The Dickinson press., 1906-08-11

There has been great deal of talk
concerning the withdrawal of a. town.
ships of public lands from entry in the
Dickinson district. Much of the lands
are rich in coal deposits, fact which is
not generally appreciated out here where
Ignite coal abounds in almost inexhaust-
ible quantities.
The lands withdrawn include the ter
ritory around Dickinson and Lehigh, also
near South Heart and north of Belfeld.
North and west of the Rainy buttes and
in the vicinity of Sand Creek and Yule
large tracts are withdrawn; north of Me-
dora and around Sentinel Butte; near
Mikkelson and in the Saddle butte coun-
try; in the Bennie Pierre creek country
northwest of the Little Missouri river,
and north and east of Oakdale, near the
south banks of the Little Missouri river,
number of townships have also been
included in this large order covering the
unentered lands of an area of about $780,
600 acres. In Stark county, most of the
government lands. had already been
entered and therefore are not affected by
the order.
The PRESS gave list of the lands
withdrawn in the Dickinson district in
its issue of August 4, but recent dis
patch from Washington tells why Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Hitch
cock were prompted to issue the order.
The dispatch says:
independence of the coal monopoly or
great strike of coal miners seems to be
assured by the action taken by the pres
ident and Secretary Hitchcock.
Secretary Hitchcock has, by direction
of the president, following a thorough
investigation, issued an order withdraw
ing from entry 100000 acres OF public
land which are known to contain work
able.coal. These lands are situated in
New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming,
North Dakota, Montana, Oregon and
Washington.
The geological survey made an ex-
animation in accordance with lnstruc-
tions from the president, and ascertained
that there were 100000 acres OF public
land believed to contain coal deposits.
The president, however, desired the
withdrawal of only those sections known
to possess worka able coal, and the area
was accordingly reduced to 100000
acres.
This gives the government possession
of coal lands capable of supplying the
nation with an indefinite amount of fuel.
The president last spring, when there
was danger of a second coal strike. let
it be known that he would not hesitate
to carry out his plan of receivership if he
was forced to do so by the failure OF the
operators and miners to reach an agree
ment and by the suffering which such
failure would entail next winter.
He realized that the seizure of mines
would greatly irritate capital and might
cause it to grow timid. 1t probably would
consider that the government might re.
gard coal mine seizure as precedent tol
Similar action in other industries. The
president knew, however, that he would
be subjected to violent criticism, and
finally, that any of his successors, con-
fronted by similar emergency, might
not care to go as far as he himself would
Secretary Hitchcock was informed
through reports that he had received ir
an official way that thousands of acre:
of the public domain have been entered
as agricultural lands, when, as a matter
of fact, the lands are mineral and art
being worked for coal, cement, asphal
and other minerals. The prosecution!
for fraud which were commenced il
some instances for this deception art
being pressed and others will follow.
The president in transmitting the re
port Of Commissioner of Corporation!