The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-11-03

MATANUsKA FIELDS TO BE
DEVELOPED THROUGH
SEWARD.
Secretary Fisher Of11cially Announces
Government Ownership and Opera
ton Of Transportation in Territory
On Limited Scale ITO Reserve
Coal For Use of Navy.

On Limited Scale-To Reserve
Coal For Use of Navy.
Chicago, Oct. 28.-Quoting the
United States supreme court to sup
port his contention that in undertake
ing railroad construction the govern
ment is in effect "summply resuming
one of it's own proper functions" and
not invading the legitimate DOMAIN of
private enterprise, Secretary Walter
L. Fisher, in an address before the
American Mining Congress, today
suggested government ownership and
operation of mines and transporta-
ton facilities in Alaska, on limited
scale.
Not to Exclude Private Mining.
He declared, however, that direct
government operation, including the
mining and sending of coal, involved
such deep and far-reaching changes,
both of pollok and of administration,
that there was no likelihood at the
present time of its adoption to the ex-
clusion of private operation, and that
while much can be salo IN favor of
the government entering experiment
ally into these fields, he did not be-
lieve in the policy of having the gov
eminent alone own and mine Alas
kan coal.
The secretary expressed opposition
to the policy of selling coal lands out
right, saying he believed that the
leasing system avoids controversy and
of both extremes of public and pri-
vate ownership. Therefore he sug-
gested government ownership and op-
Grafton of a limited number of prop
critics as an example to private own
ers and to regulate the latter by COM
petition, and the leasing of other
fields under fair government regula-
ton.
Speaks for President.
Secretary Fisher, in opening his
address, said he spoke officially, with
the consent of the president, and that
while he had no opportunity to sub
nit what he had prepared, the gen
eral Alaskan policy outlined in the
address had been discussed with the
president, met his approval and would
receive his support.
He said no one was more in ear
nest than President Taft to see a
policy of prompt and wise develop
ment inaugurated in Alaska.
Telling of his recent trip to Alaska,
Mr. Fisher said he made a careful
examination of all the harbor and
townsites which had attracted any
considerable public attention, assist
ed by Geologist Alfred H. Brooks,
and that Director Holmes, of the bu-
reau of mines, had examined the
mines.
He expressed his high opinion of
the people who have become perman-
ent residents of Alaska, saying there
is substantial percentage of vigor-
Gus, law abiding, law respecting men
and women of the highest type of
American citizenship.
These people, the secretary said,
are entitled to territorial govern
ment, better adapted to their Pc
culiar location, condition and needs. /"
Mr.. Fisher dealt at length upon
the much discussed controversy over
Controller bay. He said that to de-
velop the site secured by r. S. Ryan
and his associates it would be neces-
sary to construct piers or roadways
for distance of two or three miles
over shallow flats to a channel.
Entire Shore Open to Entry.
He thought the operation of Ryan
and his associates should not be in
terfered with because ali the rest of
the shore along Controller bay re-
mains free from entry, thus disposing
of the claim that a railroad monop-
oily has acquired the bays frontage,
and whatever may be the merits or
dement's of the harbor, it has not
passed out of control of the govern
ment.
Moreover. he said, If the Ryan rail-
road should be built and the govern
ment desired its acquisition, the OPP
portunity for the government to build
q competitive road should be effective
in preventing an exorbitant price.
Bright Future for Matanuska.
"My visit to Alaska" said the sec
rotary, "has led me to take a far
greater interest in the future of the
Matanuska coal field, which is larger
in extent, having an area of seventy
four square miles, better m coal. bet
ter in physical condition and frecr
from competition Of private claims
than is true at Boring river, the Com
tr0ller bay field.
1.-THE Matanuska coal should be
brought to Seward for the use of our
naval coaling station and mine for
that purpose can be well operated by
the government on the Matanuska,