The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-11-07
BALLINGER RAPS
His TRADUCERS
SAYS AGITATION HAS PREVENT
Ed COAL LANDS SETTLEMENT.
Prosecute Pending Gases and Get
Action by Congress-Iiational
Conservation.

Washington. Nov. planning
the agitation which has been raised
throughout the country since the
Withdrawal Of all Alaskan coal lands
an 1906 as the cause OF keeping the
whole question unsettled and also
Tor the inacticn OF congress, Secre-
;ary of the Interior Ballinger made
public a long statement In the form
OF an Interview, In the course of
which he ausals those who have
charged him with being an opponent
OF conservation and blames them for
the unsettled conditions in Alaska.
The statement was brought out byl
the recent indictments against
Alaskan coal claimants. in which
connection the secretary says that
those "arc but further steps IN the
effort which II being made by the
government TO clear mp and settle
this whole question"
Since the withdrawal order was
made to enable congress 20 decide
upon a definite policy OF dealing with
this resource the secretary says:
ifet~~'~ Two Iselh'hh>s
There has been throughout the
country much agitation regarding
Alaskan coal. an agitation large
part of which Is based on FALSE state
monts whatever has been the mo
tive behind the agitation. u has re-
suited IN keeping the question un-
sctt'ed. and Is largely blamable for
the inactlon OF CONGRESS"
The secretary points out that there
are two essentials for clearing up the
situation. as follows:
"First-an early prosecution aud
disposition OF the pending cases. IN
Noivlng charges OF fraud and oonspir-
acy against existing claimants
Second ~ Congressional action
deciding the manner in which
Alafkan coal may be acquired"
THE Real Conservation.
As the paSinc coaet O. Obliged 10
draw rs goods from the Atlantic
coast, the secretary SAYS the charge
has arisen that the Interests" are
the bcnenciarics Of the policy which
prevents the opening up Of large
fuel dcposltis
There has been much talk" Sec
rotary Ballinger continues. "of the
Interests opposing that so-oallcd
cou5oryat on which makes for re- or-
walton rathor than use. but. as q
matter of fact. the Interests
naturally favor rather than Oppose
the reservation and non-uso idea
The secretary points out that
Mexican coal can be delivered at san
Francisco az 81 ton. while rail-
road In Alaska Is compelled 60 pay
sl2 ton.
Would Prevent Waste.
ITO my mind. continuation Of
the pre- cnt situation Is the direct
antlthesis az rational conservation. "
the secretary continued. Consider
that for each 1--WE tons OF Atlantic
scaboard coal transported 70 the
Pacific coast one ton IS used In trans
portation. or total waste Of 20 per
cent. and you viii see that eNislting
methods DO not conserve, but de-
siToW
From an economic point OF view.
Il Is intolerab'e that this waste
should continue and that large
region should De Handicapped In It's
legitimate development aud the
proper use OF Us resources By the
failure OF the government properly
Co settle the problems Of how To use
these resources. Il Is sincerely 10
Dc hoped that congress VIII deter
NINA carly Ia fhg f-su,lns. ens..fou fhr|
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 inn
pOrtatiOns."