The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-02

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the leasing system leaves no doubt as
to its wisdom and practical utility. Re
quirements as to the working of the
mine during the term may be so fran
ed as to prevent any holding of large
mining properties merely for specula
ton. while the royalties may be made
sufficiently low not unduly to increase
the cost of the coal mined and at the
same time sufficient to furnish q rea'
sonable income for the use of the pub
lie in the community where the mining
goes on. In Alaska there is no reason
why n substantial income should not
thus be raised for such public works
as may be deemed necessary or useful.
There is no difference between the
reasons which call for the application
of the leasing system to the coal lands
still retained by the government in the
United States proper and those which
exist in Alaska.
There are now in Alaska only NV
well known high grade coal fields
large extent, the Boring river coal feel
and the Matanuska coal field. TIL
Bering river coal field, while 1t ha
varying qualities of coal from the BIZ
luminous to the anthracite, is very
much lessened In value and usefulness
by the grinding effect to which in geo.
logical ages past the coal measures
have been subjected so that the coal
does not lie or cannot be mined in large
Jumps. 1t must be taken out in almost
. powdered condition. The same diff
Guilty does not appear to the same ex-
tent in the Matanuska coal fields. The
Boring river coal fields are only TWEEN
ty-five miles from the coast. They are
within easy distance of an existing
railroad built by the Morgan-Guggen-
helm interests and may also be reach
ed through Controller bay by the con-
struction of other and competing rail-
roads.
Controller bay is not good harbor.
but could probably be made practical
with the expenditure of considerable
money. The railroad of the Morgan
Guggenheim interests, running from
Cordova, could be made coal carry
iLg road for the Boring river fields by
the construction of branch to those
fields not exceeding fifty or sixty
miles. 1t is practicable. and il the
coal measures were to be opened up
doubtless the branch would be built.
In the present condition of things
there is no motive to build the road,
because there is no title or opportunity
to open and mine the coal.
The Matanuska coal fields are long.
err distance from the coast. They are
from $50 to 200 miles from the harbor
of Seward, on Resurrection bay. This
is one of the finest harbors in the
world, and a reservation has been
made there for the use of the navy of
the United States. A road construct
ed from Seward to the Matanuska
coal fields would form part of a system
reaching from the coast into the heart
of Alaska and open the great interior
valleys of the Yukon and the Tanana,
which have agricultural as well as
great mineral possibilities.
The Alaska Central road has been
some seventy-one miles of
the distance from Seward north to
the Matanuska coal fields, but the con-
struction beyond this has been dis
first, by the fact that there
has been no policy adopted of opening
up the coal lands upon which investors
could depend and. second, because
there seems to be lack of financial
backing of those engaged in the enter
prise. The secretary of the Interior
has ascertained that the bondholders,
who are the real owners of the road,
are willing TO sell to the government,
and he recommends the purchase of
the existing road, such reconstruction
as may be necessary. its continuance
to the Mstanuska coal fields and thence
into the valleys of the Yukon and the
Tanana. 1t would be great trunk
line and would be an opening up Of
Alaska by government capital.
/ am not in favor of government
ownership where the same certainty |
by private enterprise. but l think the
conditions presented In Alaska are of |
such a character as to warrant the |
government, for the purpose of en-
the development of that /
fast and remarkable territory, to build /
ind own a trunk line railroad, which |
t can lease on terms which may be |
1aried and changed to meet the grow
ng prosperity and development of the I
erritory.
There is nothing in the history of the
United States which affords such just
.eason for criticism as the failure of |
be federal government to extend the
benefit of its fostering care to the ter
'itory of Alaska. There was time,
If course, when Alaska was regarded
Is so far removed into the Arctic
ocean as to make any development OF
practically impossible, but for years
he facts have been known to those
Who have been responsible for Its gov
and every one who has given
he subject the slightest consideration
las been aware of the wonderful pos
;ibilities In it's growth and develop
nent If only capital were invested
here and good government put over
t. | think the United States owes 1t,
therefore,, to Alaska and to the peo-
lie who have gone there to take an
step and TO build rail