In an article published in Tho Outlook last summer by Atherton Brownell, entitled “Wanted: A Government for
Alaska,” is a thoughtful discussion of the present needs of this Territory, from the standpoint of government, wherein
incidentally the author lines himself up in favor of a commission, differing somewhat from that framed in the Bever
idge bill. VHereby is published an extract from the article, not for the purpose of noticing the commission argument
hut because the author scores a few points on the matter of conservation and the present retarding of coal development
There is a local feeling that Alaska may be given over to “the
corporations.” As between giving the corporate interests a mort
gage—adeath pledge —upon the future of Alaska, and so throttling
them that neither they nor the people by unorganized individual
effort can develop these resources, there is a safe middle ground
that must be occupied, and the question thus presented is again
similar to that which confronted the Philippine commission. The
wealth of the Philippines attracted the greed of groat aggregations
of capital, which doubtless would exploit that wealth solely for
their own desires and regardless of the future welfare of the peo
ple. Hero the attempt was made to prevent the everlasting mort
gaging of the future by the adoption of stringent and drastic land
laws which effectually prevented their occupation by capitalists,
but which, by the same token, have caused them to lie idle and un
developed while the natives starved. This form of conservation
for future generations presupposed the ability of the present gen
e ration to live on nothing long enough to bring the next into being.
The actual operation of these laws has brought students of the
Philippine government, including President Taft, to the belief that
real development means to take advantage of the benefits to be de
rived from corporateorganization, while at the same time checking
undue greed. The land laws of the Philippines are to be amended
along this line of thought, and one of the problems that will con
front an Alaskan commiss on is along the same line.
i lie same problem is one that, in other phases, confronts the
entire country in the matter of the proper limitations that shall be
set to the carrying out of our conservation policy. There is a grow
ing feeling that the true purposes of conservation are not being
fulfilled by the absolute withdrawal of lands for entry and settle
ment in order to prevent their occupation by greedy capital; but
that the real purpose of conservation is the proper use and eco
nomical development of our resources. Between conservation that
means idleness and the waste that foreshadows want there is a pol
icy the note of which is sounded in the annual report of Secretary
of the Interior Ballinger where he suggests the classification and
segregation of public lands according to their present apparent use.
This is the salient point, perhaps, of the administration’s view of
the public domain, namely, its use as opposed to its abuse and
neglect.
Alaska furnishes one of the present examples of the latter in
its coal fields. Mr. Alfred H. Brooks, of the United States Geologi
cal Survey, is authority for the statement that the coal deposits on
the southern coast of Alaska are greater in extent than the coal
fields of Pennsylvania. The Pacific coast is practically without
coal otherwise. The United States navy department imports its
coal largely from Wales for use in ships on the Pacific, and it pays
therefor as high a price as $12 to $14 per ton. Lying untouched
in Alaska are coal fields which, if operated, could produce coal at
perhaps $2 per ton, thereby supplying not only the manufacturing
plants of the Pacific coast with their fuel, but also providing the
navy with coal at one sixth the cost, as well as creating a supply of
our own upon which we could draw for national defense in case of
need, instead of compelling us to go to foreign nations for a con
traband of war which, even could it be obtained, would then have
to be transported over great exposed distances in foreign bottoms.
Our navy in the* Pacific burns approximately 400,000 tons of
coal annually, most of which comas from Wales, although a small
amount comes around Cape Horn from Pennsylvania. The cost
runs from $7 to $14 per ton at the Mare Island navy yard, whereas
with the Alaskan coal fields open and in operation, with adequate
railway transportation, we would have our own supply independ
ently of any other nation and at an annual government saving of
approximately $4,000,000 per annum. This saving in one year
Cap’s Piace
Imperial Cigar Store
Just received large stock of Peterson and Calabash Pipes
and Confectionery.
NEWLY BUILT PRIVATE CARD ROOMS
To enjoy an evening call and see us. Willow Street, Iditarod.
Merchants Cafe
Wedding Dinners and Large Parties
a Specialty.
Strictly First Class, Open Day and Night
C'has. E Miller & Ernest H. Slenter, Props.
Majestic Pool Lamp iEsT"
FOR SALE E. W. GRIFFIN & CO.
Bank Saloon
M. & M. Bank Building
Bar Whiskey Spring 1899
1 would bo sufficient, to equip the mines with the necessary machin
i ery to produce 2,000,000 tons per year. If the coalfields of Alaska
i were to oe left undeveloped for 50 years, as has been suggested,
: to provide for the future, the United States navy alone would 1 av
wasted $200,000,000
As the coal land situation in Alaska is a matter of keen public
- interest at this time, a word on this subject may add to a clearer
| understanding. In 1900 the coal land law of the United States
; was extended to Alaska. That proved ineffectual because tin 1 -.vs
: permitted the entry of surveyed lands only, and there were no
! public surveys in Alaska. In 1901 a new law was passed permit
; ting the location of unsurveyed coal lands by taking possession and
j marking boundaries. Under that act some 30,000 aci'es of coal land
! were located in what is known as the Bering river coalfield, a1 ou
i 10,000 acres were located in what is known as the Matanuska coal*
1 field, and perhaps 2,000 acres located in the Fairbanks district, all
in 160-acre sections or tracts. The language of the act provides
! that no entries shall be made except for the individual benef t i!
I the locator, and not directly or indirectly for the benefit of any
other person or company nor with the intention of later selling or
j combining with others for more economical working or obtaining
capital for equipment. Under this ruling some thirty and odd en
tries were suspended in 1906 for fraud. Because of the belief that
| corporate interests were seeking the development of these land
all were withdrawn from entry.
Practically the only corporate interests in Alaska today on a
large scale are those which exist under the so called Morgan-Gug
genheim syndicate. Its railway, the Copper River & Northwest
ern, is being driven from tidewater on Prince William sound north
ward to tap the Bering river coalfields, the Kotsina-Chitina copper
region, and the gold-bearing and agricultural Tanana valley in the
interior plateau- This railway is the one assured enterprise of the
kind under construction in Alaska, the supreme need of which ter
ritory is rail connection between tidewater and the mineral fields of
the interior. It is being built at large expense without cost to the
government in either money or concessions of land, timber or min
erals. How great would have been the setback to the development
of our own West if such conditions had been required of the first
transcontinental lines may be imagined.
The one actual possession of the builders of this road, and that
which gives them a practical reason for building it, is a single cop
per mine in the upper Chitina region. This is the somewhat cele
brated Bonanza, certainly a remarkably valuable property, and—
so far as exploration has gone—the richest of the dozen or more
large prospects in an extensive and but little prospected area,
which without the railway is almost inaccessible.
The Morgan-Guggenheim syndicate, in addition to being ac
cused of owning all the copper in the territory, is accused of clutch
ing at all the coal lands. More particularly is it charged with hav
ing some sort of working agreement with the Cunningham inter
ests, which have 32 claims in the Bering river fields, concerning
the granting of patents on which there has recontly been much dis
cussion.
Unquestionably the belief that there is some connection be
tween the builders of the railway and the Cunningham claimants is
based upon the unreasonable nature of the'supposition that con
servative capital would not build a railway through an isolated wil
derness without some assurance of an adequate fuel supply. Even
if this is true, what are the conditions ?
The 32 Cunningham claims consist of 5,120 acres of land.
There are in this one field alone 550 claims measuring 88,000 acres.
In the Bering river and Matanuska fields together there are claims
900 claims of 160 acres each. To get at this coal for the operation
of the mines there must be built more than 50 miles of railway,
thereby opening up another inaccessible and important area, and
terminal facilities for handling it must be provided, besides the in
curring of the expense of large primary development. Yet these
holdings would be ’ess than 6 per cent, of the area already located.
And failing this recourse, the railway must pay from $12 to $14 a
ton to run engines through an aninhabited wilderness.
YOU CAN SEE THEM
SAW ON FLAT CREEK
The Slipperu sawmill got under
way out at Flat last Tuesday and
has been turning out the rough
stuff ever since.
Now there is a legend to the
effect that the Slipperu boys bad
their mill on the side of the hill,
but late investigation has shown
that the mill is right there in the
creek bottom just at the mouth of
Flat where it will do considerable
good.
In addition, they have so many
logs that you can't count ’em. Earl
Slipperu, who hibernated on Otter
last winter was wise to all that lum
ber growing lustily at the head of
Otter, so he told a few boys to go
up and clip some of it last summer.
Result,—well lots of logs at Flat.
J. C. Moody, the local attorney,
who was called to Gecrgetowu re
cently on a case, is back with a
glowing description of the new
country. He says he bought a lot
and contracted for the erection of a
building, which means that he has
designs on that very city.
Have your nuggets made into souve
nirs at Simpson’s, the pioneer jeweler
Baird sells Bock cigars.
ARE READY FOR
NICE HOT ONES
Flat City has the fire department
well in hand. That is they had
enough in hand last week to pay
for chemicals, of which there are
a goodly number. Besides Fred
Raap is on the job over there, keep
ing a weather eye on incipient
blazes.
The department lacks some
buckets and ladders which are need
ful iu climbing over things and put
ting water on them. Therefore, it
is said that any Flater who is down
on too much heat in the winter
time, can contribute to the cause
without causing a blush within the
confines of the reception committee.
After skating all over the coun
try from Candle to Georgetown,
"Count” Foiselles, famous Nome
musher, prospector and miner drop
ped into town last week to look up
a few friends. He has lately been
locating ground uu Castle creek,
and in liis recent travels has stepped
on nearly every foot of groutid in
the Kuskokwim watershed. They
say the "Count” sold a piece of
property in Nome for $56,000, all
of which lasted him a good three
weeks iu Frisco.
Reduced Perishables
To Real Hard Cash:
1
They pulled off an auction at |
Georgetown the other day, whereat 1
it is said that Commissioner Heavy
distinguished himself as one of the
best that ever called for a Lid.
It appears that the estate of the
late Win, Trisco, the man who met
death through an accidental shoot
ing some time ago, consisted of an
outfit of grub and other things that
could not well be stored ill the ar
chives ol the district court clerk’s
•office.
I
I reatmg the exigencies of the
occasion to a mild solution of com
mon sense, the commissioner de- j
-ided to sell the articles before they !
spoiled and turn the money over to!
the clerk of the court to he distri-j
bitted according to the due admitiis- !
ration of the estate Therefore j
;he auction was held
Things went at a lively rate and !
die goods sold for their real value
under the magnetic impulses fur
ni-died by the genial commissioner
aid they cleared $250 which amount
has been forwarded loCleik Page :
it Fairbanks.
BED EYE FOB REDSkHS
IS NOT COMPATIBLE
—
Following a few small libations,
luring which he appears to have
taken more than the regulation j
‘ three-fingers” Mels Perras, char
ged at Georgetown with the crime
of giving liquor to Indians, has]
been bound over to the grand jury, \
scheduled to appear here in the :
spring when Judge (Deerfield opens 1
the first Iditarod term of cou.t.
From the report of Attorney J :
C. Moody who just got back from
Georgetown, Perras is out 011 $2000
hail, after having pleaded guilty
before Commissioner Heavey. This
plea was entered before Moody got
over there, and it seems there was !
nothing to do but go through with
it. It appears that Perras was
slightly under the influence when
the Indians got hold ot the bottle,
wherefore it mav be that no one is
guilty except old man Barleycorn.
A box of La Verdad Perfecto cigars
Xmas will please the most fastidious
smoker. At Johnstone’s.
Smith & S¥lcl¥lasters,
CARPENTERS,
BUILDERS AND JOBBERS
MISSION
FURNITURE
A Specialty.
Shop—Richmond St., bet. 1st and 2d.
FOR SALE—Piece of boiler-plate ste
48x84 inches, 135 lbs. Pioneer office.
Corner First Ave.
and Richmond St.
CHAS. WORDEN, PROP.
The
Sideboard
OldTyler Whiskey a Specialty
Front St. J. R. Andarsan, Prop. ldttarcd
FOR A QUIET SLEEP TRY
Rooms by the Day, Week or f/oniti
- 3rd and Willow St.
CRYSTAL niTIIQ
SPRINGS BH 1 lid
The only bath house in Iditarod
using Crystal Spring water.
Mrs. C. J. Sellander,
Willow Street
Sditarod
ALL KINDS OF MACHINE REPAIRING
PUMPS A SPECIALTY
rv
Black Street, Near Slippern's Mill
Fort Gibbon’s Up-to-Date House
Golden North
HOTEL
Finest and Neatest Rooms
Caters Especially to Family Trade
NO Bar
ED Y. LEE, PROP.
J. A. SLIPPERN,
Carries the LARGEST and WIOST^COIWPLETE Stock of
Sash, Doors, Glass,
MIRRORS AND BUILDERS' HARDWARE IN IDITAROD
Store Kronts and Fancy Windows
Of anv Size and Design Made to Order
LOWEST PRICES GUARANTEED
Telephone No. 5 Office—Slippern’s Sawmill
TURN YOUR FACE TO
The Mecca
| ~ For Inspiration
Corner Second Avenue and Willow Street
George Auten Dave Ferguson
Clark Lumber Co.
Phone io—IDITAROD- Pbom io
Rough and Dressed Lumber
ALL KINDS"OF FREIGHTING DONE, PROMPT
DELIVERY GUARANTEED.