The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-29

it's risks can be- 80 greatly minimlZcd
as &C. make IL n relatively safe vcn-
tIirc. II cannot bc denied that tho
development of a now mine has Il
large element OF chance. I'm spite
OF favorable geological conditions.
tho outcome Is often disappointing.
II is impossible 10 see Into Tho
ground. and opinions can only he
based upon Visible evidence. But
the possible returns arc so large that
investors arc willing to take these
chances Those Who put their money
into Il mining scheme with n fuIl
knowledge of these conditions. seldom
complain " fnilure results. provided
they arc sIrc thcir money has been
honestly and ntcliGcutly expended
That is what we arc cndcavoriug la
bring about. and when we succeed
metal mining will move up TO IFS
proper place as conservative. lcclU-
mate business.
Interest in Alaska.
Tho American Mining congress has
ior several years taken a special
interest IN Alaska. and any matter
concerning that wonderful but an
parcnily distressed country is sure
of our prompt and sympathetic at
tcntion Tho true status OF The SIT
uation In AlaslSs seems Ia be hard
Ia lind out. So many conflicting re-
ports are received that tho average
citizen finds himself pcrple%cd and
We hear tlInt the coat deposits OF
Alaska are fabulnusly large. and Of
the finest grade in the world. The
next dav We arc rold that the guam
NY "i coal has been grossly over
estimated, and that IL is not very
good coal anyway. From one source
comes the information that its bodies
"l copper orc arc tho crcnleSt ever
discovered. and from another source
We learn that these mInes arc vast
lN oVnrratod. and that they cannot
compete with thc mines oC tho states
hlrst we arc startled by a trcncn-
douS scandal about ccrtnIn private
interests grabbing and inonopoizing
The great harbor OF Couirollcr BAY
and then SIC get sets Of resolutions
from The city council and chamber
of commerce Of The city Of cordova
stuutly maintaining that Controller
bay is no harbor at all. and that
tordova bay i il" only foasIblc wa-
ter outlet. On the ono hand we are
solemnly assured that tho people of
Alaska fcrycntly desire home rulc.
and The next returning Traveller re
ports thai he MAS uuablc 10 find any
real sentiment OF that kind.
These conflicting statcmens are
very discnnccring TO tho man who
Is irving 10 keep himself in a ju
dirial frame of mind. 50 rs To judge
fairly and avoid prejudice. What VIC
S"cn TO need NOR" han anything
else is accurate, reliable unbiased
information. What can We do until
We get the facts? I am convinced
that the people OF the United States,
through their government. will do
substantial Justice To their country
mon in Naska. Just as soon as they
have indisputablc data about con-
dilious as they actually exist. \ very
appropriate step would appear to be
the appointment Of a special con-
ercssinual committee. or some sort
OF a governmental commission. COM
posed of dslntercSted men OF dis
husuishcd ability and unpuestioncd
probity. to make a thorough invcsii-
CATION Of Alaskan conditions. The
mission of these men should not he
to bolster up the pct views nf any
ono man or set of men. but they
should go for the sole purpose OF
gathering information, so that the
government OF the United states can
act intclllgentlY and in the light OF
actual facts. instead OF flounderlng
about In the dark and reasoning
from doubtful premises.
This suggestion may possibly cause
our Alaskan friends TO groan. he
cause It seems TO portcnd delay in
the adjustment Of their troubles. If
Is quite conceivable that the oppo-
site would he the result Certainly
very liltle, progress is now being
made in the settlement OF the VeXcd
problem. and IL is not apparent that
a speedy and satisfactory solution is
in sight. If the proposed commits
sion would work diligently. and not
protract its hearings unnecessarily,
lis report might he expected within u
reasonable time. and If that report
commanded the confidence OF con-
ereSS. It's suggestions for the Nrclicr
Of Alaska might quickly he enacted
into law. And anyway; better lit
right. than to act bindly and make
mistakes.