Bisbee daily review., 1912-01-09
REPORT OF FISHER
 . 2 TREATS OF ALASKA
Continued from Page 1)
should be aided in every proper

should be aided in every proper way"
 The timber and stone act should be immediately repealed, and also. the act authorizing the cutting of tim Der on mineral lands They hold out a constant invitation to abuse and to mere exploitation.
 The public range can not be pro perly administered under the exist ing law. It should be leased for grazing purposes pnder the broad administrative discretion Of the sec retary of the interior, so that the leases can be adapted to actual con- ditions and the legitimate interests of the sheep and cattlemen. At pres ent the range itself is being destroy ed and both sheep and cattlemen are coming to the conviction that their own interests will be better subserv- ed by a leasing law.
 Lansing System Favored
 In fact. the enlarged application Of the leasing principal to the public domain will generally. in my judge ment, more effectively promote de- velopment and protect the public in- terest than the present system. Ger tainly coal, oil. gas, asphalt, nitrate, and phosphate lands can be more ap prcpTfat,fy developed by ieasehold than by the present system of clas. sification and sale of the fee which prevails with respect to coal
 In respect to such leasing in Alas ka. the secretary recommends that sassage of a liberal hut care lully guarded leasing law for the develop ment of it's mineral resources, and especially of is coal lands. Alaska's greatest resources are her minerals and in the development of tn SC. tho precious metals still hold the predominant place Careful con sideration of the provisions Of an ap- prCrriate leasing law for the coal land of Alaska is being continued through the director of the bureau of mines, with a view to suggesting such changes in or substitute for bills on this subject which are now pending in congress. as may be de- sirabie.'
 Existing Laws inadequate
 The proper administration and de- velOpment of Alaska can not be ac- complished under existing laws, the secretary declares; wherefore, he urges also the construction by the government Of a central trunklne railroad from tid water to the Tan ana and Yukon; the reservation of a sufficient amount of coal lands to provide for the future needs of the navy. this coal to be mined by the government; mora liberal appropria- tions for roads and trails; aud the adoption of a form Of territorial gov ] ernment. a commission form being suggested. better adapted to it's re- mote situation and peculiar local con- ditious.
 The whole subject of water pow . CT development and control should, in my judgement, receive the immediate consideration of congress says the secretary. and constructive legisla- ton should be adopted without fur ther delay ! believe the federal gov ernment has adequate constitutional . power to control water power deyel- opment both in nayigablC streams and upon the public domain and to exact compensation and to impose proper conditions in either case. It is ap- parent that inc federal government can act more effectively than the states in many cases. No correct or permanent solution of the water-pow- TT question can be reached until the interests of the state and of the na- tion have been reconciled. The fed eral government should not part with my of its constitutional powers. Their exercise is certain in the fu- ture to become essential to the pro lection of the public interest"
 It is unsOund both in principle and in practice, he says, that permits for ] the development of water power are revocabia al any time at the will of the administrative officials.
 He concurs in the recommendation Of specially appointed board which suggested the appointment of an in ternational Colorado River commis-