Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-26
Coal Worth Millions.

The witness estimated the amount of
coal available in the Cunningham group
at 90O0.0OO tons. The Alaska coal. he
declared. was as good any he had ever
seen. The profit to the mine owners. he
had estimated at from - cents to 80
cents a ton--a net value to the owners OF
from S25.00o.000 to S45,00O00h- Mr.. Ken
needy said his estimates were rough ones.
for he had not gone tho. ouchly into the
question of value i'm dollars and cents.
The Alaska fields were the richest the
witness had ever seen in his twenty-five
years experience.
Mr.. Kennedy was questioned in detail
by members of the committee as to the
location of the claims with reference to
the coast. possible harbots etc.
When Mr.. Kennedy finally was ex-
cused. young Barr once more was called
TO the stand and questioned further by
members of the committee as to his
agreement with CLAWS. 1t was difficult
TO ascertain just what this agreement
was and what CLAWS did. Senators
Sutherland and Root called the witness
attention to a number of conflicting
statements in his testimony of yesterday
and again went over the matter with
him.
Barr said today that CLAWS first called
his attention to the land. which brought
about the agreement to share the profits
if the land was secured.
Il had often thought of getting this
information, but had never been success
full before" said the witness.
CLAWS. it appeared after long ques-
tioning of the witness. was to- handle the
matter before the land office.
Your object was to defeat selection
of government land made by the state of
Washington" asked Senator Nelson.
Yes
And CLAWS was to assist your
He was 10 handle the matter
Barr insisted that the state had made
an illegal selection and that the land
oh he n settlement
Claws Share, $4,000.
1t was brought out that Claws share
in the transaction would amount to $1O,-
600
THE value of his service was of that
EXTENT" suggested Senator Flint.
Yes"
And his services consisted of his
knowledge of where these lands could be
loca' 1 and knowing the particular lands
to te?'
he could go to the land Office
out things that I couldn't
". ~, and that was worth $4,000
HE ; to get the title clear
Are you or CLAWS doing anything that
is not specifically authorized by the laws
of the United States?" asked Representa-
tive Madison.
No, sir
The law allows the scripping Of the
land you are trying to secure, provided
the states claim is declared illegal?"
Yes
And your contention is that the state
not having lost any lands is not entitled
to. claim these under the indemnity
clauseT'
Yes"
That is ALL
When Barr was excused the luncheon
recess was ordered.
When the luncheon recess was ordered
II was announced that Clifford Pinchot
probably would be the first witness at the
afternoon session.
Seattle Timbermen Testify.
Yesterday afternoons session of the
committee was largely taken up with the
examination of w. w. Barr, a timber
dealer of Seattle, and of Andrew kennedy,
also of Seattle.
Visitors to the inquiry saw an attempt
bs Attorney vertrees, on behalf of the
Department of the Interior officials, to
show that CLAWS had been locating tim
Der claims that have to be passed upon
10y the general land Office after his dis
missal from the land office service, al
though CLAWS had criticised severely Mr..
BallingerS act i'll acting counsel for
the Cunningham claimants to Alaskan
coal lands after he had left the land
office.
Mr.. Barr testified that after CLAWS had
been dismissed he had engaged him to
locate timber lands, and that. for his
work. CLAWS was to receive half inter-
est in the claims. The land located II
was te tilted. is claimed by the state of
Washington. and also by the Northern
Pacific railroad, but the records of To-
cation must go through the local Office
IF the general land office.
Messrs. Barr and Kennedy were pro-
duced as witnesses for the prosecution"
and their testimony was to support CLAWS
in refutation of the charge that Claws
has secreted twenty-four letters from the
government files in box belonging to
him and left in room in the federal