The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-10

those of the west are rapidly follow
mig Thls should not be, for such
mineral resources belong in peculiar
degree to the whole people. Under
private control there is much waste
from shortsighted methods of work
ing, and the complete utilization is
often sacrificed for a greater imnle-
date profit. The mineral fuels under
our present conditions are as essential
to our prosperity as the forests will
always be. The difference is that the
supply is definitely limited, for coal
does not grow and trees do. 1t is
obvious that the mineral fuels should
be conserved. not wasted. and that
enough of them should remain in the
hands of the government to protect
the people against unjust or extor-
tionate prices so far as that can still
be done What has been accomplish
ed in the regulation of the great oil
fields of the Indian Territory offers a
striking example of the good results
of such a policy. Last summer, ac-
cordingly, 1 withdrew most of the
coal-bearing public lands temporarily
islation necessary to protect the public
interest by the conservation of the
mineral fuels; that is, for the power
to keep the fee in the government and
to lease the coal. oil. and gas rights
under proper regulation. No such leg
islation was passed, but I still hope
that we shall ultimately get it.
In addition to treating Alright for
forests and the mineral beds. we
should similarly try to preserve for
the benefit of all the people the great
stretches of public domain, some three
hundred million acres in ALL which are
unfit for cultivation by present meth
DDS and valuable only for the forage
which they supply. This vast area is
now open to the free grazing of cat
restriction or regulation. When
population has increased. as is now
the case, such utter lack of manage
ment means that the public domain Is
turned over to be skinned by men
whose only concern is to get what
they can out of it at the moment,
without any regard to whether or not
it is ruined SO far as the next genera
ton is concerned. In other words, the
range is not so much used as wasted
by abuse; and as an incident conflict
and bloodshed frequently arise be
tween opposing users. With the rapid
and more overgrazed. Moreover,
much of it can not be used to ad-
vantage unless it is fenced, for FENCING
is the only way by which to keep IN
check the absentee owners OF nomao
f1ocks which roam hither and thither,
utterly destroying the pasturage ana
leaving a waste behind, SO that their
presence is incompatible with the
estimate that our public range has
now lost nearly half its value, yet
fencing is against the law, and as the
law now stands it is Wellnlgh lmpos-
sible to do anything to keep the value
of the range. The only practical rem
edv is to give control of the range TO
the federal government. Such control
would not only stop all conflict but
would conserve the forage without
stopping its use. as our experience
with the national forests has fully
proved. 1t would likewise secure 70
the west the great benefits OF legltl-
mate fencing without interfering IN the
slightest with the settlement or the
countrv-on the contrary. while pro-
motine the settlement of the country
hitherto. however. it has not proved
nossible to get any legislation to Sc
cure these ends. The destruction OF
the public range VIII contl nus u 1not1
nent of such laws as those 1 have
advocated.
Public Land Frauds.
For several years we have been do
inc everything in our power to prevent
fraud upon the public land what can
he done under the present laws Is now
being done through the joint action OIL
+be Interior department and the depart
mont of Justice But fully 70 accom-
plish the prevention of fraud there Is
need of further legislation ana espec-
iaIlv of sufficient appropriation TO
,1ary,oit the department of the interior
n examine certain classes of entries on
the ground before they pass INTO pr
vate ownership Inc appi oprIdli Il
asked for last winter. If granted, would
have nut an end to the squandering or
tbe nublic domain, while it would nave
Trevented any need of causing hardship
r. individual settlers by holclng up
their claims. However, the approprla-
lion was not given us. and in conse-
nuence it is not possible to secure, as
I would like to secure, the natural re-
sources of the public land from fraud