Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1911-08-04
THE PLOT EXPLAINED.

Former President Roosevelt edtorially in
the Outlook, smashes the defense of the land
grabbers Of Controller Bay in Alaska Their
tonttnTiOn Is that the Controller BAY outlet
from the coal lands is of no great value This
rs shown by Roosevelt to be ridiculous for as he
writes Controller Bay, under actual condi-
tons offers the only chance or at any rate
very much the best chance for free outlet
from the great Boring river coal fields
Mr.. Roosevelt asserts that whatever re-
tarding of the proper development of Alaska
has occupied Is due directly to the great SYN
dlcates and corporations, such as the Guggen-
helms, who have fought steadily. backed by
the authorities at Washington. for special priv
leges and illegal favors.
During the two years preceding last March
until the appointment Of Mr. Fisher" Mr.
Roosevelt writes, 'the interior department. IN
effect sided with those great capitalists who
wished to develop Alaska by making enor
nous fortunes for themselves outside Of and
IN defiance of, the law. The responsibility
for the delay in the development of Alaska
lies solely at their doors.
In 1906, when. on the recommendation of
Secretary Hitchcock, the first withdrawal of the
coal lands of Alaska was made the effort TO
open the coal lands was begun by those then
in authority.
The foremost advocates of conservation have
never ceased from that day to this in the effort
to secure the opening of these coal lands UNI
der proper conditions, and the chief obstacle
IN the way has been the attitude of the men
IN public and private life who have been bent
upon preventing any development of Alaska I'M
less it could take the shape Of development
through great aw-brcaIing syndicates who
sought absolute monopolistic control of the
coal fields, and who, provided they could there
by achieve this purpose. were equally willing
to violate the existing laws and prevent the
enactment Of better laws
II wish also to call attention to the essen
tlal fact as regards the Controller Bay situation
Controller Bay, under actual conditions offers
the only chance or at any rate very much the
best chance, for free outlet from the great
Berng river coal fields 1t was the imperative
duty OF the government service to keep this
outlet free, and not to dispose of it to any
individual or individuals. The government
should have held this land in perpetuity per
hitting its use by any individual or corpora
ton only under conditions that would sub
serve the general public interest Unfortunate
ly, the interior department last October elm
mated from the government reserve not only
the 32O acres, the elimination of which was
mistakenly recommended by the agricultural
department. but 1880 acres.
Whether there was or was not improprietv
IN the way n which the elimination was
brought about, does not go to the root of the
matter. The root of the matter is that no
such elimination should have been made by
the interior department The public interest
demanded that this land should be kept under
public control, and that to prevent monopoly
It's use should have been permitted only under
such conditions as the public need required -
San Francisco Star.