The Detroit times., 1911-08-31
|INMAKERs MUST
Unite KNOT THAT
MEAACEs ALASKA
Nctthsrn Dependency Presents One
q the Hardest Problems Which
Congress VIII Be Called Upon
~ solve st nert Session
Secretary Fisher b To Suggest Prac-
tiSabls Rsmsdy That win
Open Vast Resources.

IL rich coal helds, denied an eficient
form Of government and its valuable
fshing industry In the hands of a
kraSping monopoly. Alaska has pre-
16uted one OF the hardest problems
which congress faced during the past
se1sion. Already plans have been
forncd which win make the problem
one OF the leading ones OF the next
ec111pn.
Dskine the agitation that has been
lcark1ni on furiously for several
yt4rs Athis ssithation has resulted:
The Cunningham coal claims have
been cnsnceled by Secretary Fisher, OF
the Tnfarior Department. His action
saved TO, the people from the attempt
ed grab Of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
lsyndicateA thousands OF acres Of high
quality coal worth amounted millions
OF collars.
) No ade innate law for the develop
lnant or tina coal fields appears in the
lstatute books, and. with vast supplies
az hand. Araskans must get their
coal from distant points-eyen Aus
traiia. Secretary Fisher will recon-
mend q prac ticable law to congress
Richard 8. Ryan's attempt TO &C
Qpfre from tins government valuable
terminal privileges for q railroad at
Controller bay has not been consum-
mated. but the prospects seem to fay-
or his enterprise Congress passed
law giving Ryan permission TO build
. wharf over shallow water to a deep,
narrow channel IN Controller bay.
The grant was subject to APPROVAL by
S<tretary Of War Snmson, however,
and the matter 10 lpending in thefwar
debartment
Ryan has not received title, from
the government for locations under
soldiers scrip OF land on the shores
OF the bay made I'm, the interest of
Ryan. but, II ID said. these lands can
not Be denied him end that the de-
Law has been merely n matter OF Of
ilciaI routine. Each Of. these iDcations
extends for 100 rods along the bay
but are not contiguous. The law pro-
vides that every alternate claim, so
rods on the bay, shall be retained by
the government.
Ryan had the presumption TO file a
terminal railroad claim Of 40 acres,
covering an entire frontage 81 one OF
the governments so rod reservations.
Pr6sident Taft, however. has said that
that claim ID clearly against the law.
with characteristics foresight Ryan
has surveyed q railroad rtght-of-way
about ~ miles long from. Controller
bay to the coal fields in which the
priceless deposits sought by the Gun
nineham claims are located.
Thefe ia q general Impression that
IL RYAN ana his hackers build the,rail-
road II win eventually pass to fthe
Morgan Guggenheim syndicate.
The syndicate owns the only rail-
road IN Alaska, with length OF about
90 miles, and, when the Cunningham
claims seemed 10 be within reach, had
planned to built q short branch. to the
coal fields. The shore terminus IL at
Cordova. not q great distance from
Cordoya bay.
senator Poindexter (Repn., wash.)
who n an authority on Alaska said
today that the parties seeking to grip
fts wealth I'm q monopoly. are J. p.
Morgan. the Guggenheims kand a Lon
don firm, Close Bros.
SHOULD the governmental iye them
4 transportation monopol7in Alaska
declared the Senator, ~ would be
one Of the most stupendously rich
mouey-making propositions in the
world. Even an increase over reason
abla rates OF 10 to Is cents a ton
would mean millions increase above
ordinary profits. The Interstate Com
rnerce Commission has no control
over railroads in Alaska.
monopoly IL not only enlarged but
A admitted by these men, as the OBJ
5ect they have In view. They seek
10 control not only land transporta-
don but the ocean shipping and are
now credited with being masters OF
the great fisheries and large mercan-
tile enterprises. II Ii private mon
opoly and they are seeking to extend
Il over vast mineral, interestsan Alas
Ia. +s--
.As a remedy I believe that the
government should develop q large
coal deposit for It's own use and for
public distribution. IL should con-
etruct a railroad from the mine to
the coast and operate q feet OF steam
ers to convey coal to our naval sta
tons throughout the Pacific and to
consumers In the cities IN the Pacific
coast states In that way an effective
curb could be placed upon corpora
lions also engaged in coal production
and disposed to extort exorbitant
prices from the consumers"
Present laws applying to Alaska
make the development OF coal depos-
it, Impossible. An individual Is per-
nitted to hold only $50 acres Of coal
land and Il seems TO be obvious that
an attempt to work on such a small
basis could result only In loss.
Bills introduced In the senate, by
Poindexter, Works (Repn., CALI and
Jones CRepn., Wash), present solu-
lions of the problems. They are SINH.
lar in respect TO providing for strict
Royernment control OF railroad rates
and the prices TO be charged to con.
eumern Fair remuneration TO those
engaged IN the industry but no monop-
oIistic extortion, are the points held
N view by these senators
Senator Works bill was written by
C|rord Pinchot. Some OF its points are
nat the secretary OF the interior may
lease 70 q person not 70 exceed 81
I10 acres Of coal land for term of
not over 80 years. A small royalty
8. the production IL made payable to
I.e Roternment Leases are 90 be
1rrnfed under the condition that the
It1sot viii proceed to develop the
roeI 1IIIgontly.v
FnIi power a given the interstate
commerce commission 10 hx the price
"a Which The lessee may sen coal