The Cordova daily times., 1917-08-14
SECRETARY LANES GREAT ERROR


 Secretary of the Interior Lane recently authorized statement pointing importance of the early completion government railroad in Alaska to help the United States meet The reviews the past work of the commission fu and the following paragraph IS con taned in the document:
 "The importance of immediately completing this railroad can readily appreciated when it that the navy could be supplied with fuel the Pacific coast without having shipped the continent by rail- thus releasing thousands for the transportation of materials and ood would also release the tonnage which now required carry from the states practically all of the coal con by the mining fishing and other industries of Alaska
 Every one wishes the railroad develop to the fullest extent the Alaska but the paragraph quoted which should not be allowed to go uncha enged For years the argument set forth that the coal should be utilized by the people and empire builders o the Pa cc but it withdrawn from enty and to date no parties have been found willing take lease under the narrow and stringent regulations suggested Instead o releasing thousands of ears might properly be said that would release thousands foreign ships which have been used to transport the coal Atlantic the Pacfc and the statement that it would release the tonnage required to from the states coal in Alaska quite incorrect all of the steamships railroads and large mines burning CafOr mia oil, and will continue to do so.
 It is also to know that practically all of the coal burned Alaska from the states wherein the correct would be that the greater portion of all coal burned in Alaska is shipped in American steamships from Canadian coal mines As to releasing such steamship that IS entire y the question: the Alaska railroad commission cusvey the U transport Crook with various huks for transporting and following the construction period would not be profitable investment for such steamships continue operate to and from Anchorage in fact their operations
 
 they interested to the slightest degree the transporting of the coal chiefly because the principal of ue and particularly those specified by Secretary Lane located in southeastern Alaska and these various points, Skagway Keckan inclusive considerably Canadian coal mines than they Anchorageor Seward and if the ships should go into ing to do at the present moment but quite to the contrary everything possible being done discourage in their Anchorage traffic they could not possibly handle the coal could they compete with the cost and from adan coal mines to the most popuous districts of Alaska, which water haul ranging from 400 800 miles, Kechkan to Skagway inclusive against distance ranging from 800 to 1900 miles, Anchorage points eastern Alaska.
 has got to additional steamships operate with the transport Crook we'll from the present outlook the coal itself and then endeavor find from Prince William Sound to Dxon's entrance inclusive dspac ing California oil and Canadian coal.
 Secretary Lane and his staff be commended for the publicity being put out but writing dope in Washington G. pretty serious matter unless the writer knows his Alaska from end to end The marketing of this greatly 10 be desired but Secretary Lane finding extremely difficult matter of accomplishment For years all the Washington bureaus have been fooled Clifford Pnchot and the difficulty faced by the secretary the interior in finding persons lease the coal adopting methods whereby be laid down at the docks the the railroad at less than rates then finding transport 1t to other parts of distant Alaska and finally getting market after dspacing California oil Canadian coal are tasks which woad make Hercules consider long time be- fore making the atempt-Ex