The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-07
BALL|NGER MAKES
 LONG STATEMENT
Blames Opponents for Unset tied Conditions in Alaska
TOO MUCH AGITATION
BaIIinger as Necessary in. Clear ing Up Present Alaskan
 Situation

Washington, November 6.-Blaming the agitation which has been raised through out the country since the withdrawal of all Alaskan coal lands in 1906 as the cause of keeping the whole question un- settled, and also for the inaction of Con- gress, Secretary of the Interior Ballinger tonight made public long statement in the form of an interview, in the course of which he assails those who have charged him with being an opponent of conservation and planes them for the unsettled conditions in Alaska.
 The statement was brought out by the recent indictments in Washington against Alaska coal claimants, in which con- nection the secretary says that these are but further steps in the effort which is being made by the government to clear up and settle this whole question"
 Since the withdrawal order was made to enable Congress to decide upon a definite policy of dealing with this re- source, the secretary says:
 There has been throughout the coun- try much agitation regarding Alaska coal an agitation a large part of which is based on false statements. Whatever has been the motive behind the agita- ton, 1t has resulted in keeping the ques- tion unsettled and is largely blameable for the inaction of Congress-
 The secretary points out that there are two essentials for clearing up the situa- ton as follows:
 T. An early prosecution and disposition nf bo t,,vo 1vin cbor of fraud and conspiracy against existing claimants.
 "2. Congressional action deciding the manner in which Alaskan coal may be acquired"
 As the Pacific coast is obliged to draw its goods from the Atlantic coast, the secretary says the charge has arisen that the interests are the beneflciaries of the policy which prevents the opening up of large fuel deposits.
 There has been much talk Secretary Balllnger continues, "of the. interests opposing that so-called conservation which makes for reservation, rather than use, but as matter of fact the in- terests naturally favor rather than op- pose the reservation and non-use idea
 The secretary points out that Alaskan coal can be delivered at San Francisco at s4 a ton, while a railroad in Alaska is compelled to pay SIP ton.
 ITO my mind a continuation of the present situation is the direct antithesis of rational conservation" the secretary continued.
 Consider that for each five tons of Atlantic seaboard coal transported to the Pacific coast one ton is used in trans portation, or a total waste of 20 per cent, and you will see that existing meth ods do not conserve but destroy.
 Prom an economic point of view, 1t is intolerabe that this waste should con- tinue and that a large region should be handicapped in it's legitimate development and the proper use of Its resources by the failure of the government properly to settle the problems of how to use these resources. It Is sincerely to be hoped that Congress will determine early in the com ing session the manner In which Alaska coal may be taken out and placed in the markets of the Pacific coast before those markets are absorbed by foreign iniportations."