Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-12-24

that Fl we are to bring Alaska into
the early and full realization of her
possibilities we must create a new
piece of governmental machinery fol-
the purpose. We should undertake
the work F2in thaRsSalhirat3aand after
the method Of a great corporation
wishing to develop a large territory.
In my Judgment, the way to deal with
the problem Of Alaskan resources is
to establish a board of directors to
have this work In charge. Into the
hands of this board or commission |
would give all the national assets in
that territory, to be used primarily
for her imprOvement-her lands, fish
cries. Indians Eskimos. seals, forests,
mines, waterways, railroads.&c. that
the nation owns, cares for, controls
or regulates. Congress should deter,
mine in broad outline the policies
which this board in a liberal discre-
ton 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 ter
rit0ry of Alaska, for it would eXeh'
else no powers sve such as congress
granted over tho property Of the
United States In Alaska"
In concluding his reasons for the
creation of such conservation machin.
cry for Alaska, Secretary Lane says:
I'm short. would construct the
administrative machinery that would
most surely lead to a prompt and con.
tinuous development Of Alaska as a
part of the United States upon a
plane commensurate with her posi-.
bilities industrially, agriculturally
and socially. 2
Alaska should not in my judg'
ment, be regarded as a mere store
house Of resources upon with 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 would urge this
method of management-for it offers
a rare opportunity to exhibit the eff.
cheney Of a republic--I would not
have Alaska wait for, needed legisla.
ton until the merits Of such a. plan
could be passed upon by congress,
Those things which appeal to me as
of immediate necessity upon which
independent action may be taken are
1) the construction of railroads in
the territory, and (2) 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
to private enterprises. He regards
1t wise, therefore, for the govern
ment to undertake their building.
"The rates and service of such
railroads should be fixed with refer.
ence to Alaskan development-not
with reference to Alaskan develop.
ment-not with regard to immediate
returns. The charges fixed should be
lower for years to come than would
Justify private investment" Alaskan
railroads are to be built. he says, to
create a commonwealth. If THIS is
our task, it should be done whole.
heartedly and with a consciousness
that the dollar spent today on an
Alaskan railroad will yield no more
immediate return on the investment
than! the dollar spent on the Panama
canal" 55s8
Such railroads PC. may be construct
ed by individuals as feeders or tap
lines of the government roads should
be under governmental supervision
capitalized and operated under the
%strictest regulation and be at any
time subject to purchase by the gov
eminent"
Discussing the coal resources of
Alaska, Secretary Lane declares the
fields Should be opened not to spec
.sulators, but to operators. Those
should 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 he turned
over safely to the public under a
leasing and royalty system similar to
that under which the state Of Mime
sofa leases its ore lands, and the
states Of Montana and Colorado their
coal lands. He adds that the money,
received might be used in the devel-
opment of the country and that q
large body of coal.land In each field
be reserved for the navy in time OF
need.
Would Develop Western Coal Lands.
Vigorous suggestions looking to the
conservative development of the coal
lands of the west are made by Sec
rotary Lane. ut is certainly not for
the public interest" the report says,
that u coal deposits shall be open
ed RAPIDLY and ruthlessly. Il cannot
feel, howeer, THAT we should sacrifice
any present need for fuel or willingly
surrender ourselves to q demand for
exorbitant prices because Of a fear
that some day the coal supply may be
exhausted. Already there has been
developed 4 substitute for icoalsin the
flowing stream. The turbine converts
melted snow into heat and light,
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