The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-28
FISHER DEFENDS { ALASKAN POLICY Speaks With Approval of
 President Taft OTHERS cRITIcIsE IT
Dwells at Length Upon Much Dis cussed Controversy Over Con- troller Bay-Explains Plan
 for Leasing the Lands

Chicago, October 27-Announcing that he spoke officially and with the consent of President Taft, Secretary of the Interior Fisher declared tonight before the American Mining congress in session here that coal lands in the public domain in Alaska would be available to the public under a leasing system.
 Secretary Fisher said the govern ment might operate certain properties as models and would lease the re- mainder to private capitalists under government regulation.
 The amount of land to be leased that profitably could be mined to meet current demands for coal.
 Secretary Fishers announcement was contrary to the pronouncimentos of previous speakers concerning the Alaska domain. A number of Alaskans and others had spoken strenuously de- nounclng a government leasing system as bad for both land and people.
 The policy of the government con
  veloped a controversy between gover- nors. Dr. Smith of the geological sur vey advocated the system Governor spry opposed it.
 The governments Alaskan policy was criticised severely before the Ameri- can Mining congress by George B. Baldwin of Valdes, Alaska, today.
 "Conservation up to date has been an attempt to gather all the public lands of our territory as an estate. all to be managed by a devastating host of government underlying and worked by our citizens as tenants.
 All of these officials consider them selves the peoples masters, not their servants. Here is system of land lordsm that out Irishes and most Irish landlord a landlord who refuses to develop his property and who refuses to allow anyone else to develop it.
 Quoting the United States supreme court to support his contention that in undertaking railroad construction the government is in effect simply resum- ing one of its own proper functions and not invading the legitimate do- main of private interests. Secretary of the Interior Walter L. Fisher, in an address before the American Mining congress here today suggested govern ment ownership and operation of mines and transportation facilities in Alaska, on limited scale.
 The Secretary expected opposition to the policy of selling coal lands out right, saying he believed that the leas- ing avoids the controversies of both ex- tremes of public and private owner ship
 Secretary Fisher said he spoke with consent of the President and that while he had had no opportunity to submit what he had prepared that the gen eral Alaskan policy outlined in the ad- dress had been discussed with the President, met with his approval and would receive his support
 MT. Fisher said he had made a care ful examination of all Alaskan harbor and town sites which had attracted any considerable public attention, assisted by Geologist Alfred H. Brooks and that Director Holmes of the bureau of mines had examined the mines. He expressed his high opinion of the peo- ple who have become permanent resi- dents of Alaska.
 These people, the secretary said, are entitled to the territorial government, ''better adapted to their peculiar local conditions and needs"
 MT. Fisher dwelt at length upon the much discussed controversy over Con- troller Bay. He said that to develop the site secured by R. s. Ryan and his associates would beea great task. He thought their, operations should not be interferred with because all the rest of the shore along Controller Bay re- mains free from entry, thus dispos- ing Of the claim that a railroad mon- opoly has acquired the bays frontage, and whatever may be the merits or de- merits of the harbor it has not passed out of control of the government.
 Explaining his plan for leasing Alas kan coal properties, the secretary said the prerequisites of a leasing system are that only sufficient lands shall be leased to meet the existing market and encoura ge edevelopment; that the quan- tty leased to any one leasee should be limited to the amount that can sba properly mined and that the, leasee shall pay his royalty as he mines his coal, "a minimum being fixed to prevent holding without production. t
 Alaska coal is of great value, but the extent and character of the beds havet been grossly exaggerated" he 6alu Ninere are great qudntItleS or Ignite and low grade bituminous coal in various parts of the territory, but there are only two known fields O. high grade coal" 8s,.t
 Urging the advisability of the leas- ing system, MT. Fisher said:
 We already have seen in the Unit cd States the evil effects of the com mon ownership of railroad and coal properties and are now trying by leg islatIon to correct those evils