New-York tribune., 1906-12-18

has been found 20 exist For this purpose an
increase Of special agents in the General Land
Office is urgently required: unless tt is given.
bona fde would-be settlers Will be put To grave
Inconvenience, or else the fraud VIII In large
part go on Further, the Secretary OF tha In
terror should be enabled to employ enough min
Ing experts TO examine the validity of all min
eral land claims. and to undertake. the super
vision and control of the OF the mineral
fuels still belonging TO the United States. The
present coal law. limiting the Individual entry
to 100 acres, puts a premium on fraud by max
ing 1t impossible to develop certain types OF coal
fields and yet comply with the law. IT is scandal
to maintain laws which sound we'll but which
make fraud the key without which great natural
resources must remain closed The law should
give individuals and corporations under proper
government regulation and control (the details
of which shall not at present discuss). the
right to work bodies of coal land large enough
for profitable development My own belief is
that there should be provision for leasing coal.
oil and gas rights under proper restrictions. II
the additional force of special agents and mining
experts recommend is provided and well used,
the result will be not only to stop the land
frauds. but to prevent delays In patenting valid
land claims and to conserve the Indispensable
fuel resources of the nation.
RIGHTS OF WAY AND PRIVILEGES.-
Many Of the existing laws affecting rights OF
way and privileges public lands and reserva-
tions are illogical and unfair. Some work IN
Justice by granting valuable rights IN perpetu-
ity, without return Others fail TO protect the
grantee in his possession of permanent I'M
provementS made at large expense. In fairness
to the government. to the holders OF rights and
privileges on the public lands, and TO the people
whom the latter serve I urge the revision and
re-enactment OF these laws in comprehen-
sive act. providing that the regulations and the
charge now In force in many cases may be ex-
tended TO all, 10 the end that unregulated
monopostiC control Of great natural resources
may not be acquired misused for private ends.
PRIVATE HOLDINGS WITHIN NATIONAL
FORESTS--The boundaries of the national
forest reserves unavoidahly include certain val
liable timber lands not owned by the govern
ment Important among them are the land
grants OF various railroads. For moro than
two years negotiations with the land grant rail-
nav
lands within national forest reserves may be-
preserved by the removal OF the present crop
OF timber under rules prescribed by the forest
service. and its perpetuation may be assured by
the transfer OF the land to the government
without cost The advantage of such an
rangernent to the government lies In rhe
quisition Of lands whose protection Is necessary
to the general welfare. The advantage to tho
railroads Is found in the proposal to allow them
10 consolidate their holdings OF timber within
forest reserves by exchange after deciding their
lands to the government, and thus to cut within
a limited time solid bodies OF timber, instead
of alternate sections, although the amount OK
timber IN each case would be the same. IL Is
possible that legislation will be required 10 au-
thoriZe this or a similar arrangements With tha
railroads and other owners IT sos recon-
mend that It be- enacted
WORKING CAPITAL FOR THE NATIONAL
FORESTS.-The money value or the nattonai Tor
ests now reserved for the use and benett OF the
people exceeds considerably the sum or $1,UD,-
100000. The stunpage value or tne sranoins
timber approaches $500. 100000, and. together
with the range and timber lands, the water for
irrigation and power and the subsidiary values.
reaches an amount equal to that or the natiooA
property now under the nnInedats contrVA oA
the army and navy together. But this vast do
main is withheld from serving the nation a.
freely and fully as 1t might by the lack OF cap
ital to develop it. The yeariy running expenses