The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-29
END FAMOUS CASE.
Alaska Goal Land Claims
DiSalIOwed.
PINCHOT'S STAND SUSTAINED
Interior Department Decides That
the Entire Cunningham Group
of Entries Were Fraudu-
lently Made.

Washington, June 27-The utmost
significance and importance Is attach
cd 10 an announcement made By the
interior department that the famous
Cunningham claims In Alaska, involv-
lng coal lands worth all the way from
100000. 900 20 $500. 900. have been
ordered cancelled by Land Commits
sloncr bennett. with the approval OF
the new secretary OF the interior. Wal
Ter Fisher
The properties have been restored
20 the public domain. and later on VIII
ne opened for re-entry.
uy the action Of the interior depart
ment the Neutrality-suspicious. syndi-
cate. which has a tentative option TO-
take over the claims, has had a hard
blow given II in It's plan for getting a
arm grip on the mineral resources OF
Alaska.
Their attorneys have threatened an
appeal TO the United States supreme
court, but such an appeal can be based
only on some point OF law involved.
and not on the findings OF fact as an
nounced by the department
The Cunningham claims have been
N the public eye constantly for more
than two years. They brought about
the BallInger-Pinchot investigation by
congress and the dismissal from the
public service OF Clifford Pinchot, as.
chief forester: John X. CLAWS, a chief
Of field division In the land office, and
several minor officials.
Both Pinchot and CLAWS were dis
missed for characterization Incident TO
their attacks on former Secretary OF
the Interior Balllnger. who, they
charged, was favorably disposed to
ward the claims. These claims and the
bitter controversy they started. Il Is
believed. had much to do with the re-
signation Of Mr. Balllnger last March
"a secretary Of the interior One OF
tho first acts Of his successor, Mr..
Fisher, who is friend Of Pinchot and
of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, was TO
start these claims toward final de-
cision.
The importance OF the decision Is
set forth by Mr.. Shlpp. secretary OF
the National Conservation association,
who said.
The decision OF the department OF
the interior In cancelling the Cunning
ham claims is a great victory for con
seryation Aside from the value OF the
coal deposits thus saved from mo-
mopoly. 1t Is Of the utmost importance
10 the whole country in that It should
clear the way for the prompt develop
ment Of Alaskan coal fields for the
benefit OF all the people"
Fraudulent on the Face.
Commissioner bennett, in his de-
cision holding the claims FOR cancella-
ton on the ground Of fraud. declares
that each Of the thirty-three entries
was improperly allowed because OF "a
tai defects apparent on their face. He
asserts that the government conclu-
siyely established the charges brought
against the claimants. and that there
Is no doubt but that an agreement
existed among them in violation OF
law.
The thirty-three claims involved
amounted to an aggregate area OF $3.50
acres The value of the land has been
estimated high in the millions. The
coal embraced In the claims is said TO
be among the finest In the world.
Commissioner bennett makes fire.
quent reference TO the work Of CLAWS
in prosecuting the governments case
against the Cunningham claimants
lie also refers at length TO the nego-
tIations between Cunningham and rep
resentatives OF the GuggenheIms. who
were shown at the BallInger-Pinchot
hearing to have taken an option on
these coal lands. which were TO be
worked in connection with the other
extensive Guggenheim interests In
ALASKA
The government charged against
Cunningham and his associates that
their entries OF the coal lands were
made in pursuance OF an understand
ing and agreement entered into by az
tho claimants prior to location, 10
combine the several claims for the
Joint use and benefit OF all II was fur
Their asserted that the entries were
made with the unlawful purpose that
they should inure to the use and ben
eft Of an association or corporation.
After reviewing all OF the facts
brought out. Mr.. bennett reached the
conclusion that the claims had no legal
standing and ordered them cancelled.
Secretary Fisher promptly approved
this finding