The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-31
Tue ALASKAN
PR0BLB An
INTRICATE ONE.

DEMANDS THE CONS LIBERATION
OF MOST AsTUTE STATEcRAFT
OF THE MEMBERS OF CON
GREsS.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. al
Threatened by the loss OF priceless
mineral resources, deprived OF the
beneft.of it's rich coal fields, denied
an efficient form, Of government, and
its valuable fishing industry in the
hands Of a grasplng monopoly, Alaska
has pTesented one Of the hardest prob.
lens which Congress has faced dur,
ing the past session. Already plans
have been formed which will make
the problem one Of the leading ones
OF the next session.
During the agitation that has been
carried on furlously for several years
this situation has resulted:
The Cunningham coal claims have
been cancelled by Secretary Fisher,
of the Interior Department. His &C.
ton saved to the people from the at
tempted grab OF the Morgan.Guggen,
helm syndicate, thousands OF acres of
high quality coal worth uncounted mil.
lions Of dollars.
No adequate law for the develop.
mcnt Of the coal fields appears in the
statute books. and, with vast sup.
plies at hand, Alaskans must get their
coal FROM distant poltts-even Aus
tralla. I Secretary Fisher will. recon-.
mend a practicable law to Congress.
Richard s.. Ryans attempt to &C.
quire from the government valuable
terminal privileges for a railroad at
Controller bay, has nott been a con.
summated but the, PROSPECTS seemttS
favor his,entcrprise. 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
Secretary Of War Stimson. however,
and the matter is pending in the War
| Department.
Ryan has not received title from
the government for locations under
soldiers 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 routine.
Each of these locations extends for
1GO rods along the bay but are not
contiguous. The law provides that
every alternate claim, 80 rods on the
boy, shall be retained by the govern.
mont -. thH
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 81 miles long, from Controller
bay TO the coal fields in which the
priceless deposits sought by the Gun
ningham claims are located.
There is a general impression that
If Ryan and his hackers build the
railroad 1t will eventually pass to the
Morgan.Guggenheim syndicate.
The syndicate owns the only rail-
road in Alaska. with length Of about
80 miles, and. when the Cunningham
claims seemed TO be within reach, had
planned to build a short branch to the
coal fields. The shore terminus is at
Cordoya, not n great distance from
Cordoya bay.
Senator PoindeXtcr (Rpn. Wash)
who is an authority on Alaska said
to-day that the parties seeking to
grip It's wealth in a monopoly are J.
p. Morgan, the Guggenheims and a
London firm, Close Bros.
"ShOuld the government give them
a transportation monopoly in Alaska"
declared the Senator, ut would be
one Of the most stupendously riCn
money making propositions in the
world. Even an increase over reason.
able rates of 10 to Is cents a ton
would mean millions increase above
ordinary profits. The Interstate Com.
mcrce Commission has no control over
railroads In Alaska.
Monopoly is not only charged but
is admitted by these men as the oh.
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. 1t is a private monopoly
and they are seeking to extend 1t over
vast mineral interests in Alaska.
"As remedy believe that the
government should develop a large
coal deposit for its own use and for
public distribution It should con-
struct railroad from the mine to the
coast and operate a fleet of steam.
ers to convey coal to our naval sta.
lions throughout the Pacific and to
consumers in the cities in the, Pacific
coast States. In that way an effective
curb could he placed upon corpora
lions also engaged in coal production
and disposed to eXOrt eXorbitant
prices from the consumers"
Present laws applying to Alaska
make the development OF coal depos.
its impossible. An Individual is per.
mitted TO hold only 100 acres OF coal
land and 1t seems to be obvious that
an attempt to, work on such q small
basis could result only in loss.
Bills introduced in the Senate by
Polndexter Works (Rpn, CALI and
Jones tRpn%. Wash) present solutions
OF the problems. They are similar in