Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-24
ALASKAN COAL
WORTH TWO
BILLIONS
.BEVERlDGE ANXIOUS TO
RETAIN TITLE TO DEPOSITS
Indiana Senator Introduces al
Bill for Withdrawal From All.
Forms Of Entry Of Great Fuel
Beds in Far North,

tBy Morning Journal Special leased WireI
Washington, Feb, 23~The recent
startling testimony concerning the vail
ue of coal deposits in Alaska given
before the senate committee on terri
tories by Manager Birch Of the Gug-
genheim Morgan Alaskan syndicate
has resulted in movement i'm the SEN
ate in the interest OF the permanent
retention to the Alaska coal deposits
By the United states and bills looking
To that end were introduced today by
senator BeVeridge, chairman Of the
committee on territories
one bill provides for the withdrawal
from All forms of entry or sale OF ali
the coal deposits Of Alaska and the
other for the leasing Of them The
leasing measure prohibits the leasing
of more than 1900 acres to more than
one person or association. or for more
than thirty years.
II is provided that the surface over
lying coal deposits Dc disposed OF
under the land laws
In presenting the bills Mr. Bever-
idgc spoke Of Mr., Birch's revelations
and presented many other figures to
show the enormous value of the de-
posits. which, he predicted would be
needed In time not only by the Pacific
He placed the gross valuation on
the Bering river and Mantanuska de-
posits at 100000 and said the
researches of the geodetical survey
had revealed many other deposits In
the territory. He gave fifteen billion
as the total tonnage of the territory.
ON Mr.. Beveridge's request the bills
were referred TO the committee on
public lands and Senator Nelson, the
att .,I
surance that legislation would be rec
commended
Commenting further on the subject
Of the conservation of the Alaskan coal
Mr.. Bevcridge said II was necessary
that this great fuel reserve should not
pass from iie owar 'sllii of the United
states.
1T Is necessary" he said that il
should be developed and It is clear
that some steps should be taken To
safeguard II from private ownership
and TO provide for it's development by
lease"
He called attention to the fact that
if disposed of at all the Alaska coal
land must be disposed Of at a Hat
rate OF ten dollars per acre. He
pointed out that in 1906 President
Roosevelt Withdrew all these coal
lands from entry, but that no law had
ever lltfi lidH7fb tDiilll iblllE ilif VIII
drawal. IT was to confirm this with
drawal and make II the act Of con-
gress itself that he introduced the
first bill.
Speaking Of the second bill he said
congress had too long delayed the
of this plain principle Of
public policy to the various mineral
deposits that only belonged to the
nation.
Had this been done in the case of
the iron ore deposits which long since /
have passed into private hands, said !
MI Beveridge, the nation today /
would be receiving enormous royalties |
that would have gone far toward pay
ing the expenses OF the government /
and at the same time special interests /
now owning and operating these ore I
deposits would have made reasonable /
profits instead of the enormous prof :
It's that have gone to build up some /
Df the mghtiest aggr' cations OF c~pi- 4
tai and some OF th. most 'r1mercous
fortunes In this coantr5, indeed, in the |
history OF the world"