The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-01
THE ALASKAN PROBLEM
The Morgan-G n-Guggenheim Syndicate
 Seeking Monopolistic Privileges

Washington, Sept 1-Threatened by | the loss of priceless mineral resources | deprived of the benefit of it's rich coal
 fields. denied an efficient form of gov-
 ernment, and its valuable fishing in- | dustry in the hands of a graspins monopoly, Alaska has presented one l of the hardest problems which Con- 1 gress has faced during the past ses-
 sion. Already plans have been form
 ed which will make the problem one
 of the leading ones of the next ses- | sion.
 During the agitation that has been | carried on furiously for several years 1 this situation has resulted:
 l The Cunningham coal claims have been cancelled by Secretary Fisher of 1 the Interior Department. His action saved to the people from the attempts ed grab of the Morgan Guggenheim l syndicate, thousands of acres of high l quality coal worth uncounted millions | of dollars.
 | No adequate law for the development | of the coal fields appears in the statue | books, and, with vast supplies 1t | hand, Alaskans must get their coal | from distant points-even Australia. l f1Snor WILL recommend a | practicable law to Congress.
 Richard s. Ryan's attempt to ac- quire from the government valuable | terminal privileges for a railroad at Controller Bay. has not been consum- | mated but the prospects seem to fla Vor his enterprise. Congress passed 1 a law giving Ryan permission to build a wharf over shallow water to deep, narrow channel in Controller Bay. l The grant was subject to approval l by Secretary of War Stimson, however, and the matter is pending in the War Department.
 Ryan has not received title from the government for loca tions under sol- diers' scrip of land on the shore of the bay made in the interest of Ryan but it is said these lands cannot be denied him and that the delay has been merely a matter of official rou- tine. Each of these locations extends for 16O rods along the bay but are not contiguous. The law provides that every alternate claim, 80 rods on the
 bay, shall be retained by the govern ment.
 Ryan had the presumption to file a terminal railroad claim of 40 acres, covering an entire frontage of one of the governments 80 rod reservations. President Taft, however has said that that claim is clearly against the law. With characteristic foresight Ryan has surveyed a railroad right of way, about 27 miles long, from Controller Bay to the coal fields in which the
 priceless deposits sought by the Gun
 ningham claims are located,
 There is general impression that if Ryan and his packers build the railroad it will eventually pass to the MOrgan-Guggenhei syndicate. The syndicate owns the only railroad in Alaska, with a length of about 90
 miles, and, with the Cunningham claims seemed to be within reach had
 planned to build a great distance from Cordova bay.
 Senator Poindexter, (Rep., Wash.).
 who is an authority on Alaska said today that the parties seeking to grip it's wealth in a monopoly are J. P.
 Morgan, the Gugsenheims and a Lon
 don firm. Close Bros.
 Should the government give them a Transportation monopoly in Alaska, declared the Senator. ''it would be one of the most stupendously rich money making propositions in the world.
 Even an increase over reasonable rates of 10 to 15 cents a ton would mean millions increase above ordinary
 profits. The Interstate Commerce
 Commission has no control over rail-
 roads in Alaska.
 Monopoly is not only charged but
 is admitted by, these men as the ob-
 ject they have in view. They seek to control not only land transportation
 but the ocean shipping and are now
 credited with being masters of the great fisheries and large mercantile
 enterprises. It is a private monopoly and they are seeking to extend it over vast mineral interests in Alaska.
 "As a remedy I believe that the government should develop a large coal deposit for it's own use and for dictrih11tinn Shn116 struct a railroad from the mine to the coast and operate a fleet of steamers to convey coal to our naval stations throughout the Pacific and to con- sumers in the cities in the Pacific coast states. In that way an effec- tive curb could be placed upon cor porations also engaged in coal produc- ton and disposed to extort exorbitant- prices from the consumers.
 Present laws applying to Alaska make the development of coal depos- its impossible. An individual is per land and it 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., Cal), and Jones, (Repn.. Wash.l, present solu- tions of the problems. They are sim liar in respect to providing for strict government control of railroad rates and the price to be charged to con- sumers Fair remuneration to those engaged in the industry but no mono polistic extortion are the points held in view by. these Senators.
 Sen Works bill was written by Gif- ford Pinchot Some of it's points are that the Secretary of the Interior may lease to a person not to exceed 5,120 acres of scoal land for a term of not over 30 years. A small royalty on the production is made payable to the government. Leases are to be granted under the condition that the leasee twill not nonopolize or unduly re- strain the trade in coal and that the leasee will proceed to develop the coal diligently"
 Full power is given the, Interstate Commerce Commission to fix the price at which the leasee may sell coal.
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