Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-07-01
Alaska Coal Land Claims
DisaIIOwed.
PEaCHOT'S STAND SUSTAINED
zEserior Department Decides That
the Entire Cunningham Group
of Entries Were Fraudu.
lently Made.

Washington, June 27.-The utmost
significance and Importance is attach
ef 10 an announcement made by the
anterior department that the famous
Cunningham claims in Alaska, involv-
ing coal lands worth all the way from
Sl00000,000 to $500.000,000. have been
snrdered cancelled by Land Commits
sinner bennett, with the approval of
ths new secretary OF the interior, Wal
ner Fisher.
ghe properties have been restored
sDs the public domain, and later on will
foe opened for re-entry.
by the action of the interior depart
ament the an-Guggenheim syndi-
cate, which has tentative option TO
Sake over the claims, has had hard
Ala@~ given it in its plan for getting
E1.m grip on the mineral resources of
Alaska
Their attorneys have threatened an
appeal to the United States supreme
court, but such an appeal can be based
only on some point of law involved.
and not on the findings of fact as an
A&QuDNeu ny Tile department..
The Cunningham claims have been
1in the public eye constantly for more
z.san two years. They brought about
1s1e Ballinger-Pinchot investigation by
Nyagress and the dismissal from the
apblie service of Clifford Pinchot, as
.s'aief forester; John X. CLAWS, a chief
"7I field division in the land office. and
several minor officials.
Both Pinchot and CLAWS were dis
1nassed for characterization incident to
their attacks on former Secretary of
Ehe interior Ballinger, who, they
charged, was favorably disposed to-
ward the claims. These claims and the
Bitter controversy they started. It is
believed, had much to do with the re-
rsi gnation of Mr.. Ballinger last March
NJ secretary of the interior One of
she first acts of his successor, Mr..
FISHER, who is friend of Pnchot and
Of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, was to
start these claims toward a final de.
.y.ision-
The Importance of the decision Is
vet forth by Mr.. Shipp. secretary of
the National Conservation association.
rsxao said:
The decision of the department OF
1he interior in cancelling the Cunning
ham claims Is great victory for con-
soerpation. Aside from the value of the
a,oal deposits thus saved from mo-
ssopoiy, 1t is of the utmost Importance
= do the whole country in that 1t should
clear the way for the prompt develop
snent Of Alaskan coal fields for the
benefit of all the people"
Fraudulent on the Face.
Commissioner bennett, in his de-
'a.sision holding the claims for cancella-
0saon on the ground OF fraud, declares
Stsat each OF the thirty-three entries
improperly allowed because of IA
I "a Selects apparent on their face. He
2 asserts that the government conclu-
sssavsIiy established the charges brought
against the claimants, and that there
IA SEe doubt but that an agreement
'-aAIiseea among them in violation of
Flaw
The thirty-three claims involved
amounted to an aggregate area of $3.50
acres. The value of the land has been
high in the millions. The
'ssloal embraced in the claims is said to
A&Ss among the finest in the world
Commissioner bennett makes fire.
sszuent reference to the work of CLAWS
tEr prosecuting the governments case
against the Cunningham claimants
Me also refers at length to the nego-
i1fAsions between Cunningham and rep
ocessntatives of the Guggenheims, who
we're shown at the Ballinger-Pinchot
hearing TO have taken an option on
n -hese coal lands, which were to be
'esss oTked in connection with the other
extensive Guggenheim interests in
ssIEska.
The government charged against
t-Szsingham and his associates that
1trer entries of the coal lands were
man in pursuance of an understand
aasErapd agreement entered into by all
chs cxlaimsnts prior to location, to
cgyhlse the several claims for the
aoEnbIsso and benefit of all II was fur
~ noy cassarted that the entries were
H2oHse VITA the unlawful purpose that
@1.hey sHoEad inure to the use and ben
Vi sit OF an association or corporation.
SITTER reviewing all OF the facts
sSrUngnt our Mr.. bennett reached the
-s' conslusion mat the claims had no legal
-st&nding and ordered them cancelled
s'Sessetary Fisher promptly approved
,1sgiies binding.