Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-02-21
THE URGENT NEED
President Roosevelt Sends Message
to Congress Asking Legislation
Affecting Public Lands.
10 SAVE FUEL RESOURCES
Like Forests and Manageable SIRENS
they Should Be Treated as Pub
lilo Utllltles-c Considering Flu
ture Generations.

washington, Feb. IA. = President
Roosevelt Wednesday sent to congress
message calling attention to what
he terms 1.-THE urgent need Of legis-
lation affecting the different phases
Of the public land situation in the
United States" He advocates the
conservation Of coal and other fuel
resources on government lands, urges
government control Of the western
public land pastures with a system
Of small grazing fees, and asks for
an appropriation of 100000 to aid
in detecting and preventing land
frauds. He contends for system OF
government leasing Of its mineral
lands and for treating these fuel
lands as public utilities.
The president asks for legislation
which will provide two distinct titles
10 public handsome for the surface
and the other for the underlying min
erals. These mineral lands the presi-
dent would dispose Of by lease. The
details Of this plan he leaves for
congress to work out, only arguing
for the adoption Of the plan.
Instances Of successful leasing OF
such lands by foreign governments
are cited by the president and he
argues at length for the separate de-
velopment Of farming and mining
on American land.
Foreign practice also Is cited as .
reason why mineral fuels, like for
ests and navigable streams, should
be treated as public utilities. In this
way can the rights Of future genera
lions adequately be protected. The
quantity of high grade mineral fuel
in the west is relatively smaller than
forests, and its preservation should
be the subject of the wisest legisla-
ton. Ultimately these rich lands
all will pass out of federal control
and future generations will be de-
prived Of their birth right unless this
leasing system be adopted. BY leas-
ing the mineral rights, the govern
ment can exercise healthy control,
the good effects Of which will best be
noted in the future.
Answering the charge that reser-
walton Of natural forests raises the
price of lumber In the west, the
president says:
1T should be remembered that the
best and most accessible bodies OF
timber in the west passed into pri'
yate holdings before the forest re-
serves we're established; that while
the price Of timber has advanced In
the west 1t has advanced sim more
in the east where there are no for
est reserves; that supplies Of tim
Der are today being shipped from the
west to the market Of the Mississippi
valley and even to foreign countries.
1T may be fairly claimed among
the advantages Of the leasing system
that: ~ It will facilitate the work
ing Of coal deposits for local mar
kets by miners without large capital;
on II win facilitate larger opera
lions, 60 prevent waste in the en-
traction and handling Of these fuels;
"a the system can be operated In
such manner as to prevent the evils
Of monopolIstic coptrol: 90 II will
permit the government TO reserve
from general use, fuels especially
suitable for special industries; and
te) Il will enable the government
to protect the public against unreas-
enable and discriminating charges
for fuel supplies"
The president urges care In the ais
posal Of these mineral land inter.
ests forseelng q time when the so
called inexhaustibIe resources VII
be taxed to more than their capacity
IN supplying the demand.
me president trusts congress may
prevent TIE coal lands Of the west
from getting into control Of the cor.
porations ss have ne eastern an
thracits landS
covernment control Of Wostsrn pas
ture lands b urged on the sane sen
ursi principles nov applying 70 goF-
eminent control Of ne forest reserve
ONLY enough reFsuus non TIE range
A nav for IL administration a1o
Enforcement would b sufnaisut tha
msrnrs urrsa. More special lad
rrrpfI - urr.ail1 rs11Dtoa