The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1906-08-17
LAND WITHDRAWALS.

i Confirmation of the telegraphic
order withdrawing all public lands
from entry in certain 27 townships in
the Bismarck land district, naming
them, has been received from Wash.
ington. 1t is learned that A town
ships in the Dickinson district have
also been withdrawn and it is pre-
sumed similar Withdrawals have been
made in other districts throughout the
United States where coal deposits
exist.
A recent Washington dispatch says:
independence of the coal monopoly
or great strike Of coal miners
! seems to be. assured by the action
| taken by the president and Secretary
Hitchcock.
Secretary Hitchcock has, by direc'
tion of the president, following a
thorough investigation, issued an
order withdrawing from entry 6,0O0,-
900 acres of public lands which are
known to contain workable 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 instruc-
tions from the president and ascer-
tained that there were 56,000,OOo
acres of public land believed to con-
tain coal deposits. The president,
however, desired the withdrawal ol
only those sections known to possess
| workable coal, and the area was &C
cordingly reduced to 100000 acres.
This gives the government posses
sion of coal lands capable of supplying
the nation with an indefinite amount
| of fuel. The president last spring
when there was danger of second
coal strike, let it be known. that he
would not hesitate to carry out his
plan of a receivership if he We're
forced to do so by the failure Of the
operators and miners to reach an
agreement and by the suffering which
such failure would entail next winter
! He realized that the seizure oi
mines would greatly irritate capital
and might cause it to grow timid. II
probably would consider that the gov
ernment might regard coal mine
seizure as precedent for similar &C
| ton in other industries. The presi
dent knew, however, that he would he
subjected to violent criticism, and
finally, that any of his successors
confronted by similar emergency
might not care to go as far as he
himself would.
Secretary Hitchcock was informed
through reports that he had received
in an official way that thousands OF
acres of the public domain have been
entered as agricultural lands, when
as a matter of fact, the lands are
mineral and are being worked fol-
coal, cement, asphalt and other
minerals. The prosecutions for fraud
which were commenced in some in
stances for this deception are being
pressed and others will follow.
The president in transmitting the
| ranort of Commissioner of Corpora
tions Garfield on the Standard Oil
corporation, declared that the time
had come when no coal or oil lands
held by the government, either within
the public domain proper or territory
owned by Indian tribes, should be
alienated. The president was Of the
opinion that the fee to such lands
should he kept in the United States
government and leased on such terms
and for such periods as would enable
the government to keep entire control
of them.
| Senator La Toilette introduced
resolutions to attain this end and
Secretary Hitchcock enlisted the sup
port of Senator Spooner in the same
direction, asking that provision be
put in an appropriation bill author
izing the president to locate and with
draw from entry. all public coal lands.
Congress adjourned without any such
action however, and the president and
Secretary Hitchcock, after thorough
Investigation, determined to act with
out more specific authority, resting
upon the belief that the people will
approve the policy which is to prevent
an injury to the public interests.
Senator La Toilette Of Wisconsin
played a prominent part in the dis
cussion in the senate on this subject
last winter. He urged vigorously
greater government control Of coal,
oil and other mineral lands in the
possession Of the Indians. The SEN
ate, however, turned down his ideas.
Senator La Fpllette's presentation Of
the subject attracted the attention OF
1.-The president, as It was in line with
the consfde deration he was giving the