Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-06-26
CUNNINGHAM
CLAIMS VOID
Secretary of Interior Fisher
Approves Findings of
bennett
ENDS FAMOUS CONTROVERSY
However Coal Land Laws Are
Declared to Be Not Adapted
to Alaska.

(By Special Leased wire to New Mexican)
Washington, June 26.-The famous
Cunningham Alaska coal land claims
thorugh which it has been alleged
that the Morgan-Guggenheim syndi-
cate had planned to extend their vast
interests in Alaska and to control one
Of the most valuable coal fields in the
world, were today finally dissolved
by the department of the interior.
Secretary of the Interior Fisher,
having approved the departments de-
cision as handed down by Fred Den
nett, commissioner of the General
Land Office, the last door is believed
to have been closed to the Cunning
ham claim interests. Their attorneys
have threatened an appeal 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 announced by the
department.
The Cunningham claims have been
in the public eye for more than two
years. They brought about the Bal
linger-Pinchot investigation by con-
gress and the dismissal from the pub
lie service of Chief Forester Clifford
Pinchot, Louis R. CLAWS, chief of
the field division In the land office
and several minor officials. In an
nouncing the decision of the depart
ment today, Secretary Fisher declared
that new coal land laws are needed in
Alaska, if that territory is to be de-
veloped properly. In a statement, the
secretary said: Il do not believe that
the present laws applicable to coal
lands in Alaska are wise or practical
Bile. Nevertheless, their provisions
must be enforced first, because they
are the law, and second, because they
afford the only protection to the pub
lie welfare against the abuses of mon
opoly and unrestricted privileges of ex-
ploitation. I sincerely trust that these
laws will be modified at the next ses-
sion of Congress SO as to permit the
development of the Alaskan coal fields
under provisions that will more ade-
quately protect and promote the pub
lie interests. Commissioner Dennet
in his decision holding the claims for
cancellation on the ground of fraud as
serts that the government conclusive
ly established the charges brought
against the claimants and that there
lis no doubt that an agreement exist
ed among them in violation of law.
The thirty-three claims involved.
amounted to an aggregate of $3.50
acres. The value of the land has been
estimated high in the millions. The
coal involved in the claims is said to
be among the finest in the world.
Pincrot Is Pleased.
New York June 26.-Perhaps no.
body in the country was better pleas.
led with the final disposition of the
Cunningham claims than Clifford Pin.
chot, whose own fortunes had pivot.
| ed upon them so critically. 1.-THE
cancellation of the claims" he said
here today, "is proof given by the ad
ministration itself that the fight made
against it to prevent coal monopoly
in Alaska was not only successful but
necessary and right. This virtually
insures cancellation of multitudes Of
other fraudulent claims in Alaska
Our fight, however, is not yet fully
won. 1t is possible that secret or
der of last October by which Presi
dent Taft opened the harbor front oi
Controller Bay, the natural outlet fol
the coal to acquisition by coal inter
ests, may result in coal monopoly
through monopoly Of transportation.
"Now that the claims are cancelled
the one imperative need for Alaska
| is an honest coal land law, opening
the coal to immediate development
under lease from the government"