The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-06-26
General Land Office Commis-
sioner Cancels Claims Sold
Guggenheims by Cunning
ham Interests.
THIS DECISION Is
A CONCLUSIVE ONE
Case in Question Involved
Alaskan Coal Fields and 1t
Caused Bitter Pinchot-Bal-
linger Dispute.
tNational News Association

tNational News Associationp
Washington. June 26-By decisiou
OF the commissioner of the general
land ONCE of the department Of inter-
ior today the Cunningham coal claims.
which constituted one Of the principal
bones Of contention between the Bal
linger-Pinchot factions we're cancelled
Claimants by this decision lose control
of thirty-three entries estimated to be
worth millions OF dollars In the Kaya-
la district of Alaska. in the Controller
Bay region. The cancellation proceed
ings We're based on unlawful under
standings entered into by all claim
ants prior to locating claims. The t.
ties, when secured. would be turned
over to an association or corporation.
and the mines not operated in ordSr to
maintain high price of coal In Alas
ka. This decision is conclusive.
These charges were brought to tho
attention of the government and its
investigation started in Seattle in
1909. Clarence Cunningham. q mining
prospector OF Seattle, first located
claims and formed an association OF
nine other persons who betrayed the
expenses OF making the locations and
entries. After the claims had been en-
tered Cunningham and his associates
disposed of them to the Guggenheim
interests for an immense sum.
Starts Fierce Fued.
Louis Claws In 1909, then chief
field agent of the land once. after
wards discharged fofr activity In tho
investigation. collected most OF the ev-
idence which resulted in cancellation
of the claims. Secretary Of Interior
Fisher in making public the decision
| today issued the following statement:
This Is the final decision OF the Cum
ningham claims, so far as the depart
ment of interior is concerned. Any
further proceedings will be merely for
NAL for the purpose OF perfecting the
records. in case claimants thing there
are questions of law which they de-
sire to present to court 1t IL my under
standing that it is conceded that the
findings on the facts by the depart
ment are conclusive.
1T is the intention of the depart
ment to proceed at once to q final de-
termination Of all the remaining Al
aska coal claims so far as this can
properly be done. denying those that
should be done. and granting those
that should be granted. az rapidly az
possible.
Il do not believe the present laws
applicable to coal lands in Alaska are
Z rryteo - A-f>
their provisions must be enforced:
first, because they are law and second,
because they afford the only protec-
ton to public welfare against abuses
of monopoly and unrestricted private
exploitation. sincerely trust there
laws will be modified at the next ses-
sion of congress. so as to permit de-
velopment of Alaska coal fields under
provisions that will more adequately
protect and promote public interests.
viii Act Promptly.
"If, however. there are claims now
pending which, under existing law.
are entitled to patent, see no justi-
faction for not taking action upon
them as the department can be assur-
/ POc0I06AOu
on which such action must ultimately
be taken"
The record in the decision makes
sixty-six pages, typewriter. It des-
cribes the whole Cunningham case
from the time the claims were locat-
ed by Clarence Cunningham until they
commissioner made his decision and
the negotiations with the Guggen-
helms.
Cancellation of claims is made un-
der land statutes applying to Alaska
which makes 1t unlawful for entrymen
claims with intention OF disposing Of
them later to other interests.
1