URGING SALE
OF ALASKA’S
COAL LANDS
Outright sales and leases of coal
lands In the fields of Alaska, on the
same principle that governs the sales
and leases of coal lands in the States,
is advocated by Franklin K. Lane,
secretary of the interior, according to
a 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 oil the
.ground that the proposal was entirely
new legislation, it was stricken from
the measure on a point of order when
the bill was submitted to the consider
ation of the senate.
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 I 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
tions thus far begun. After further
study of the situation I 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 t 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 a disadvantageous posi
tion.
“ ‘I 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 it
w'ould also be conducive to the good
administration of the laws.’
“Numerous tests have demonstrat
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
a___U_ ,1 ^ J
from highly necessary purposes to
tarry coal from Virginia ports to the
Pacific to supply the ships of the navy
that are about to be sent to that coast.
"Jarpes 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: (1)
There are three coal land leases in
force in Alaska at this time; (2) three
tracts are either being mined or pros
pected under the leases; (3) one lease
of 2240 acres of land in the Bering
river field; two leases of 1400 and
1440 acres in the Matanuska field, and
none in the Nenana field are being
worked or prospected; (4) names of
lessees: Bering river field, Falcon
Joslln, 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. 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, and 24,
of the Bering river field, and the other
leases were executed as of February
1, 1917, the first embracing blocks
Nos. 2 and 3, the second embracing
blocks 10 and 11 in the Matanuska
field'.”
-»
Your eyes, fitted. Compound and
stigmatlc leasee replaced. See Os
borne.
FINISH THE JOB
CHAPLAIN OF SHIP
EXORCISES GHOS1
LONDON, Feb. 5 (by mail).—Thi
British sailorman apparently is as su
perstitious as ever, and two stories o
the navy have found their way inti
the columns of the Daily Mail.
According to one of these tales, ai
officer of a naval vessel became men
tally unbalance in the war and com
mitted suicide under tragic circum
stances, after escaping from his cabin
Not long afterward the sentries 01
board commenced to complain tha
someone was dogging their footstepi
as they paced up and down in thi
night watches. They declared tha
they could feel a presence, but 01
turning around could see no one. Even
tually the sentries had to be sent oi
duty in pairs, as a solitary sentr;
sometimes would desert his post it
terror. The “ghost” is probablj
laid, as its ship was sunk in the Dar
danelles.
Another case was that of a hauntec
cabin. The officer assigned to it was
missing, and it was presumed that h<
was washed overboard by accident
Another officer was allotted to tht
cabin, and one night he aroused the
ship by shouts. A number of officers
and men rushed in and found the new
occupant sitting up in his bunk in e
state of terror. He said he had fell
something touch his head and that the
bunk was invaded by something dami
and smelling of seaweed.
The same thing happened to an
other tenant later on, and after thai
the cabin was unused for three
months. Then a chaplain moved intc
the cabin and there were no com
plaints of further manifestations.
■ DENVER TO UTILIZE
■ LOTS FOR WAR GARDENS
DENVER, March 19—Free!; vege
tables and home grown strawberries
! will be on the bill of fare of Denver
| home owners again this summer in
' the national campaign to reduce the
* cost of living by utilizing vacant lots
of the city for war gardens. There
1 will be potato patches between fine
residences and tomato vines cn the
corner where you wait for your ear.
All this was decided recently by the
' city administration when the offer of
1 last year to plow free of charge one
' lot for each war gardener was re
1 newed. Along with it came the offer
! from the city water commissioner to
■ supply water to war gardeners at half
1 price.
The man lucky enough to own a
1 vacant lot or to have the use of it
until the owner gets ready to build a
1 flat or bungalow, is busy these days
studying the seed catalog and profit
ing by the mistakes of last summer.
Last year’s national war garden
value was $525,000,000, and of this
Denver economists had their full
share, with the co-operation of the
city. There is every indication, ac
cording to city officials, that the num
ber of warj;ardens this year will ap
proach the number of 1918, because
of continued high prices of foodstuffs.
But the increase in building activity,
suspended by the war, it is said, will
prevent the 1919 record equalling that
of the previous year.
-«
The Daily Titles job plant is
well equipped for all classe of com
mercial printing.
-,-♦
Read the Daily Times for the latest
and most reliable world news. «
i Osborne Bros, I
8, s
fit $
o-x-c j;
1 Jeweler* and
Optician*
Watch Repairing
| Jewelry to Order
jjjl CORDOVA, ALA8KA
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LUMBER
BUILDING MATERIALS OF
ALL KINDS i
Brick and Lime
CORDOVA MILL AND
LUMBER CO.
JUST RECEIVED
A Large Shipment of
LIVE
CHICKENS
Excellent Roaster*
FRESH EGGS
FOR SALE
JOE FREY
Phone 22
Job printing at Daily Times office.
giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiii
I First
I New
[ Shipment |
Direct From
New York
| Just Arrived
■ Including Georgette and Crepe de Chine
j§ Waists, both in dress and tailored. Large
jj assortment of latest patterns in Skirts, in
1 eluding Broadcloth, Wool Plaid and Baronet
jj Satin.
Mrs. Bell wires from New York that she
■ has secured and shipped exclusive rich Lady
1 Duff-Gordon, Lucille, Mitchell and Marion I
jj Gowns, Wraps, Waists, Kenyon Coats, Sport ■
jj Suits, Lilly, France and Regolastic Corsets, 1
U Devoise Brassieres, Stein Hats, Perrin 1
jj Gloves and other Spring Goods. ■
1 THE CORDOVA I
I STYLE SHOP
I PHONE 171 I
1 .
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Semi-Anthracite
Greater Heating Units and
I Burns Three Times as
Long as B. C. Fuel
4
$2 a Sack ' j
$18 a Ton
• §8
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Alaska Transfer Co.
Distributing Agents
*
— N..
JUST ARRIVED
DETMER’8 new Spring Samples of the
latest patterns In light and heavy
weights for ladles’ and men’s 8ults,
Tailored in Up-to-Date Styles.
TOM HUBBERT
Tailor and Cleaner
...