New-York tribune., 1912-01-08
FISHER WOULD REFORM
CONDITIONS IN ALASKA
Fayors Liberal, but Carefully
Guarded, Leasing Law for
Mineral Lands.
COAL SUPPLY FOR NAVY
Federal Government Should
Control Water Power Con-
servation with Develop
ment of Resources.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7-Enlarged application
~ the leasing principle as applied TO the
nubuc domain especially q liberal leasing
law for the development Of the minerai
resources of Alaska. particularly Its coal
lands and immediate consideration by
congress of the whole subject OF water
rower development and control are the
most important recommendations contained
,n the annual report of Walter +. Fisher
secretary of the Interior.
general overhauling Of conditions IN
Alaska is needed, the Secretary says ana
10 urges with great earnestness the I'M
portance of relief in the following par
ticuars:
First-The construction by the federaI
Government of q central trunk line ran
Soad fom tidewater 10 the Ianaua d"O
u usecondIThe passage OF a liberal but
cerntlIlv guarded leasing law for the uei,
,,elopmt Mt of its mineral resources, diu
tSptcally of IT'S coal lands su1c,snt
NThi d-Tha reservation OF sulhClSls e
smount Of these coal lands 10 pIoElue tUl
The future nee1s of the navy, and tRe MIL MIL
ing Of this coal by the government LOT 'nis
pTF4 pTF4ddgTfb-AJore liberal appropriations for
aids 10 navigation, such as hghts anu
buCys. ,, ..,,,,,,,ria+,ons for the
Construct on of roads and trails -,
Siytb-The adoption of form OF l1lII-
serial government better adap'eu 70 ns nS
mote situation and peculiar local cCnui'
tons.
Careful consideration of the provisions OF
-. onnropriate leasing law for the coal
lands OF Alaska is being continued through
tbe director of the Bur,a Of Mines, VII"
! view TO suggesting such changes In OF
are now pending in Congress, as may DC
desirable. so,,o,or-
iITbe proper administration and develop
tIn,ent of Alaska cannot be accomplished un-
A. axistipg laws. the Secretary declares
A commission form OF government Is sue
rested as better adapted TO its remote s''u'
at,on and peculiar local conditions.
'AIaska's Great Resources.
NJ the resources Of the territory ne says:
Naska's greatest resources are her MIN
araIs ard in the development OF sheSS ~
Nrscious metals still hold the preuoIiil5,"a,,S S
Pi'e Tie shipments OF domestic gold anu
,jIver IN the states during the last hs|ai h
wear amounted to $40,ln,cVo' SUN tho.
Than the value OF the shipihehtSS St,y ~ IaSs
conmOdities combined, and but sHsutIE I9S
fhan the importation of merchahulse ny "
Alaska from the states. Tue staustCS - -
Comnierce nave shown an mCIease "a cd .S
=
s{IyeT from Alaska to the states. Canneu
salmon aid copper ore were the lleliis
which Increased most -, .,,,.,,osas
The coal used in Alaska for all purposes
during the year was 1l6C0J tons. The prices
on the coast have ranged from sV tJli az
Juneau 10 S2l 80 at Nome. The lnadeaudIe
laws the pending contests on private eh-
tries and the general withdrawn OF tne
coal lads have combined TO prevent the
development of Alaskan coal The coal
used has teen imported ana less M thaT Irritsd Jn
Af
States. In the interior wood rs the LueI
I'm general use for all purposes. while on the
Coast oil is supplantlng coal s o.
The fishing Industry stands secono 10
mining in its productveness. II employs
upward OF 1900 persons and S0,OoO9O mas
Been invested. The finished product hsd an
axrort value Of over 100000, which is an
Increase Of over 100000 The recent sea
ason' was the most prosperous ever expert
4noed. due chiefly TO an increase In the
bile that the pack of canned salmon was
the largest ever produced.
Many changes in the laws and regula-
and protection Of the fisheries. The ef-
fectiNe cooperation of ( deral and local
authorities, for this purpose could be
brought about by such comm Ssion az
During tn year Si6447 worth Of lumber
was shipped from the United States to
Alaska, being about the same amount that
has been sh pred annually for the last hve
years The record of timber cut from the
national forests in Alaska during the last
year shows over 28,OOO,OO board rect, lot
which approvimatelv so 0O0 was rald
Timber outside Of the national forests is
used fo~ domestic and other local puT-
poses and the regulations gGverhinst I,t. !. its
nse are row UNDERGOING revision. with a
ylew 10 making this timber more readily
available.
Conservation and Development
"The Great public movement for the con-
SAYS
Secretary Fisher, 'is not in any way op-
posed 10 prompt and wise development OF
The public domain The essential thing -
70 see that under the guise Of settlement,
we do net permit more exploitation viii II
In the last aralysis retards both settlement
and dev lo-msnt" He r, r,ccmmerds. there-
lore mUdificatiors of existing laws relat-
ing TO the public domain so as TO perm [
It's Lroper development. Many Of the rt-
,strictive pro isons which now irrita ana
hamper the bona lde sc ter and Industrial
ftoneer should be removed. he says.
u In re- ard TO agricult raj land settlers,
Secretary Fisher holds that the law should
81 s!st absolutely on cultivation, but "should
permit the relaxation Of the rule requiring
r,sidence during the frt two ars,' III
some cases on aCcOAnt Of conditions, ihere
berg no reason whatever ivr insisdnE
lpon the requirement of actual residence
at the outset
81 me m diicatlon of the law in regard
to Te aymc1t Of reclamation Chlrges ls
recolum LC ed and q ange IN the law
Is proposed TO permit the settler at
time after FIVE years from the Gaze OF 'n'ry,
and after he has live for tnree yea ol
his land. to acquire title to the property.
No land sfould be open T. home ie1d
. entry he declares except that when u
really suitable for homes. and fhsn the
homenaker should he aided In every prop r
way. The timber ard stone act should o.
Immediately repeal d. end al@o the act a'l;
thorinnG the cutting Of timber on miner a
larhs. Thy hold out A co0St mt INVITA-
ticn 10 abuse and 10 mere exploitation.
ST. Federal Control Of Water Power.
THE whole subject Of water power de-
velopment and control should. in my Judg-
ment receive the immediate consideration
OF Congress" says the Secretary. "and con-
structiye legislation should be adopted WIN
out further delay. I believe the federaI
government has adequate constitution
power to control water power development
both in navigable streams and upon the
public domain and 10 exact compensation
and iunnoea y,ropar conditions In either