OCR Text |
Show WOULD HAVE GOVERNMENT RESERVE THE COAL LANDS WASHINGTON. Feb. ' 1. Tho coal fields of Alaska, just now so much under un-der discussion in Washington and throughout tho country, nro tho subject of a longthv bill introduced in the house by Delegate Wickcrsham of Alaska, providing that 15,000 acres of the best coal-boaring lands of Alaska bo sot aside by the United States in perpetuity as tho national coal reserve. re-serve. Provision is made for tho withdrawal of 5000 acres each from tho Katalla and Matanasuka districts and 5000 nioro from tho Ivcuar and Alaska peninsula areas. A board of national coal rosorvo is to bo established, consisting of ono naval officer, ono member of tho goological survey and one other member having practical knowledge of coal mining and transportation. This board is to survey and select tho coal lands. The socrotary of tho interior is directed di-rected to furnish to the attorney-general fill information regarding private coal claims in Alaska, and tlio latter official is directed to investigate each claim and compel a return of the property prop-erty to tho United States in every case whero there is any irregularity, and such returned claims aro also to become a part of tho national reserve. Quo hundred thousand dollars is appropriated ap-propriated for tho uso of tho board of national coal reserve. |