Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-06-27
alaskan CLAIMS
ARE DISAbbONED.
CUNNINGHAM ENTRIES MADE
NOlD by RULING.
PINCHOT Is INDICATED
Were Worth Millions Upon Millions
But Dick Bai niger Says II Is n
political Opinion"

By Associated Press
Washington. June 26--Tho IA
nous Cunningham Alaska coal land
claim through wh.oa it has been al
legged that the Morgan -Guggcnhelm
combination sought TO extend lts vast
Interests In Alaska control ono OF
the most valuable coal deposits In the
world, was today finally dIsallowed
by the department OF the interior.
Secretary Fischer Of the interior ap-
proved Che decision of Fred Bennett
for the department.
Tho Cunningham coal claim, one of
the principal bones OF contention be-
tween the Rallnger- pmchot factions,
is cancelled. The claimants by the de-
oision lose control Of thirty three en-
trios estimated 20 be worth many mill
lions Of dollars, In the Kayak District
OF Alaska
Lawrence Cunningham, a mining
Iproapoctor OF Seattle, first located the
claims and formed an association ot
other persons who betrayed the ex-
pcusos of making the location and
entries After the claims had been
entered, Cunningham and his asso-
ciatcs disposed Of them to tho Gug-
gcnheim interests for an immense
sum
Louis II. CLAWS, I'm 1903, chief
field agent of the land office, who was
discharged from his position for his
ACTIVITY in the investigation, collected
most of the evidence which resulted in
the cancellation of the claims. Sec
retary Of the Interior Fisher, in maxi
ing public the decision today. issued
the following statement:
This is final decision Of the Cum
nlngham claims 80 far as the depart
ment Of the interior is concerned.
Any further proceedings will he mere
ly formal. 1t is my understanding
that 1t is conceded that the finding
on the facts by the department are
conclusive.
1T Is the intention OF the depart
ment to proceed at once to final
determination Of all the remaining
Alaska coal claims so far as this can
properly be done, denying those that
should be denied and granting those
that should be granted as rapidly as
possible.
Il do not believe the present laws
applicable to coal lands In Alaska
are wise or practical laws Never
thelcss, their provisions must be en-
forced, first because they are the laws
and second, because they afford the
only protection to the public welfare
against the abuse OF monopoly and
} restricted private exploitation.
sincerely trust that these laws will be
modified at the next session OF Con-
gress so as to permit the development
Of Alaska coal fields under provisions
that will more adequately protect and
promote the public interests.
~ however, there IRE claims now
pending which under the law are en-
b titled to patent, ! see no Justification
for not taking action upon them as
promptly as the department can be
assured that II is In possession Of tho
facts on which such decisions must
D. ultimately be taken"
The Cunningham entries aggregate
$500 acres. The center Of the group
IS twcntyfour miles northeast OF
Kotalla, small port on Katalla Bay
near Controller Bay and the Pacific
b Ocean, They are the most valuable
group of coal lands IN Alaska.
Nearby are several coal claims
charged to be controlled by Guggen-
helm ana J. =. Morgan interests be.
sides q group owned boy English capt.