The daily Alaskan., 1911-12-02
AMERICAN MINING CONGRESS
 DISCUSSES ALASKAN PROBLEM

viaed to each faela, and this includes
 the wharves. eunkeEs, and terminal
 facilities, whicA must be bailt under the condRsous prevailing along the
 Alaska Coast These items must be considered In our study of any sys- tem for the opening os the cOl fields,
 4 leasing system has been suggest ed and vigorously advocated Your committee does pot believe that any of the proposed leasing systems are feasible. We wln not discuss the ar
 gument made against the leasing sys- tenn by those who are opposed to it's adoption in the Uaited states. We win disregard the failure Of the leas- ing system during the forty years 4 was tried in the lead mines of Inda- ana and Illinois and the Copper mines Of Michigan. and will consider it on ly in it's application to Alaska The question arises, who wfO provide the ransporssdon. whsrves. bunaers, and terminal facilities for the Iesee9 Capital must be procured, and hence capital must be assured secured SC curlty and a reasonable profit on the investment Can any one enter these fields upon the leasing system ex- cept. argregatfons of great wealth. We believe moi. The system Os pri- vste ownership enables the owner of the ground to secure capital upon the security of his due, but can this cap itaI be obtained upon the securities Of a mere lesee7 This Is manifest ly impossible unless the lease be very liberal in area and terms. The lease must be so lFoersl in this respect as Co justify a large investment or mon ey. not only In the development Of th
 mine. buN or the buildinE of railroads bunkeTs. whaTves. and the constrUc- ton of colHers, or ocean gong steaTn- CTS. We believe that any lease so liberal as this will create a monopoly 5n the Alaska coal fIeid far more dan geroas than is possible under any system Of ~privste eSploststion." Pen hsps the Alaska Syndicate, with its railroad already R,uilt from COrdovs to Che east side og Copper River can as o-d Co build a branch from there into the Katslla fields, but H 50. will there be any competition tn transpor- taaou. wll any company De iustt fled in bHldinE a breakwSter st Ka- talla or another railroad from Con trolier Bay into these fields. and pro vide bunker and terminal facilities with several niles of trestle over the mud Hats Co be maintained under sue adverse conditions for operation. dur ing a portion ot the year. and under take all ot this simply on a lease2 We do not believe capital can be found to engage in so hazardous an enterprise, unless, as we repeat. the lease be exceedingly l5beral h both area and terms, so hberal in fSct as to be more dangerous than any system oS private ownership On the other hand, we believe that, if pst- ents were issued Co the bona fide claimants. to t1osls men who accepted the invitation of the government and fully compiled with it's laws, sufficl- eut lands would be patented to encour sge the building of railroads from points ou Controller bay or near Ks- taIla where a breaikwsbe- ss possible; but 1t is the opinion of your commit tee that. if the leasing system be applied. trsnsportatlon will be In the control os one company.
 tContiuued in oSir hsxt issue)