meansf
"It has been estimated by the most
expert authorities that the Alaskan
coal-even so much of IL as is OF good
quality and has been definitely ex-
plored-at the present rate OF con
sumption ON the whole Pacific sea
board would last from 5000 to 5000
years and probably much longer.
do not think that any of us need be
very much concerned about the wei
fare Of posterity 5000 or 5000 years
hence. The people of those ages may
not be using coal for fuel at all, even
If IL il available; they may be EN-
ploying solar energy or some other
means of producing light, heat and
power. At any rate, Alaska should be
permitted to use enough of its own
coal for the legitimate development OF
its own resources.
cit is not enough TO have railroads.
we must have coal for the economical
operation of railroads in order that
we NAV have reasonable freight rates
In other words, cheap fuel is the key
to the whole scheme Of future devei-
opment in this territory
Legislative Program in Doubt
No one seems to have any definite
idea regarding the legislative pro-
gram in the coming session OF con
gress. Almost everyone agrees that
the one thing Of prime importance Is
the enactment Of appropriation bills
which are to provide means for run
ning the governmental machinery until
congress can meet again. Some of
the legislators express the opinion
that if the president should insist up
on loading up congress with great
many measures and insist that they
be enacted belore adjournment the
result is likely to be that the appro-
pration bills will get stalled in com
mittee and that the congress will ex-
pre by legal limitation without some
very necessary, and, in fact, indispen-
sable appropriation legislation being
enacted.
OF course, this has all been said
before, but it may not be amiss to re-
new the suggestion in view of the very
short working session ahead of us.
IT must also be conceded by even the
casual observer that the president 's
policies look somewhat less important
than they did before the recent elec.
tion. Not that they are really less
important perhaps, but it is impossible
TO get away from the implication car
ried by the election returns that the
country is by no means unit on what
congress ought to do. 1t will not he
known until the presidents message
Is read to congress just what the
president will prescribe as fit to allay
the ills of the nation. In view Of th,
apparently inspired assertion regard
ing his desires, it is possible it istaor
ing his desires, it is possible, how
ever, to make n fairly good guess OF
that score.