The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-07-28

val reservation because Of it, proxim-
fly to the coal fields. His letter was
submitted by the secretary of COM
merce aud labor to the secretary Of
the interior, who Invited the comment
OF the director Of the geological sur
vey. That officer replied that the
harbor was a poor one and that 1t
would not be as good for naval res
ervation Us one already selected. but
that he thought that private capital
ought to be encouraged to construct a
railway from the channel over the
mud flats to the shore and thence to
the coal fields.
Captain Pillsbury Of the army en-
gineers In report in the record made
In 1907 mentions three possible objec-
tons to Controller bay-first that the
surrounding islands may prove to be SO
low as not fully to protect the channel;
second. that the fiats extend two or
three miles from the shore. and, third,
that ice formed In the rivers entering
the bay and. affected by tidal currents,
may destroy structures put upon the
fats and especially long trestle built
over them.
Ryan Asks For Land.
In December. 1909. Richard s. Ryan,
representing the Controller Railway
and Navigation company. applied to
Mr.. Pinchot. the then forester. for an
elimination from the Chugach forest
reservation of a tract Of land 10 enable
his company to secure railroad ter
minals, bunkers. railroad shops. etc.
on the northwest shore of Controller
bay. This application was referred
By the associate forester to the district
forester at Portland. Ore. and bylhim
to the forester in Alaska. The result
of these references and the application
was that early in 1910 Mr.. Graves.
who had in the meantime become for
ester, reported that there was no OBJ
lection from the standpoint OF forestry
interests TO the elimination of the tract
Indicated or, indeed. of $1,000 acres on
the northwest shore Of Controller bay.
The attention Of the navy depart
ment was invited by the forestry bu-
reau to the proposal to open the shore
Of Controller bay to entry and occupa-
ton. and inquiry was made whether
the navy department desired to use
Controller bay as reservation and
whether 1t objected to its being opened
up. The answer was in the negative
The matter was considered BY the
forestry bureau. by the secretary Of
agriculture, by the secretary Of the in
terror and by the general land Office.
and the result was a Recommendation
to me In May. 1910. that an elimina-
ton be made OF 800 acres with front
age Of 160 rods on the northwest shore
Of Controller bay.
considered the whole case In Au-
gust. 1910. and directed that the 800
acres. recommended By both depart
menfs. be eliminated as recommended.
The question finally came before the
cabinet late Id October. After a full
discussion Of the matter and after a
consideration Of the law / expressed
/ dissatisfaction with. the order because
1t purporfed on fits face 10 make the
elimination for the benefit OF a rail-
road company OF tract OF land which
the company could not secure under
the statute. for it was tract $40
acres In one body when only leo acres
could be thus acquired In the second
place. I preferred to make much
larger elimination OF tract faein2
the entire channel and with sufficient
room for terminal railway town-
was willing TO do this because
found the restrictions in the law sufh
Gent to prevent the possibility OF any
monopoly Of either the upland or the
harbor or channel by the Controllei
Railway and Navigation company OF
any other persons or company.
IL had been originally suggested by
the forestry bureau that 1900 acres
might safely be eliminated so far as
forestry purposes were concerned. but
fear had been expressed by one Of the
district foresters that such largs
elimination would offer an opportunity
to the company to use land scrip and
acquire title TO extensive town sites
ana the result OF the joint considera
ton Of both departments had been ths
reduction to $40 acres.
a- An u..-.lst.s.
I wish 10 be as specific as possible
upon this point and to say that alons
am responsible for the enlargement
Of the proposed elimination from 81
acres to 1880 acres and that pro
posed the change and stated my rea
sons therefor. and. while both secre
taries cordially concurred In H. tbs
suggestion was mine.
The statement Of Mr. Ryan. who had
been properly vouchcd 10 the forester
By two gentlemen whom know. Mr
Chester Lyman and Mr. Fred Jcn
nings. and who had produced a lettcl
from a reputable financial firm, Probst
wetzier K Co. was that the railway
company which be represented had ex
pended more than $1,000 IN making
preparations for the construction Of 8
railway from Controller bay to th'
coal fields. twenty-five miles away. bu
that they were obStrucfed 10 80 doini
by the order reserying she Chugaci
forest reservation. which covered al
Of the Controller bay shore lie. al
well a. Protst. weszler 4 Co. CAV,
every assurance that the Copper Rive
Hallway company. owned BIZ Mexsrt.