The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1911-07-01
GOVERNMENT PERSECUTION OF ALASKA

According to the edict issued yesterday by the Commits
soner of the General Land Office at Washington the now
famous Cunningham group of coal claims at kataa have
been cancelled and not open for relocation and simply
because young named Fred bennett has decided that
these locations made with the understanding that they
would be turned into association and thus illegally
located To those who have made careful study of this
controversy and familiar with all of the facts in
nection thereto the decision is not judicial but the
elimination of political scheme to curry favor with the
conservatonsts who have built powerful machine IN
United States and whose influence and prestige be
needed in the coming presidential election
After five years of patient waiting for their rights the
Alaskan pioneers and prospecor entered vigorous protest
against the aory tactics of the in passing upon
the legality of the hundreds of coal claims located in the
Berng river and Maanuska districts Not single patent
issued and the people became restless The matter then
forcby brought the attention of the people of the United
States and from every section the that Alaska
retogadg instead of progressing and the inquiry to the
light upon the whole situation Conservation had
overpayed and Aaskans declared themselves almost
unanimously in favor OF unlocking the coal deposits which
were retarn development of the of the
try elimination of the intense feeling of the people
against the injustice done them Cordova had its coal party
This news flashed the United States and the leading
journals of almost every city only commended the action
also demanded that legislative relief be given those sui
fering from the burden placed the who had braved
hardshps open up of Uncle Sans richest possessions
The agitation bore fruit but the kind that Aaskans
cared pluck It forced decision in the Cunningham
but unfortunately is rotten to the Every man. woman
and child in this part of Alaska knows that these claimants
located in good faith expended thousands of dollars
ing up title and complying with every requirement OF the
department to patent only to be compelled to silently
submit criticisms unjust, to caumnes unworthy awaiting
the time their might be submitted for final
btrament tribunal composed Of public officers soemn
determine their rights judicialy according to the
law and evidence. Have they done their duty
We think After carefully reading the record in this
here fact not to dispute that every
shown badge OF the conspiracy and fraud
charged by the government is completely rreconcable with
the truth of their afdavits and statements We ask
favor indulgence but demand men whose rights
protects that the questions involved be decided SIM
ply in conformity with the law and with the evidence.
The facts in this clearly establish that between the
date of the passage of the Act Of 1904 and the date OF the
location of each of the claims of the several defendants there
conspiracy between them, OF them violate
the law deraud the government whatever
By the Of location the several claims became segregated
from the public domain and the rights of several ocaors
initiated and vested in them By the express words of the
statute these rgte constitute such estate interest
the land be sold transferred Such transfer
with it the unrestricted right to receive patent providing
only that the transfeee citizen of the United States and
that the preliminary steps prescribed by law have been
piled with Subsequent acts therefore. become mmateria
The utmost claim asserted by the judges Of these defend
ants goes no further than to maintain that their subsequent
acts disclose the existence of plan purpose organize
corporation after obtaining their patents to
Ter their titles to such corporation consideration of
equivalent IN its stock Such plan purpose entertained
the minds of agreed by them ALL after their locations
would not constitute violation of the of 1873 under
the rules of the Interior Department in force all times prior
the adoption by the Secretary of the Interior the
rules promulga May IT, 1907.
Until recently boosted of "copper" coal and
Uncle Sam has fit to delay the mining of
fuel but the gold quartz strikes have added another industry
to the list.