The Chitina leader., 1915-11-16
ALAsKA's FR1zNDwR1rEs ON OPENING COAL FIELDS

ALASKA'S FRIENDWRITES ON OPENING COAL FIELDS
With the close interesting series of articles Alas
ka the Daily desires again pay tribute to that able
fearless writer Colonel John A. Seicher Leses Weekly
who dared to truth about conditions they actually
exist in this northand He personally investigated
of comparatively undeveoped country inquired
into the real Of the bong through which
Alaska is passing and drew pertinent and intelligent concu
that made good reading and has done the territory good
by open and frank discussion of pabe condition
That ncalcuabe good will result there doubt Lese
is widely read by patriotic and thinking Americans
Schleicher believes that the storehouse Of Alaska
magnificent wealth to be opened and when it it will
give impetus National prosperity The following
cerpts deal with our large deposits of coal:
Nature preserves its equilibrium always and everywhere
furnished Alaska with abundant deposits of coal Some
of the largest the Arctic circle the land of the
It estimated that Alaska furnish this country with
supply Of coal for 600 to but only when higher
price will Justify the of mining it and
inaccessible regions Aaskas greatest need for it's industrial
development abundance of fuel While it has plenty of
timber along the coast wood is the INTERIOR but its
coal fields would supply the fuel the Government
which owns the coal would permit capital to mine it
Sensational writers have exaggerated the immediate
value of Aaskas fields and created such widespread
alarm regarding their seizure and appropriation by private
parties that at Washington has had the
to consider the solution of the problem from
mic standpoint without regard to partisan considerations So
Aaska coal fields have remained they from the
on while the people of the territory have pleaded in vain
for the fuel they needed They bitterly the attitude of
those who with little knowledge of the gravity of the situation
The whole country has suffered thereby and the
growth and development Of the richest territory the conn
ent has been stunted when it is most promising.
cit greatly to the credit of the Secretary Of the
INTERIOR Mr. Lane that with the approval of President Wilson,
vigorous effort to develop the coal deposits Alaska
under way The Government surveys show in all about
dozen separate and distinct coal fields Alaska ranging from
Ignite to bnous and anthracite of high and low grade
OF these fields only three four tributary to seasonabe
navigation the rest locked in by ice fields during the
greater part of the year These available known The
Boring River field Cordova and including the much talked
of and greatly msrepresented cunningham Claim the Cook
Inlet Ignite deposit covering large in southwestern
Alaska and which little work has been DONE and the Maan
uska field to whoch the Government building railroad
of its own by authority recently granted Congress and with
initial appropriation of 81 100000 and plan that contem
plates the construction Of 900 miles of railway cost of
$35,0O00OO
Secretary Lane representing the government proposes
OF arrange with responsible parties for the leasing of limited
sections of coal lands in Alaska Some fear that these
sections small they be secured by those who will utilize
them for stock obbng purposes It would be very for
the of lease of coal land to initiate it's value
for speculative purposes How guble the public is the post
office department reveals by it's statement that in year
creduous persons swnded out of 70OOO00 by the
promoters of fraudulent mining, OIL plantation patent right
and similar schemes. coal mine with the government
credentials behind would give these gold brick gamblers
the chance Of their lives
scandaous outcome the honest purpose would
be for to deal only with those whose financial standing
unquesoned Just Secretary McAdoo in carrying his
patriotic purpose improve trade relations with South
American States stripped of all partisan consideration and
invited the aid the largest banking houses and the repre-
senaves OF the largest and most successful corporations Let
Secretary Lane call to his aid the strongest parties he
find and let them unite in carrying out the avowed purpose
the Administration oopen Alaska in deed and in truth Then
this nation would have abundant TO rejoice"
-:o:-
HOW ALAsKANs ARE IMPOSED UPON.