New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-16
.P|NCHOT COMES FORWARD
Tells of His Part in Controller
Bay Affair.
SAW THE missing" MAP
Went to War Department at
Miss Abbott's Request and
Talked with Stimson.
From The Tribune Bureau. !

1dlhcu WIFI 0tlIlSOu.
From The Tribune Bureau1
Washington. July 15.-Gifford Pinchot
the former Forester Of the United States
took occasion TO confirm to-day the fact
that he had been a party to the Controller
Bay fake from the beginning.
Mr.. Pinchot arrived In Washington to-
day, and Immediately gave out the follow
ing interview:
"As soon as Stimson became Secretary OF
War took up this Controller Bay matter
with him, because I had hoped that there
might yet be time to save the public's in
terest and the War Department might have
power to block the proceeding. / went to
Stimson about II.
Miss Abbott had come to me, told OF her
Investigations, and stated that she had seen
this apparently predated map. Its signifi-
canoe was apparent TO me, as It was to her
I went at once at her request, to the War
Department TO see II for myself. Mr.. Slim
son went with me to examine 1t, and he will
remember It, 1t showed an amended loca-
ton of the Ryan railroad, across the tide
flats at Controller Bay with plat OF
ground along the deep water edge which
was taken for wharves docks. slips, tracks
etc. The map was labelled as approved by
an Assistant Secretary. Mr.. oliver. as
recollect It."
Mr.. Pinchot neglects to say that Miss
Abbott was in the employ OF the National
Conservation Association, Of which he is
president. at the time referred to.
The House Committee on Expenditures in
the Interior Department. which Is investi-
eating the Controller Bay matter. may sum-
mon Mr.. Pinchot and Secretary Stimson as
witnesses. The committee will meet again
on Tuesday.
The map, dated December A. 1870 was
shown to Miss Abbott about June 1. 1911,
she SAYS II has been alleged that there
was not time for the map to have been
made from surveys In Alaska following the
Presidents executive order restoring the
lands to entry, and that It must have been
prepared on advance information
A map made since for the Interior De-
partment. showing the claims and proposed
railroad promoted by Richard s. Ryan, who
Is alleged to represent Guggenheim inter-
ests, has been furnished by Secretary
Fisher.
Confirms Tribune Dispatches.
Alfred III. Brooks, the Alaska expert OF
the Geological Survey. before the commit
tee investigating the Controller Bay fake,
completely confirmed the dispatches In
The Tribune on that subject and pointed
out that It would be an unbusinesslike pro-
ceedlng for the same corporation or person
to attempt to secure the control or both
the Cordova Bay and the Controller Bay
harbors In Alaska. Mr.. Brooks, who has
spent years In Alaskan exploration and Is
credited with knowing moro about its
topography than any other geologist. ex-
pressed his inability to see how Controller
Bay is necessary to the Guggenheims, who
already have terminal on Cordova Bay
The observation OF the expert witness
was pertinent to an inquiry which was
brought about to show that the GuSgen-
helm interests, owning terminal on Cor
dova Bay, now want another outlet for the
same coal fields.
II don't see why Controller Bay Is ne
cessary to any one who has Cordova Bay,
said Mr.. Brooks. "Why would any one
want two railroads running to the same
property? Again. It will take at least
s, 10000 20 put In o railroad terminal at
Controller Bay"
Later Mr. Brooks said: THE government
has jurisdiction over Alaskan railroads and
their rates and this should deter any one
planning TO run non-competing railroads
from the coal fields to both Controller Bay
and Cordova Bay. The government could
require competition"
Beyond this philosophical statement Mr..
Brooks's testimony was largely devoted TO
technical descriptions OF Alaska's soils and
resources, the approaches to Its harbors
its mud banks and glaciers Mr. Brooks
| told an absorbing story Of the explorations
OF the Brooks party along with the rush
TO the Klondke. For the last thirteen
years the geologist has spent from three to
FIVE months each year In Alaska, and his
| technical knowledge was desired by the
committee as the groundwork for the Sen
sations" which It hopes 10 develop.
In order that Congress shall have elab-
orate maps showing conditions In and
about Controller Bay. President TAFT to-
day directed o. II. Tittmann. superinten-
dent OF the Coast and Geodetic Survey. to
make copies of the maps OF the region In
| The possession of the government The
| President spent more than an hour looking
over the original maps this afternoon. He
is convinced that when the Senate sees the
government surveys Of Controller Bay, the
extent of the waterfront and the length OF
the channel, It will agree with him that for
one man to obtain monopoly there would
be next to impossible Mr.. Tittmann prob
ably will not be able TO perfect the new
maps before the middle OF next week, so
that the Presidents report TO Congress will
not be made before that time.
Chairman Graham announced to-day that
the committee would continue to hear tes-
;imony for several days on general condi-
lions In Alaska before going into the claims