The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-09-15
Alaska must be opened up.

| Alaska must be opened up.
| The administration at Washington
thoroughly appreciate the urgency Of
the situation and the necessity Of the
earliest possible action.
Private exploitation Of the coal and
mineral lands is not to be considered
or tolerated.
| A leasing system. literally drawn,
that will invite and protect capital,
and at the same time conserve pub
lie interests, seems the most practi-
cal solution of the problem, and this
idea is supported by the experience
of Australasia, where, according to
statistics, it has operated advantage
ously.
| Government ownership is the third
alternative, but this would involve
ownership of transportation facilities
as we'll, and is not considered posi-
BILE of adoption-at least at this time
All these things were brought out
in a speech by Secretary of the In
i terror Fisher sort of family
talk he called tat the Seattle
Commercial Club Friday night. It
was one of the most notable and in
teresting meetings in the history of
Seattle and probably the most no.
table in the history of the CONNER
cial Club.
Secretary Spoke Candidly
/ Secretary Fisher spoke with great
candor and earnestness and appealed
with all the eloquence at his COM
mand for the aid of the Puget Sound
country, Alaska and the whole of the
Northwest in reaching q speedy So
luton of the pressing problem.
Indicates EARLY Relief
While his speech did not clearly
or definitely point the way, and he
stated frankly that the qualified
views he expressed were subject to
change, still he left no doubt in the
minds of his hearers of the admins
tration's determination to secure ac-
ton with the least delay that would
bring the desired result-the open
ing up of the great country to the
north.
| He spoke at length and with as
much freedom as was consistent with
his duty, first to make his report and
recommendation to the president.
Promises Absolute Justice
He declared, and with great en-
phasis, in answer to the speech pre-
ceding his. that justice absolute
justice under the law-would be
melted out to all claimants.
Besides Secretary Fisher the
speakers were President Howard FL
lott, of the Northern Pacific, and
Senator John L. Wilson.
President Elliott spoke of the de-
velopment of the Northwest and the
value of cooperation between the
people and the railroads in present
ing to the world the advantages of
this new country.
Senator Wilson Speaks
| Senator Wilson discussed the
question of conservation by proper
use and wise development. He was
enthusiastically applauded when he
declared that the kind of conservation
which put the resources of the coun-
try under lock and key dedicated
them to solitude found no sympathy
in the West.
| Coal Fields DisappOint Him
The secretary told of his personal
visit to the Boring coal fields and
paid his respects to Controller bay.
81 want to say now" he said, that
was disappointed in what saw in
the Bering river coal fields, and |
don't believe I would be doing my
duty if I did not say here and now
that the reports with regard to the
character and extent of that coal field
have been greatly exaggerated.
IT had hoped to find conditions
better than they are. On the other
hand, I saw enough to say that there
is valuable coal in that territory and
that it's future is one of considerable
importance"
The secretary then discussed the
coal field from an economic stand
point. He said he did not visit the
1 Matanuska fields, but before making