Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-12-24

riffn much Thought anu my
conclusion n that II Wo are 90 bring I
Alaska into the eerly and Fun rpnllxa-
lian Of her possibilities w must create ,
q new piece Of governmental unchin-
cry Tor tho purpose. We should un-
aertakc tho work In the spirit and
after the method Of a great corpora
slon wishing 10 develop a large ter-
tit0ry. In my Judgment the way 20
Zeal with the problem OF Alaskan re-
sources IL 20 establish q board Of d. I
rectora 20 have this work IN charge.
Into tho hands Of this hoard or come
mission I would give all tho national I
assets In that teflitery, 20 b used f,
primarily for her mprovemcnt--her
lands fisheries. Indians, Esklmos. /
seals. forests mines waterways rail- /
roade-ail that the nation owns. /
cares for. controls or regulates. Con-
nrese should determine IN broad out /
line tho policies which this board ~
liberal discretion should elaborate
and administer. much as j. done ~
10 the Philippines This board would
Of course have nothing whatsoever 10
10 with the Internal affairs Of the or
ganized territory Of Alaska, for &
would exercise no powers save such
as congress granted over the property
81 the United States IN Alaska"
In concluding his reasons for the
creation Of such conservation ma
chlncry for Alaska. Secretary Lane
says;
In short. ! would construct the
administrative machinery that would
most surely lead 60 n prompt and
continuous development % Alaska as
part Of the United States upon
plane commemorate with her possi-
bilisies lndustrialiy. agriculturally and
socially.
Alaska should not. In my judy
ment be regarded as a mere store
house Of resources upon which the
people OF the states may draw. She
has the potentialities OF a state. And
whatever policy may be adopted
should look toward an Alaska OF
homes. OF industries. and OF an ex-
tended commerce.
strongly as I would urge this
method OF managementr-for Il offers
a rare opportunity TO exhibit the ef-
helency OF a republic would not
have Alaska walt for needed legisla-
ton until the merits Of such a plan
could be passed upon By congress.
Those things which appeal 10 me as
OF immediate necessity upon which
Independent action may be taken are
/ % the construction Of railroads In
the territory and CD the opening OF
her coal lands"
Secretary Lane expresses the opin-
ion that privately owned railroads
would not be constructed In Alaska
for many years, except as adjuncts 10
private enterprises He regards II
Wise therefore. FOR the government 20
undertake their building.
''The rates and service OF such
railroads should be hxed with refer
ence 10 Alaskan development--not
with regard 20 immediate returns.
Tho charges nxed should be lower for
years 20 come than would Justify pri-
vate investment" Alaskan railroads
arc 70 be built, he says 10 create "a
commonwealth. II this is our task.
Il should DO done whOle-hoartedly and
with a consciousness that the dollar
spent today on an Alaskan railroad
Will yield no more immediat> return
on the investment than the dollar
spent on the Panama canal"
such railroads as may be construct
cd by individuals as feeders or tap
I lines OF the government roads should
be "under governmental supervision,
capitalized and operated under tho
strictest regulation and be at any
time subject 10 purchase By the gov
/ ornment."
Discussing tho coal resources OF
I Alaska, Secretary Lane declares the
fields SHOULD be opened not 10 spec
uiators. but % operators. Those
enouid have these lands who will use
them. None should be opened as a.
basis for "a gamble In future values
In his judgment they may be turned
over safely 20 the public under "a
leasing and royalty system similar 10
that under which the state of Min
nesota leases It's ore lands and the
state OF Montana and Colorado their
coal lands. He adds that the money
received might be- used In the de-
lvelopment Of the country and that "a
l1arge body Of coal land In each field
be- reserved for the navy In time OF
need.
Vigorous suggestions looking 10 the
I
lands of the west are made by Secre-
nrv Lane "ft is certainly not Tor
the public Interest the report says,
"that our coal deposits shall be OPEN
ed rapidly and mthlessly / can not
feel however, that we should sacri-
fee any present need for fuel or WIZ
lingly surrender ourselves 20 "a demand
lfor exorbtant prices because Of a fear
that some day the coal supply MAJ h'
lexhausted. Already there has been
developed substitute FOR coal in the
. flowing stream The turbine converts
NOTED snow into heat and light
which can be distributed ever con-
stantiy widening area. ! think we
, have now arrived al that point in
scientific achievement which iustihea
! I the belief that the wheels Of Industry
VIII not cease. nor our houses 90 un-
II lighted or unheated, 30 long az dams
may be built upon our streams. Water
viii be. indeed already ls. the greatest
{ consoryator Of coal We must seek
Z Ia make use Of our coal. the fullest
/ use that society requires. This prin'
/ ciple seems a truism. But here liei
! the dlalculty. We wish cheap Goa
: and az the Same time minimum OF