Evening star., 1922-03-07
FIGHT ON FORESTRY
|. BILL LWAXESB|TTER
Secretary Fall FIayed by Gif.
ford Pinchot for Alaskan
Policy.

Reflections Of the controversy be-
tween Clifford Pinchot, chief of the
United States forest service under
President Taft. and former Secretary
of the Interior Ballinger came to
light within the past week In the
course of conversation by mail be-
tween the present Secretary of the
Interior. Albert B. Fall. and a men,
ber Of Congress, concerning proposed
Legislation for administration of the
forest preserves of Alaska.
Secretary Falls stand on forest ad-
ministr;. ton in the newest territory
has brought down upon his head the
wrath OF Mr.. Pinchot, according to
Mr.. Fail. Results of the difference
between the two men have become ap-
parent, the Interior Secretary points
out, in issuance recently of bulle-
tin by the American Forestry Asso-
clation in which the whole proposed
policy of administration of the forest
reserves in Alaska is attacked
The Secretary of the Interior has
publicly announced that he approves
passage by Congress either of the bill
authorizing the President to allocate
and coordinate the duties Of the diff
ferent bureaus now having jurisdic-
the national government in Alaska. or
bill of similar character vesting in
the Interior Secretary the authority
over most of such activities. by trans
ferring to the Interior Department Of
fees Of such bureaus operating in
Alaska.
Wants Work CO-Ordinnted.
Among these activities was admin
istration of the forests in Alaska, to
"a 70 ynrly nf ha Int IN
Department might be co-ordinated,
by transfer of the forests to the In
terror Department., administration of
the mining laws, the agricultural en-
try laws, construction of roads and
other methods of transportation.
On the press sheet purported to be
issued by the American Forestry AS
sociation appeared an interview quot
ing from Col. Greeley. chief of the
forest service. headed who Chal-
lenges Plan to Get Control Over
Alaska's Forests" The article went
Interior A. B. Fall is apparently chief
sponsor Of this movement. as he was
the chief sponsor for the So-called
Curry bill This bill is directed
against continued public control Of
the great natural resources OF Alaska.
has not been attempted in our time.
The vast wealth of the great empire
of Alaska was to be turned over to
an absolutely irresponsible body.
from which the people Of Alaska and
the people of the United States
Secretary Fall says he was absent
when this sheet was sent out, but
was advised of it by telegraph. THE
chiefs of several of the bureaus Of
this department whose efforts to ad-
minister the public laws are so fire.
III a re6 hU vi loo Of O
forestry bureau and Of Mr.. Pinchot."
he added, ''were outraged at this
vicious and unwarranted attack on
the head of a coordinate department
of the government"
The matter was brought to the at
tention of President Harding and a
public statement issued bearing on
the matter. which put up to Congress
the matter Of dealing with the for
est domain, insofar as regards legis-
lation.
Secretary Fall said he was opposed
to selling timber from the public
domain to China and japan. that he
would not permit any of the timber
thus cut to be taken out of the United
States and that he would not permit
waters Of rivers. He added that he
did not charge that the forest service
was cutting timber for the purpose
of selling it to China and Japan. but
tHdl tnlS was tne ultimate dlSpoSl-
tion of a great deal Of timber which
had been cut for commercial purposes
In this country.
The Interior Secretary points out
that, In his opinion. what Alaska
needs for it's development is the brain
and strength of the "virile young
American manhood. so conspicuousIy
represented by the veterans of the
world war"
"a national policy which will make
available the undeveloped resources
of Alaska will enable them to crafty
their. desire to intermingle again with
civilians and permit them to follow
the course pursued by their fathers"
he adds. TT was the ancestors of
these men who placed more than seven
billions of dollars OF accumulated in
destructible wealth in the Treasury Of
the United States and converted 1t
into taxable property, together with
ten times seven billions in developing
the resources and In building up the
Rocky mountain states.
Need of Private Capital.
cit Is my firm conviction that in
deep prospecting in Alaska it will be
necessary for Congress either to lib
eralize the laws, to the end that pri-
vate capital may be invited, with an
to justify taking the gamblers chance.
or in lieu thereof provide a revolving
fund to be used by some department
of this government in the sinking of
experimental oil wells and in pros
pecting for non-metalliferous mineral
deposits.
"A small revolving fund would do
the work. The same policy should
be pursued upon the public lands of
the United States. Right develop
ment in Alaska should be pursued
upon the comprehensive plan re-
ported long since by the Alaskan
engineering commission and the
Alaskan road commission, that freight
for the now completed government
road may be delivered to 1t from the
wonderful mineral deposits of the
Kantishna. Mount Mckinley and other
mineral districts"
Secretary Fall adds that Congress
should provide a proper working or