New-York tribune., 1910-03-26

nothing whatever 20 bring influence 20 bear
on public officials. in reference 10 affairs
IN Alaska. Mr. Birch replied that early in
1908 he went 10 Secretary Garfield and
asked him 10 help get some legislation
which would enable the resources Of Alas
ka 20 be developed. lie did not get much
satisfaction. he said. He then went 10 see
Representative Herbert Parsons about the
Alaska coal bin. which had passed The
Senate.
Il told Mr.. Parsons that il was a rotten
law and unconstitutional" Mr., Birch said
amid laughter.
Mr. Parsons seemed 20 take offence al
this. the witness continued. saying that
he had drafted the Law for Secretary Gar
held-
Mr.. Birch then offered IN evidence a let
ter which he had written 20 Mr. Parsons
about the bin on May 2, 1903. He sent two
additional copies Of this letter, one for
Secretary Garfield ana one for President
Roosevelt he letter was a criticism OF
the ball. charging that IL would prove an
impracticahle measure and would retard
the development OF Alaska because Of its
provisions limiting the area which could
be worked 10y one coal corporation. This
is the law approved May 3, 1905
Tells Of Alaska's Resources.
In the course OF his testimony regard
inE conditions in Alaska NJ. Birch sub
mitted some figures in high finance which
I both amused and startled the comraittee.
T Referring 10 the testimony given by him
( before the Committee on Territories Some
weeks ago. he said that his statement had
( been misunderstood. What he meant 20
say was that II tce Cunninghaui tract
contained a0,0oo, 900 tons Cs cCal which
could be mined az 81 IS ten and sold al
s. = ton, tEere would be a profit of 90
ceats a ton, or Se5.cO0.00o lie did not
want the committee 20 get the Impression
thar the coal was worth 50 cents a .on IN
the ground. AS q matter az FACE, 4 was
worth Lcthi@g in the ground. tie witness
said. u had 10 he Transported and a
market fo.ne Cor Il before 4 was worth
anything. The iccherss are just as val
uable as the cca'," Mr. Birch continued.
II you can set them 10 market you can
sell them II you are going 10 hold up
the resources OF Alaska. you won't have
any people tue-e; you won't have anything
except iccLcrgs."
ar. Birch went on 10 say that IL was
Just as fair 10 say that the Cunningham
coal property was worth s25 600 900 az
10 say that n the government put out a.
per cent compound interest the So, 900
which IL has received for the Cunning
ham property II would have SS67,ll2,673 2s
al the end of the period IN which the coal
In these claims viii be- exhausted al the
present rate of consumption IN Alaska
and by the United States navy on the Pa
cine Coast He said these figures had been
carefully worked out by expert statisti-
clans. who demonstrated that a. the pres
eut rate u consumption ia Alaska and by
the Pacific fleet thc Cunningham claims
would not surrender their last ton of coal
for two hundred years.
The witness complained o. present con
ditlons "a Alaska. 40 coal r. being mined
there, be said, and as a result tho terri
tory Is suffering and .ts development is
lagg!ng The GuEgcnheim- Morgan sfndi-
cate imports as coal ircm British Colu,n-
l;a and pays 81 So ton. although there
.s coal right along its railroad which IA Is
prohibited from using or buying Ihe or
dinary consumers IN Alaska pay from sl2
10 Sls a ton foF bitumiuous coal. AR.
Birch said. lie added that IN the Aruerf-
can navy could buy Alaska coal the gov.
ornnscnt could save from $500. 600 20 5000.
900 O year