The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-04-09
THE SUPPRESSED
LETTERS Of CLAWS
A STRONG POINT
Defense Is Relying Largely on
This in Contest in Ballin.
ger r-Pinchot Investigation
VALUE OF COAL LANDS MAY
HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATED

hAvt MEN EkhGGERAI Ell
Witness Testified That the Coal On.
der the Cunningham Claims Would
Probably Not be Worth More Than
Half q Cent Ton.
Washington, April 9.-More testi-
mony concerning the value and ex-
tent Of the coal bearing fields of AL
aska and the further cross-examina-
tion Of Andrew Christensen regard
ing the twenty-four letters which are
alleged to have been concealed by the
CLAWS, following his dismissal from
the service, confronted the Ballinger-
Pinchot investigating committee when
1t met this morning. Alfred H.
Brooks. the mineral expert of the
geological survey, was on the stand
when the adjournment was taken yes
terday. Attorney Brandeis postponed
from yesterday the further cross-ex-
animation Of Christensen until he
could have time to read over the mass
of documentary evidence put in re-
garding the disappearance and SUBJ
sequent discovery of the twenty-four
missing letters among Claws effects
at Seattle. CLAWS claims the discov-
cry Of the letters in his box was a
'.frace-up."
The defense" apparently is laying
great store by this discovery and the
hearings for the last three or four
sessions practically have been given
over to this subject.
A mass of documentary evidence
was put in, while Andrew Christen-
sen, Claws successor as chief of
field division at Seattle, was on the
stand.
When he concluded with the corres-
pondence, Mr.. Christensen told of the
search among CLAWS effects in the
federal building in Seattle in Febru-
ary. His account coincided with that
OF assistant Custodian O'Neill. Prior
to the finding OF the papers on Feb
ruary 8, Christensen said he had no
knowledge Of the whereabouts of the
documents. At the time he discover
ed the papers, the witness said he was
searching for others papers request
ed by the investigating committee.
The witness then was turned over
to Brandeis for cross-examination and
the attorney attacked him in a fash
Ion that brought protest from At
torntJ Vertrees.
when you telegraphed Schfartz on
February 8. about the finding of the
letters, you made certain false state
ments, didn't you?" asked Brandeis.
Il did not" the witness flared back.
THE only thing said in that tele-
gram that was mistake was that the
box In which the papers were found
was broken open. AS a matter of
fact, the top Of the box was loose. The
telegram was prepared in hurry.
We broke open several other boxes.
1t is easy to make a mistake like
that"
1T is easy to lie." Brandeis shout
ed.
Senator Sutherland protested
AGAINST this, saying it was not only
offensive to the witness, but to the
committee as we'll.
Attorney Vertrees said he desired to
protect generally against Mr.. Bran
deis' methods with witnesses. He
said no members Of the committee had
ever observed such an "unseemly,
reprehensible or improper course"
Either the witness should be pro-
tected or allowed to protect himse II, /"
Mr.. Vertrees added.
Christensen, thereupon was excused
and Alfred H. Brooks, mineral ex-
pert of the geological survey, was
called to testify as to coal condition
in Alaska.
MIR. Brooks said the total area of
Alaska is $4,000 square miles. OF
coal bearing rocks there are known
to be about 10000 square miles. Only
about one-tenth of the coal area is
known to be underlaid with coal
seams. About one-half of the entire
coal area is made up of Ignite, or q
low grade Of coal. About one-fifth
OF the territory has not yet been sur
veyed, and the witness said there was
every reason to believe that in the
northern part Of the territory are
some of the most extensive coal de-
posits. These are not included in the
10000 square mile estimate.
Mr.. Brooks said that IL the Alaska
fields were opened it would mean u
saving to the United States navy of at
least $500.O00 year. The expert al
SO said that the Chugach forest re-
serve is only about one-fifth covered
with timber. The timber in Alaska il
being rapidly exhausted for fuel pur-
poses. 1t would conserve the timber
II the coal fields were opened.
Don't glaciers make up most of the
forest reserves asked Senator Mel.
son.
"Yes," the witness replied.
Alaska is retrogressing," Mr..
Brooks said, people are becoming
discouraged and are leaving. This is
due largely to the coal situation.
Without coal there can be no rail-
roads. and without railroads there
can be no business to speak Of"