The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-27
liar charge but was released for lack
OF evidence against him.
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR RE.
PORTS.
Lane Outlines Policy of Uni:cd State,
Towards Aiashun Territory.

Washington, Dec. 23.-Outlining a
proposed land policy for Alaska, which
Includes an administrative board
having charge of all the national re-
sources OF the territory, the annual
report of Secretary OF Interior Frank
lin IS. Lane was made public TODAY.
FULLY half Of the twenty-six pages
in the report deal with the Alaskan
situation, which in the opinion of the
secretary is of the utmost Importance
to the country. The withdrawal Of
lands in Alaska and their reservation
by the government, following the dis
covery of natural resources had pre-
Guided the development which should
have taken place in the territory, ac-
cording to the secretary. The report
says:
The largest body Of unused and
neglected land in the United Sttaes is
Alaska. 1t is now nearly half a GEN.
tury since We purchased this terri
tory, and it contains today less than
$4,000 white inhabitants, less than
loo for each year it has been in
our possession. The purchase was
made as means of protection against
tie possible aggression Of a foreign
nation and without the hope that it
would be even self-supporting. In
the intervening 46 years we have
given it little more than the most cas-
ual concern, yet its mines, fisheries
and furs alone have added to our
wealth the grand sum Of $500, ,O0O,-
600.
I'm my judgment the way to deal
with the problem of Alaskan re-
sources IS TO establish n board Of di-
rcctors TO have the work in charge
Into the hands Of this board or COM
mission | would give all the national
assets in that territory, to he used
primarily for her improvement in
her lands, fisheries, Indians, Eskimos,
seals, forests, mines, Waterways. rail
roads-all that the nation owns,
cares for, controls or regulates Con-
SrCss should determine in broad out
line the policies which this board in
a liberal discretion should elaborate
and administer, much as is done as to
the Philippines. This board would
Of course have nothing whatsoever to
do with the internal affairs of the
organized territory of Alaska, for il
would exercise no powers save such
aa congress granted over the property
Of the United States in Alaska"
According to the secretary, the plan
of opening the vast lands Of Alaska to
the public should be pursued under a
leasing and royalty plan similar to
that under which the state of Min
ncsota leases its ore lands, and the
states Of Colorado and Montana their
coal lands. These plans provide that
any lands leased must be developed
and not merely held for an increase i'm
value as has been the case in Alaska
and with timber and coal and mining
lands IN many of our western States.
The secretary would also extend this
plan To the petroleum. phosphate an
potash beds in our western states.
and To the lands suitable for agricul-
turc. The money derived from the
leasing Of such lands should be urn-
ed back into them in great many
cases in the form of power sites and
irrigation projects. while The govern
mcnt still retains the title to them.
This plan, the secretary believes would
effectively put a check 70 the mono
polization of our resources, by giving
the small promoter chance to ac-
puirc Il property undcr a lease, such