partant when it is realized that
the oil supply of America is de
creasing—and that a cheap pro
cess for extracting motor fuel
from lignite is supplying Ger
many with gasoline.
Under a hydirogeneration pro
cess invented by Dr. Frederick
Burgius, it is possible to extract
three barrels of motor fuel oil
from a ton of lignite.
Untold Wealth There
And there are literally thou
sands of millions of tons of lig
nite in Alaska.
At present they belong to the
public.
• Veins totaling 283 feet thick
are on the surface of the bluffs.
There are a total of seven veiny
showing in one section 24 miles
long and 10 miles wide, not one
of which is less than 20 feet, and
one is 65 feet through.
Throughout the Interior of the
Territory are deposits of almost
unlimited extent.
They stand out on the white
surface of the cliffs like black
lines on a newspaper, screaming
for attention.
And nothing has been done.
For years the Alaska Railroad
has lost money. Has had insuf
ficient business to meet expenses
—and that coal is there.
th the gamfe for billions of dol -
lars some force seems at work
tfo' prevent development of the
flelds-nsome force that seems to
desire only delay—until the time
is ripe.
Is There a Plot?
The Senate Committee will
face the work of attempting to
trace that force, if it exists, and
to learn whether there is a plot
to stifle Alaska imtil the time
arrives to grab her vast resourc
es in one sweeping move.
Secretary Denby resigned as
head pftfie .Navy after his ac
tions against the development of
the Matanuska fields had been
laid before President Coolidge,
Admiral Robison retired.
But the Alaska coal fields still
are undeveloped.
Notorious Politician in Charge
Of Alaska Leases
After the Senate Committee
appointed to investigate condi
tions in Alaska completes its
tour of the Territory, it is ex
pected to conduct extensive
hearings.
Records will be examined.
The Committee will learn that
business of the Department 3f
the Interior was rearranged go
place leasing in the hands of
John B. Edwards, long an asso
ciate of Harry New of Indiana,
notorious in national politics and
finance.
Whether Edwards has had any
part in retarding development, of
the Territory is expected to oc
cupy attention cf the Senators.
Former Governor Dixon of
Montana, First Assistant Secre
tary of the Interior, was former
ly in charge of the timber landc.
The duty was taken from his
hands. He was left with little
to do in an official way.
Dixon is a Prorgessive Repub
lican, a notably conscientious
servant of the people.
A request that President Hoov
er send Dixon to Alaska to make
a thorough investigation brot
acknowledgement from the Pres
ident and Secretary Wilbur, but
no action has been taken.
A Tortuous Trail
More tortuous than the trails
of Alaska that the committee
will follow on its tour, more hid
den than the geld mines, will be
the trail the committee must fol
low to learn the real truth of
the Territory.
'Why hev^e applications for
leases of timber lands been -re
jected without explanation?
„ Why have independent West
ern lumbermen been forced to
fight bitterly for any recognition
in Washington, D. C?
tr
To Scan Records
Department records, testimony
at past congressional hearings
end private lives must be scan
ned to learn the truth.
The Committee is expected to>
look into the books of a great pa
per manufacturing company to
leam whether President Hoover
is a large stockholder.
In view of the flat assertion
that he is, the senators owe it to
the Chief Executive to clear his
name.
Scheme to Loot Alaska Bobs Uir
Often in Senate
Government administration of
Alaskan affairs for years has
been the cause of bitter strife.
The special Committee of the
!J. S. Senate created to study ter
ritorial affairs this summer was
specifically instructed to recom
mend legislation to remedy con
ditions.
In 1920 Senator Harry New of
Indiana, was benefactor of John
B. Edwards, who has charge of
all forest leases of the Depart
ment of the Interior, introduced
a bill to create an Alaska board
Could bell Anything
Under that bill the board
would have absolute power to sell
anything in the Territory.
Those vast coal fields of the
Territory could be sold for $1.
Great fore ts could be sold for
any sum t hat board deemed
suitable if that bill passed
The bilil was indorsed by the
then Secretary of Interior Lane.
Loud protests were heard, and
irne resigned—as had Secretary
Tenby of the Navy, following
disclosures of his actions con
cerning refusal to develop coal
for use by the Navy.
Again Introduced
The bill was reintroduced in
1921. If it had passed, the board
would be responsible to ho one
and would have unlimited au
thority. Further attempts to
pass it are expected at any time.
Through the financial history