The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1912-07-23


the corps of engineers of the United
States army. The secretary of the
interior, who has recently visited the
Isthmus as we'll as Alaska, has made
the suggestion that a part of the
equipment used in building the canal
be transferred to the scene of pro-
posed railroad building in our north
ern territory.
Views as to the settlement of the
coal land question have been some
what clarified in the last six months,
although these have not yet crystal
liked into action. Described in gen.
eral terms, there are but three pos
sible means of opening up the Alaska
coal fields, so that this rich store of
fuel may be made available for the
people of Alaska and the several uses
of the Pacific coast, including the
United States navy. First, private
| ownership of the coal bearing areas
in fee simple, under the terms of
reasonable law of Congress yet to be
enacted; second, continued public
ownership of the lands, and the min
ing of coal under leases by private
persons; third, continued public own
ership and government operation of
the mines. 1t is pretty generally
recognized that Congress is not like
ly to pass an improved law author
izing the patenting of any more coal
| lands-at least, not unless there
should be decided and unlookedfor
change in the present state of public
| opinion. Government operation of
coal mines plus ownership of the
lands is hardly likely to be adopted
as national policy, in the near fut-
ure at least. This leaves the leasing
system as the only practicable means
likely to find favor with the repre-
sentatives OF the people. At this
writing no bill fully representing the
administrations views regarding a
leasing system has been introduced
in Congress. Presumably, such a
measure will be introduced as soon as
there is a prospect that it will obtain
n oil Than ha
will be to reconcile the views of those
who entertain the fear that a monop-
oily will result under any plan which
may be adopted for the mining of
Alaska coal and the wishes of those
who believe that almost any condi-
ton would be better than the present
state of stagnation and deprivation.
While the interests of the public
must be regarded as paramount, it is
we'll to bear in mind that a due re-
gard for the rewards which capital
lied enterprise is entitled to obtain
from it's operations must be observ-
ed in the framing of any coal land
law for this territory.
AS l have already indicated, the
sine qua non of early prosperity and
settlement in Alaska is a more con-
siderate attitude on the part of the
Congress of the United States, and to
some extent on the part of the press
and the people of the United States,
toward the territory. This improved
attitude should consist, among other
things, of a clearer discernment of
the rights of highly capitalized inter-
ests. The main resources of the dis
trict were so securely locked up by
the forces of nature at the beginning
of the world that they never can be-
come productive unless expensive
means of operation are provided. To
keep capital out for fear of monopo-
lies is not worthy of American cour-
age in the first instance, and in the
first and last instances it is to beg
the whole question of territorial de-
velopment and progress.
The great territory comprised in |
the Seward purchase will in the years
to come be the abiding place OF a
people much more numerous than
those who reside there at present, al
though l am not among those who
prophesy a population of several mil
lions. The natural conditions do not
promise great density OF population,
and will never encourage 1t unless the