The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-07
ALASKAN COAL TROUBLES.

ALASKAN COAL TROUBLES.
The Alaskan coal troubles appear to
| have reached a crisis The people in
and about Cordoya are outraged at the
idea of having to pay $l3 for coal from
foreign parts, where there is abundant
coal right under their hands, that they
could mine and use at 50 ton, if the
Government would permit the entry of
coal lands and the opening of coal
mines. There appears to be no reason
whatever for the restriction upon the
Alaska people in this matter They
are entitled, just the same as Ameri-
cans have been entitled everywhere, to
utilize the resources around them. in
order that they may get on and re-
claim the region.
The Washington authorities have ap-
pealed to the local officers in Alaska.
and especially to Governor Clark, to
see that the law is enforced, and that
disorder is repressed. Governor Clark
is quoted as enjoining patience upon
the people, and as saying that the Sec
retary OF the Interior is in sympathy
with the needs of the people Of Alaska,
and he iptimates that plan is under
be utilized. In the meantime, Secre-
tary Fisher has given peremptory
order TO Governor Clark to repress law
lessness, and punish those guilty Of
it. in the same dispatch, Secretary
Fisher states his personal desire and de.
termination to promote Alaskan coal
DEVELOPMENT as promptly as effective
protection of the public interest will
permit
This is good assurance from the
Secretary of the Interior. AIaskans
will undoubtedly hope that nothing may
stand in the way Of the formulation Of
the plan which Secretary Fisher sug-
gests. The people OF Alaska are en-
available to them save for Government
restriction. 1t is quite proper, as they
concede, that the Government interests
should be protected, and that monopo;
lists shall not be able TO gorge them
selves with the riches Immediately in
view. Those riches should be distrib-
uted, or should he utilized under such
fair restrictions as the Nation will pro
vide But the main thing is that the
Nation shall provide them.
The great point is utilization, It is
not insisted in Alaska or anywhere else
that there shall he any laxity in this
matter, but beneficial use. That bene.
ficiaI use is now denied Open the way
to it; let the Alaskans get on in their
industries and the development of the
resources of that region in such way
as the National authorities will decree
in the interests of the whole people, in
any way that is fair and practicable.
But, above all, let something be done
do not stop progress, do not deny to the
people the common necessities of civi-
lization. The past decade has been
one Of shameless neglect on the part of
the National Government towards |
Alaska. Not only has there been moth
ing done by way Of legislation TO allow
tho people to act for themselves. but |
the whole of the natural resources there.
in the way of coal, timber, water power,
and the like, have been absolutely |
corked up. so that no one could avail |
himself of coal. timber, or water, except
by trespass and defiance of the dictates
Of the Federal authorities.
IF the Iawless act of throwing over
board a ship-load of coal will have the
effect of stirring the National authori-
ties to action that will relieve the sit.
uation in Alaska, then doubtless the
Alaskan people will consider the law
less act fully justified. 1t seems at
times as if lawful procedure must be
abandoned, and something striking and
done. in order to obtain
relief from an intolerable situation.
That viii have to stand for the excuse
Of the Alaskans who threw that coal
into the sea, lawless and repreheusible
as the act was; and if it shall have the
effect desired, of getting the liberty
Of mining and using Alaskan coal, then
the loss, through the lawless act re.
ferrcd to, viii be many times compen-
sated to the people affected by the
act, who are held down in hopeless
paralysis by the restrictions heretofore
imposed
The Colorado Democrats gave in their
10 81 |