Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-07-01
ALASKA CLAIMS
THROWN OUT
Cunningham Coal Entries Are
DiSallOwsd.
DENOUNCED AS FRAUDS
Pinehot and CLAWS Upheld by Decision
Of Secretary OF Interior = End Of
Controversy.

The famous Cunningham Alaskan
cloal land claims. by means Of which.
it has been alleged. the Morgan-Gug-
genheim syndicate had planned to
extend their vast interests in Alaska
and to control one of the most val
liable coal fields in the world. were
finally disallowed by the department
OF tie interior.
Secretary OF the Interior Walter l..
Fisher, having approved the depart.
mout's decision. as handed down by
Fred bennett. commissioner Of the
general land office. the last door Is be.
licved to have been closed to the Gun.
bingham claimants.
Their attorneys have threatened an
appel 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
in the public eye constantly for more
than two years. They brought about
the BallingerPinchot investigation by
congress and the dismissal from the
public service OF Clifford Pinchot, as
chief forester; John r. CLAWS. chief
of field division in the land Office. and
several minor officials.
Both pinchot and CLAWS we're dis
missed for INSTRUMENTATION incident to
their attacks on former Secretary Of
the Interior Ballinger. who. they
charged. was favorably disposed to-
ward the claims. These claims and the
bitter controversy they started. II is
believed. had much TO do with the re.
signation of Mr.. Ballinger last March
as secretary of the interior. One of
the first acts OF his successor. Mr.
Fisher. who is a friend OF Pinchot and
OF Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, was to
start these claims toward a final de-
cslon.
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 fa-
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 thir:y-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.
qnent reference to the work of CLAWS
in prosecuting the government case
against the Cunningham claimants
He also refers at length TO the nego.
tiations between Cunningham and rep.
resentatives of the Guggcnheims, 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 all
The claimants prior to location. to
combine the several claims for the
joint use and benefit of all. 1t was fur
Their asserted that the entries were
made with the unlawful purpose that
they should inure TO the use and ben.
oft Of an association or corporation
After reviewing all of the facts
brought ont. Mr.. bennett reached the
conclusion that the claims had no legal
standing and ordered them cancelled
Secretary Fisher promptly approved
thic 0uAfpg