May 26, 1974

Rev of wk's events in Watergate case notes that Judge Gerhard Gesell ruled motion made by Pres counsel James D St Clair to quash another subpoena for White House records‐‐personal files of former aides John D Ehrlichman and Charles W Colson, who are charged in plumbers break‐in'‐‐out of order, holding that Nixon had no right to authorize break‐in search without warrant (S)

Retired Long Is, NY, schoolteacher Jo Phillips article, in form of lr circulated to her friends, discusses life in Irish countryside; discusses affection for County Clare, where she is currently living, and daily chores; describes encounters with and impressions of locals; drawings (L)

1st of NY Times series of articles on Alaska pipeline project discusses impact that 5 yrs of controversy and delay have had on its final shape and costs; says that under pressure of environmentalist critics and Fed and state monitoring, cos involved in project have developed most heavily researched and most technically sophisticated pipeline in world; former Interior Sec Walter J Hickel says original plan was environmental and engineering disaster, and Thomas J Kofodimos, chief project engineer for Alyeska consortium building pipeline, says Govt participation actually assisted pipeline work; Dr Robert B Weeden (Univ of Alaska) says that while pipeline concept is big improvement over ‘69 plan, its impact in terms of further development of region still presents problems; Drs Peter G Lent and Keith Van Cleve discuss research that should help caribou survive and protect delicate permafrost; Exxon engineer Peter DeMay and early pipeline critic Dr Arthur H Lachenbruch express deep distrust that oil cos and environmentalists will continue to hold for one another; original $1.5‐billion estimate of pipelines cost has been increased to $4.5‐billion as result of research, modifications and inflation; oil is expected to flow in mid‐'77 at initial rate of 600,000 bbls a day, and is expected to increase to rate of 2 million bbls day to meet 10% of projected US demand in late ‘70; will provide gross revenues of $5‐billion a yr at estimated well‐head price of $7 a bbl; Homer L Burrell sees Alaska's share from Prudhoe oil at $1‐billion a yr by ‘80; Roger J Lang notes financial benefits to Alaska Indian tribe arising from their ownership of land under ‘71 Native Claims Act; share of participating cos in oil right on North Slope and in Alyeska consortium noted; State Oil and Gas Div chief petroleum geologist Thomas R Marshall comments; Andrew P Rollins and Charles A Champion are in charge of monitoring operations for Fed and state govts, respectively; map; pipeline profile containing data on seismic and weather conditions, permafrost and land elevation (L)

Withers Stakes: Accipiter wins Whithers Stakes on May 25 at Belmont; illus (M)

Francis, only pregnant beluga whale in captivity, dies on May 25 at NY Aquarium; aquarium dir Dr James A Oliver discloses that death was caused by toxemia, which 1st afflicted Francis about 10 days ago; toxemia was caused by death of whale's fetus and apparently spread throughout Francis’ body; Oliver comments; says lab tests are being scheduled to determine cause of fetus’ death; Francis biog sketch; illus