COAL LAND TO BE I IS I
Bill Introduced in the Senate Allowing Alaska Fuel to
Be ilined—flonopoly Forbidden and Commerce
Commission to Regulate Sale Price.
Washington, Jan. 5.—Senator Knute Nelson
today introduced a bill in the Senate, which, it
is believed, will pass and solve the coal question
for Alaska, at the same time permitting the de
velopment of the resources of that country.
The bill provides for the issuing of a license
to prospectors for a period of two years, during
which time they can locate veins on land that
they desire to lease. A nominal charge of twen
ty-five cents an acre is charged the first year for
this privilege and fifty cents an acre for the sec
ond year. This clause was inserted to give the
pioneers an opportunity of learning the value
of the ground before negotiating for the work
ing of it.
A time limit of thirty years is placed on all
ground leased and not more than 3,200 acres
can be secured by an individual or corporation.
This is the equivalent of about sixteen placer
claims.
The government is to receive a royalty of five
cents a ton on all coal mined and where a lease
is made within ten years after the passage of the
act the royalty is to be from six to fifteen cents
a ton.
Restricting clauses have been placed in the
bill to prevent a monopoly of the land and bonds
are required by all lessees for a faithful per
formance cf their part of the contract.
The Commerce Commission is to have juris
diction over all of the leases and will regulate
the sale price of coal.
This is an administration measure and was
drafted by Senator Nelson after a consultation
with President Taft and the leaders of the Re
publican party.
The many Alaskans now at the national
capital were greatly pleased today when they
learned that legislation favorable to the open
ing up of the coal lands was introduced in Con
gress and are jubilant over the prospects of the
Nelson bill becoming a law.
Washington, Jan. 6.—The bill which Senator
Nelson introduced in the Senate yesterday, as a
means of allowing the coal fields of Alaska to be
opened up does not meet with the approval of
Delegate Wickersham and he is out in open op
position to it or in fact any leasing measure,
much to the disappointment of a large number
of Alaskans here, who are pleading with the ad
ministration to give the people of the North
some relief so far as the fuel question is con
cerned. It was generally believed that, under
the circumstances, Nelson had prepared a bill
that would meet with the approval of the resi
dents of the territory and allow its resources to
be developed.
But Wickersham insists upon being in the
limelight and today introduced a bill in the
House for the restoring of Alaska coal lands to
entry, with no possible chance of ever having
such a measure passed. The only thing he can
hope to accomplish is to delay action on the dis
position of the coal lands, which seems to be the
game the Eastern trusts are playing and Alas
ka’s delegate is either wilfully or through ignor
ance allowing himself to be used to further theii
ends.
Wickersham attempts to justify his actions
by raising the cry of “wolf” against the cor
porations operating in the North. He says he
wants the government to fix the prices for coal
and transportation and punish any existing
monopoly of the situation, but it is not believed
that he is sincere in his opposition to the Nelson
bill, which covers all of the salient features ad
vocated by him.
The disposition of the coal lands has been a
ticklish subject for the administration to handle
and it was believed that Senator Nelson had
found a solution that was fair to all parties con
cerned and unless the Insurgents fight the meas
ure Wickersham’s opposition may not prove
more than a flash in the pan.
LEGISLATION FOR CORDOVA
Copper River Railway Will Ask Congress for 200 Feet
Right-of-Way Along Tide Flats For Terminal
Purposes and Exemption From Tax
ation For Ten Years.
Washington, Jan. 5.—It is announced that
the Alaska Syndicate will seek, at this session
of Congress, to secure the passage of a bill ex
empting the Copper River & Northwestern rail
road from taxation for a period of ten years, on
the grounds that instead of compelling the com
pany to pay a federal license of about $20,000
per year for the operation of its road from Cor
dova to the Bonanza copper mine the govern
ment has always extended aid, and not burden
ed railway enterprises with taxation when they
were attempting to develop a new country.
In view of the fact that extensive improve
ments are planned for the coast terminus of
the Guggenheim road Congress will also be
asked to enact a law granting the railroad a two
hundred foot wide right of way across the tide
flats at Cordova. It is understood that the Alas
ka Syndicate seeks this grant for terminal pur
poses, coal and ore bunker sites and also in or
der that it may have the facilities necessary in
the erection of a smelter plant.
Washington, Jan. 3.—Falcon Jos
lln, president of the Tanana Valley
Mines Railway, is in this city and is
doing some effective work in favor of
legislation that will prove of incalcu.
lable benefit to Alaska if he is suc
cessful in convincing the administra
tion of the urgent needs of that ter
ritory. There is no Alaskan here
who stands higher in the councils of
the party leaders than Joslin; he is
recognized as a man of integrity, who
Is familiar with conditions in the
North and has the ability to proper
ly present them.
Yesterday he wrote a voluminous
letter to President Taft, which con
sisted of 3,000 words. In this he
fnlly set forth the importance of the
government taking immediate action
In the coal land cases in order that
. the development of the country may
not be longer retarded. His famil
iarity with the subject, and the facts
and figures as presented by him, will
be a revelation to the public.
He urges that justice be done in
the disposition of the Cunningham
coal claims at Katalla and denounces
Pinchot’s brief as offensive, insulting
and embarrassing to Secretary of In
terior Ballinger.
The courageous and manly stand
taken by Joslin in reference to the
coal lands has been applauded by
every Alaskan at the capital and
they have promised to render him
their support in his fight against the
fanaticism of such conservationists
as Pinehot and others, whom, it is
believed, are trying to bottle up the
resources of the North to please the
coal magnates of the East.
Washington, Jan. 3.—Commission
er Dennett, of the land department,
has filed his annual report, in which
he urges the opening of the Alaska
coal lands.
It would be a poor Christmas with
out candy. Get It from Newhouse &
Co. They have as good a line as can
be found in the states, Just fresh from
^ the factory, too. 12-10-tf
CABLEGRAMS IN BRIEF.
Washington, Jan. 7.—Secretary of
the Treasury MacVeagh favors the
issuing of gold certificates to retain
the metal bullion form.
New York, Jan. 7.—The Carnegie
Trust Company, capitalized at $1,
000,000, was today closed by the
State Commissioner.
Seattle, Jan. 7.—A number of
prominent Alaskans visiting here are
considering the holding of a meeting
and wiring a protest to Delegate
Wickersham against his opposition
to the Nelson bill.
Victoria, Jan. 7.—The London
underwriters put a new warranty
time and increased the insurance rate
on vessels that now proceed to Si
beria, Bering Sea or any part of Alas
ka.
New York, Jan. 7.—It is reported
that the J. Pierpont Morgan Co. is
preparing to refund $100,000,000 to
the Honduras government.
New York, Jan. 7.—Congressman
Champ Clark, leader of the Demo
cratic members, declares that the edi
tors of the daily press and the mag
azines are the greatest educators of
the day.
Here in
CHITINA
Is a genuine opportunity for a man or
woman with a few hundred dollars to in
vest in lots, for either a home or for busi
ness purposes, if the advantages of this great
undeveloped empire are accepted now.
Thousands of settlers, prospectors and
tourists will come into this country next
spring to make this their home and add their
mite to the development of this vicinity.
You cannot afford to miss this oppor
tunity to get in on the ground floor and to
get established for the business that is sure
to come.
DO IT NOW
Chitina Townsite Co.
»»»I»TTT»TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT»TTTTTTTTTTTTT T T T T TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Copper River & Northwestern Railway
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Good Passenger and Freight
Service to Interior Alaska
For Rates and Other Information Apply at
DEPOT OFFICE
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The MacCrmac Hotel
'CORDOVA'S LEADING, POPULAR PRICED HOTEL—S. O. BREEDMAX, Prop.
'Has all modem conveniences. Bar and restaurant in connection.
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RATES:
Single looms $1 per *
4
(lay and up. -
4
4
Two persons, $1.50 3
4
per day up. s
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Room with hath, $3 J
4
per day up. J
4
4
Two persons, $2.50 ^
per day up. 4
•i
Electric Lights. i
4
4
STEAM HEAT 1
4
4
Hot and Cold water. ,
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Suites or single <
4
Rooms <
4