The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-06-11
TAFT URGED TO
ORDER RELEASE
Of ALASKA COAL
Trade Interests Through
Congressman Tell of
Hardship. I
By JUDS0N c. wELLIvER,

With the expectation now general that
the Interior Department will decide the
Cunningham claim cases this week or
next, Alaska interests are organizing
for big fight to induce the Govern
ment to permit coal mines to be opened
and worked.
The tight has been carried straight I'D
to President Taft. He has received
personal calls. petitions, and arguments
from the commercial interests of Ore
son, Washington, and Alaska, urging
MIN to adopt some policy that will make
Alaska's coal available for the increas-
ing demands which the Pacific coast
presents.
The Senators and Representatives
from the North Pacific States have tai
en- UP the matter with the President.
Has Written Data.
maurice D. L. Leehey, REPRESENTING
the owners. as he claims, of the onIv
developed coal mine In Alaska, has AT
the Presidents request after an inter-
view. placed a statement of the situ-
atlon in writing in the hands of Mr.
Tart, begging early action.
Mr.. Leehey points out that his CLIENTS
nave spent more than $4,000 6eyelon-
ing a mine on 1866 acres Of land in the
berlng river field, adjacent to Control
Ter pay. The Government received their
apphcation for patent more than three
years ago, and took their money, Now
they nave neither money nor patent.
ana cannot dig the coal that is needed
on the coast, especially in Alaska it.
SELF
Inc situation in Alaska" Mr.. Lee
hey informed the President, lis des-
perate. ask you on behalf of the
people OF Alaska. and of the Pacific
coast, to direct action under existing
laws. which amply safeguard the pub
nc interests. My clients are entitled to
patents. They have spent more than
sl5O,O0 on only 356 acres, and have II
developed TO a point where they can
perhaps ship as much coal as Alaska |
now imports from British Columbia and |
Japan"
Northwest Gets Excited.
The Pacific Northwest is getting hot |
under the collar about the DELAYS in |
permitting Alaska coal to be opened.
Congress. it is pointed out. has been
urged to pass legislation, and has fall
ed; there is little hope that it will do
better this session. The President is
urged to take matters into his own
hands and order patents 10 issue for
coal lands to which the claims have
never been questioned.
1t Is declared that, while a hundred
or Whereabouts of coal claims in Alaska
have been under suspicion. some 900
have been filed upon. as to which no
suspicion has been suggested. Yet these
cannot be patented or worked, because
the coal land laws OF Alaska have been
suspended. Meanwhile Alaska psys.
the President is informed, from Sl5 to
80 ton for coal. buying in 1909 no less
than sSSs,sS3 worth of coal from Canada.
On which they paid duties of $4,000.
Special Message Predicted.
The only available naval coal on the
coast is in Alaska The navy uses 80.
200 tons a year there 1t costs 1876, 900 on
The Atlantic coast, and ss25,OOo more for
to the Pacific. Most of
his transportation cost goes to foreign
owned vessels.
The Alaskan state of mind, In view of
:hese conditions, is described as border
ng on the disposition to revolt. The
'ecent Cordova coal party indicated the
sentiment
President Taft has taken keen inter-
st In the situation. asking some of his
;allers from the Northwest to put into
writing their statements of the case 1t
s rumored that he may send a snecfai
Message to Congress asking action this
session.