The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-02-03
CONSERVATION OR PRESERVATION? ?
Are the coal fields of Alaska and the oth-

CT mineral resources of the territory to be conserved or preserved by. the government ot the United States? The question is not out of order these days when the future of the country looms big before us.
 In the administration of William Howard Ta1t, there was serious difficulty over the legislation controlling the Alaska coal fields Clifford Pinchot, wealthy exponent of the observation of natural resources, took is- s.e with Mir. Taft spending his own money
 ely. Up to this time great natural re-
 rces of the country had been literally stol- c. i~,n tie people by legislation, which was al le.jst favored by the corporations if not actually framed by them. Pinchot, then ,ll;ci forester of the United States, saw the probability of repetition of this procedure n tl4e case of Alaska. Ably backed by Theo- 1cle Roosevelt, he fought for Alaska. and Ao4 the victory, losing his own position as caus~4uence. A crimp was put in the plans of any corporation which might want to mon- orolize Alaska and its resources. It has been most effective.
 Today no corporation, however big or powerful, can get around that coal law. The coat still belongs to the nation. As far as the government is concerned it is in a state of conservation. To Alaskans it is painfully evi dcat that it is state approaching the most excellent preservation. Legislation keeps the big fellow away and lack of capital keeps the little fellow back. Of course he can mine 1t on a small scale, but how IS he to get it to his mineral claim in the form of cheap power. The best brains of the community can sec no solution under the conditions that cN;st at present. There must be a change or the interior of Alaska with its tremendous resources will also be in a state of preserva- tion.
 Action must be taken. The people, ex cepting the few inbred with the corporation spirit, are satisfied with the coal laws and look for no change in legislation. They rec ognize the first act of relief that the govern nent has made for this situation, and ap- rreciate it, namely, the building of the gov ernment railroad. It is necessary, and as it hears completion, the fact is brot for"ar that it will be almost useless unless the cheap power, which is contained in unlimited quantities in the coal fields, is unlocked. And the only reasonable and feasible plan under thc present laws governing the case, which nave been thrashcd out so thoroly, is to build |. government power plant. The coal can be used conservatively by the government representing the people without having to de- .7)'d '1pon corporations which have proved t..!c,' selves -ntrustworthy so many times. It 1c strictly in accordance with the growing
 ('=Icy to broaden government control.
 Whether the conservation of Alaska's G.. fields will amount to a judicious protec- lion Jf the future, or whether it will amount to a virtual preservation of not only the coa., but also the other mineral resources, {. pends upon the government. It is following 4. ;ts conservation policy already with the government railroad, but more is necessary, CT ....at is intended to benefit the country and < people will really kill it. The government n''st be made to see that it must follow the sa..le course further, and make the coal avail able for the miner in the form of cheap pow err in other words build power plant that will convert the coal into cheap electric power.