Omaha daily bee., 1910-11-28
MUCH NEEDED FOR TERRITORY
Of North Badly in Need Of
Cheaper Fuel.
AILROADs AWAIT NEW ORDER
One Line Susepnds for Lack Of Mining
Facilities.
SYSTEM ADVOCATED
Executive Recommends Government
Ala Of Railroads In Form Of Guar
antec OF Interest ON Bonds
Trade Conditions.

WASHINGTON. Nov T.-Expressing It
as his opinion that the want OF cheap fuel
and the delay In opening the Alaska coal
fields arc the strongest adverse factors in
the present problem OF territorial progress
Governor Walter r. clark of Alaska, in
his annual report TO the secretary OF tho,
interior made public today. declares that
the lll-adyised policy Of forbdding all de-
velopment Of the large coal resources OF
Alaska, or OF placing such restrictions upon
development as TO make the embarkation
Of private capital impossible, Is to be
deprecated, while the policy Of conserva-
ton by proper use Is to be encouraged.
This coal" he says rs needed for the
industries OF the territory and for the
physical comfort OF our people, and on no
account should It be withheld from these
uses"
The present imposslbility Of mining coal.
either under title or lease, Is In a measure
responsible for the suspension OF one OF
the principal railroads This has caused
general feeling OF encouragement over the
business situation in those parts OF Alaska
where development and settlement ought 70
be going on most rapidly.
Favors Leasing system.
Governor Clark says It appeared in pub
lie discussions OF the subject that the
opposition to opening the Aluska coal fields
springs chiefly from two sources--those
persons who fear monopoly and those
who would have this coal held rs a reserve
supply for the future" He further says
that while the present coal land law is not
a good one 1t certainly lends no hope to
monopolists, but rather Isl calculated to
discourage the embarkation OF capital"
I In declaring his hope for the adoption Of
I, the leasing system TO develop the lands,
Governor Clark says 1T win be found
quite feasible, according TO tae best authori-
: ties. to devise suitable terms for leases.
protecting both the public and the opera
tors. and insuring Intelligent conservation"
The governor says that the views Of the
extremist that all the Alaskan coal should
be kept as q reserve snpply hAs nothing
to commend IT, A conservative estimate
be says. made by Alfred II. Brooks OF the
geological survey shows that at the pres
fent rate OF consumption the marketable
Alaska Goals would last 5000 or 500 years
AT the end OF that period" he continues.
'posterity may be using solar energy or
some other means than coal for light heat
and power"
! Railroad Building IIaIts.
Little progress has been made in rail-
road building In the northwest territory
during the last year. II Is asserted. The
officers Of the Alaska Northern railway,
which will tap the Mantanuslxa coal fields,
declare that the principal factor in pre-
} venting a continuation of construction Is
the unsettled state OF the coal land ques-
! don and the inability OF any citizen TO OBJ
tain title or lease TO these lands.
Governor Clark recommends government
aid for the railroads in the form OF a
b guarantee Of interest on their bonds. He
declares that the opening Of new wagon
roads and trails, with the accompanying
p lower freight rates on supplies, has en-
abled mining to be carried on in districts
{ which either could not have opened at all
or would have offered only a precarious
] opportunity to the miner.
, The governor recommends that under the
! present conditions Of fuel supply In Alaska
and until the territory reaches a more ad-
( vanced stage OF development the govern
E ment should make no charge on the cut
! ling OF frewood
Certain changes In the mining law are
recommended. These are characterized to
discourage speculation among nonresident
claimants who give powers OF attorney TO
: some person In the territory
= Praise for signal Corps.
:, signal corps men who have charge OF
a the telegraph system Of Alaska are com
mended by the governor They endure
great hardships in the maintenance Of some
OF the lines and are ito be commended for
their brave efforts which result IN keeping
: the lines open with remarkably few inter
= | rupuons." He declares the ocean eabls
y will have TO be replaced in a few years
''urless a large Improvement In wireless
y communication takes place"
q The visit Of Attorney General Wicker
!, , sham and Secretary OF Labor and Com
= merce Nagel to Alaska IN July and August
he says, was extremely gratifying to the
people"
Discussing the serious defeet'' in the
code laws caused by the absence of leEal
requirement for the regulation OF births
marriages and deaths In the territory. the
governor says that instances have multi
piled in the last few years illustrating In q
l striking way the evils which must surely
result from the absence OF vital records
Coal is Imported.
. Domestic coal 20 the value Of S20S. $50 was
! shipped TO Alaska from the United States
. during the fiscal year ended June 80, ac-
q cording to the report. In addition to this.
= foreign coal valued az SS56 ass was Imported
a during the year, bringing the total OF all
: coal importauons for the year up 70 S5Ss, ia
II The increase In the total value OF the do
II nestle coal imported during the year over
i 1903 was tS61a
The importations OF domestic merchandise
\, from the United States. including coal
- lumber. hardware and machinery. pro
~ visions, liquors. etc. showed an increase In
d 1910 over 1903 Of s1S62O2
a Merchandise and precious metals shipped
from Alaska 20 the United States during
"a 1910 amounted 10 $S4S2S.5S5. N increase over
,e 1903 OF S2s85OO according 70 the report.
80
= Engineers death Accidental,