The Cordova daily times., 1919-03-19
URGING SALE
OF ALASKA'S
T.
COAL LANDS

and leases of coal lands in the States
is advocated by Franklin X. Lane
secretary of the interior, according tc
dispatch from Washington city in a
recent issue of the Seattle Post-Intel
lingencer. Secretary Lane is quoted
as having recommended that the pro
posed legislation in this respect for
Alaska be included in a bill that was
pending in congress to rescind some
of the restrictions imposed on the
acquisition of coal lands in the States
The recommendation OF the secretary
was approved by the chairman of the
committee on public lands in the
house of Representatives and was in.
corporated in the bill, but on the
ground that the proposal was entirely
new legislation, it was stricken from
the measure on point of order when
the bill was submitted to the consider
alton of the senate.
I'm a letter to Representative Scott
Ferris of Oklahoma, the chairman OF
the public landes committee of the
house." the Post-Intellingencer says,
Secretary Lane recited that a year
ago he wrote to Mr.. Ferris urging that
Alaska be left out of the coal land bill
pending at that time, as the coal land
leasing law for Alaska had not then
been properly tested. The secretary
continues:
Since the above letters were writ
ten there has been further opportun-
ity to learn whether the Alaska coal
leasing bill is suitable to conditions
in the territory, and have concluded
that it is not entirely so. There has
been but little inquiry for these lands
and only limited development.
-Four leases were granted under
tie present law and but two of these
were able to finance the small opera
lions thus far begun. After further
study of the situation l have come to
the conclusion that the field would be
more inviting to coal operators if title
were granted as in the States, especi-
ally since Alaska's operations are so
far away from bases of labor and sup
ply.
"I therefore recommend that Alas
ka be placed on the same footing as
the States, and that operators in that
field have the same choice of lease
and purchase as is accorded else
where Otherwise. Alaska coal lands
will remain in Instantaneous posi-
ton. ...a..
"1 am of the opinion that not only
would it be in the interest of the de-
velopment of Alaska coal lands to
have the provisions of the pending
bill made applicable to Alaska, but 1t
would also be conducive to the good
administration of the laws
Numerous tests have demonstrate
ed continued the Post-Intelligencer,
that coal of the Matanuska field in
Alaska does meet navy requirements.
The navy admits the fact The extent
and character of the coal areas in the
Matanuska field have been known for
many years. But coal is not coming
out Of the Matanuska field
Thus, with the world short of sea
tonnage, ships have to be diverted
from highly necessary purposes to
carry coal from Virginia ports to the
Pacific to supply the ships of the navy
James Wickersham, former dele
gate in congress from Alaska, recently
applied to the commissioner of the
general land Office for information as
to the operations of the leasing law.
Mr.. Wickersham received a reply
from the commissioner saying:
"'You are advised as follows: a.
There are three coal land leases in
force in Alaska at this time; ca three
tracts are either being mined or pros
pected under the leases; go one lease
of 2240 acres of land in the Boring
river field; two leases of 1400 and
1440 acres in the Matanuska field, and
none in the Nenana field are being
worked or prospected; az names of
lessees: Boring river field, Falcon
Joshn, assigned to Bering River Coal
Company, New York Building, Seattle,
Wash: Matanuska field, Oliver La
Duke and associates, and Lars Net
land, who assigned to the Chickaloon
Coal Company, Alaska Building, San
Francisco, Cal. The first named lease
was made June 8, 1918, and embraces
blocks Nos. IS, 10, 20, %, 90, and "a,
Of the Boring river field, and the other
leases were executed as OF February
l., 1917, the first embracing blocks
Nos. and 3. the second embracing
blocks 10 and II in the Matanuska
faldb