The San Francisco call., 1907-02-14
ROOSEVELT WANTS
NEW LAND LAWS
Message Sent to Congress
Asks for Conservation of
: Nations Fuel Resources
PLANS WAR ON FRAUD

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-President
Roosevelt today sent to Congress a
long message calling attention to
what he calls, the urgent need of leg
islation affecting the different phases
OF the public land situation in the
United States" He advocates the
conservation of coal and other fuel
resources on, lands still belonging to
the Government. saying that hence
forth the nation should retain it's
title to its fuel resources; urges
government control of the Western
public land pastures with a system of
an appropriation of S500,0 imme-
diately available, in addition to pres
ent estimates, to aid In detecting and
preventing land frauds. He con-
tends for a system of Government leas-
Ing of its mineral lands and for treat
ing these fuel lands as public utili-
ties.
The President points out that it
would have been better if some East
ern coal lands had been left under
government control, and suggests
provision in the West against re-
currence of the conditions we deplore
in the East" Citing cases of public
land entries in four districts men
toned the President says non
compliance with the law was found
in over half of them and deliberate
fraud in many cases.
The President first refers. to Ms pre-
vious message to Congress on the
subject. and again calls attention to
the Importance of such legislation as
would provide for title and develop
ment of the surface land as separate
and distinct from the right to the
underlying mineral fuels in regions
where these may occur, and the dis
Nposal of these mineral fuels under a
lease system on conditions which
would inure to the benefit of the pub
lie as whole. He says he cares little
for the details, and that the prime
need is that the system should be es-
tablished. The message says in part:
Such leasing system that proposed repre-
sents by no means an untried policy. In the
Australian countries during the last fifteen years
coal has been mined under a system OF Govern
ment leases and on conditions favorable for
development that their coal and coke today
being sold on the Pacific Coast of both the
American continents In all the great coal pro-
ducfng countries except Great Britain coal Is
granted almost entirely by the private land
owners, but there, as in other countries, the
surface culture and the mining operations are
conducted Independently of each other. In Nova
Scotia British Columbia, India and other British
colonies Government leasing system has been
adopted and is working satisfactorily
In the United States, although conveyance Of
the mineral rights with the surface has been
common practice the separate development of
the two interests is increasing; and In the East
and middle States large part of the coal
is being mined under system of private leases.
1t is gratifying to note that in those States, as
In foreign countries, agriculture and mining are
conducted within the same boudaries. and the
country thus attains its highest dual develop
ment without conflict of interests.
Mineral fuels, like the forests and navigable
streams, should be treated as public utilities.
Let also again urge that legislation be
passed 10 provide for Government control Of the
public pasture lands of the West the same
general principles which now apply In the Gov
ernment control in the forest reserves The
local control of the range should be in the hands
of Western men familiar with stockraising and
there should be full local hand In the man
agement of the range.
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