The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1911-07-15
WILL LEG|SLATE
FOR alaska

Denver, Colo, July 1.-THE Amer
lean Mining Congress has issued its
official call for it's Fourteenth An
nual Session, which is to be held in
Chicago, Ills, September % and 80,
inclusive, this fall.
The meeting is called for the pur-
pose of bringing together the rep
resentatives of the mining indus
tries of the United States,-the coal
metal, oil, and iron interests-for
the discussion of the problems of
mining. Among the chief topics
mentioned for discussion are conser-
walton, the leasing of the mineral
lands, the prevention of mine ac
cidents, the revision of the mineral
land laws; and workmen's compen-
sation.
President Taft has definitely prom
Used the officials of the Mining Con-
gress that he will attend the con-
vention. also Secretary of the Inter-
ior, Walter L. Fisher.
The call devotes considerable at
tention to Alaska questions, the fol.
lowing clauses relating to Alaska be-
ing embodied therein:
1.-The coal fields of Alaska have
been the subject of much acriminous
national discussion during the last
few years. All applications for pat
ent on Alaska coal lands have been
refused, and large Withdrawals of
the public domain from entry and
settlement have been made. Alaska,
not being permitted to mine her own
coal, has been forced to use Canad
ian coal for domestic purposes, which
has been so costly on account of the
tariff duties and the great cost of
transportation as to sci lousy hamper
her development. The population of
Alaska has decreased during the last
ten years, Notwithstanding conditions
which should have accomplished a
very great increase in population.
IL 10 SidiIiCu VII OuC thdt
this action has been necessary to pro-
tect the rights of the people, and
that by such action the government
has prevented the acquisition by
great corporate interests of a mon
opolistic control of Alaska's coal
fields. That the footing of Alaska"
was a real danger which required
strenuous action to prevent. and that
cheap fuel for the government and
for the Pacific coast states has been
made possible by vigorous action Of
the federal authorities.
1T is charged upon the other hand
that many of those acts have been
unlawful, that the purpose has been
to withhold these lands from settle
ment until through congressional ac-
ton new system of land tenures
could be made effective, and that Oh
account of these conditions, many
citizens who have invested their eff
forts and capital in the develop
ment of Alaska's resources have been
denied their rights under the law,
and have, as a consequence, been
driven, some into bankruptcy, all to
desperation.
THAT the pioneer who has here
tofore been considered public
benefactor has been under continual
suspicion, and in some instances, SUBJ
jected to indictment and legal per-
secution, and that all of this injus-
tice has been done in the name of
conservation.
1.-The American Mining Congress
stands for the absolute enforcement
of the law under the constitution, in
the most expeditions manner consist
ent with just determination. At its
last annual session it declared it's
opposition to any system of federal
leasing of the mineral lands"
A special Alaska committee, which
ing Alaska questions under the direc-
tion of the American Mining Con-
gress, will make report to the
Chicago meeting.
This committee is composed of
Henry R. Hartman, Maurice D..
Leehey, and H. S. Taylor, of Seattle,
and John L. Steele, of handbook,
Alaska.