Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-14
WANTS FUEL
AND GRAZING
LANOS SAVED
President Peers Into
the Future
Chief Executive Says the Government
Should Not Allow Coal Lands
to Be "cobbIed Up" by
Spectators
Nv Associa,ed Prsss.

rv Associated prsss
WASHINGTON, Feb 13.-President
Roosevelt today sent to congress
long message calling attention TO what
he calls the urgent need OF legislation
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 stiil
belonging to the government, saying
that henceforth the nation should re-
tain its title TO its fuel resources; urges
government control Of the western pub
lie land pastures with a system OF small
grazing fees, etc, and asks for an ap-
nropriation of half a million dollars,
Immediately available, in addition TO
present 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 treating
these fuel lands as public utilities.
The president points out that 1t
would have been better II some eastern
coal lands had been left under govern
ment control and suggests provision
in the west against recurrence Of the
conditions we deplore in the east.
Citing 2300 cases Of public land entries
in four districts mentioned the presi-
dent says noncompliance with the law
was found in over half Of them and
deliberate fraud in very many cases.
Would Benefit Public
The president first refers to his previ-
Gus message to congress on the subject
and again calls attention to the purpose
of such legislation as would provide
for title and development Of the sur
face land as separate and distinct from
the right to the underlying mineral
fuels in regions where these may occur.
and the disposal of those mineral fuels
under a lease system on conditions
which would inure to the benefit of the
public as a whole. He said ne cares
little for the details, and that the prime
need is that the system should be es-
tablished. The message says in part:
Such a leasing system as that pro-
posed represents by no means an un-
tried policy. In the Australian coun-
tries during the last fifteen years coal
has been mined under a system of gov
ernment lessees and on conditions so
favorable for development that their
coal and coke are today being sold on
the Pacific coast of both the American
continents.
I'm all the great coal producing coun-
tries except Great Britain coal is being
mined under leases. In Great Britain
leases are granted almost entirely by
the private land owners, but there, as
in other countries, the surface culture
and the mining operations are conduct
ed Independently Of each other.
How System Works
'In Nova Scotia, British Columbia,
India, and other British colonies, a gov
ernment leasing system has been adopt
ed and is working satisfactorily. In the
United States, although conveyance Of
the mineral rights with the surface has
been common practice, the separate de-
velopment of the two interests is in
creasing and in the eastern and middle
states n large part of the coal is being
mined under a system of private leases.
ut Is gratifying to note that in these
states, as in foreign countries, agri-
culture and mining are conducted
within the same boundaries. and the
country thus attains its highest dual
development without conflict of inter
ests Indeed, the mining industry and
the factories using these fuels create
large local markets for the products Of
the farm.
Mineral Fuels
Mineral fuels, like the forests and
navigable streams. should be treated as
public utilities. This is generally rec
ogniZed abroad. In some foreign coun-
tries practical control of a large por-
tion Of the fuel resources was allowed
years ago TO pass into private hands,
but the existing governments are en-
deavoring to regain this control in or
der that diminishing fuel supply may
be safeguarded for the common good
instead of being disposed Of for the
benefit of the feW-though the mistake
Of the preceding generation in dispos-
ing Of these fuels for nominal return
cannot always be corrected by the pres
ent generation as the cost may be so
enormous as TO be prohibitory.
I'm our own western states and ter
ritories the scarcity of both water and
I
preservation as public utilities and the
preservation Of the forests for the pur-
puose Of conserving both the waters
and the timber supply has come to be
recognized as the wise and proper pol
icy OF the federal government.
"The quantity Of high grade mineral
fuel in the west is relatively much
smaller than that Of the forests, and
the proper conservation Of these fuels
IS a matter Of far-reaching importance.
This government should not now repeat
the mistakes Of the past.
Peers Into Future
"Let US not do what the next gem
GRAFTON cannot undo. We have a right
10 the proper use of both the forests
and the fuel during our lifetime but
we should not dispose Of the BIRTH
right Of our children. If this govern
ment sells our remaining fuel lands
they pass out of it's future control If
II now leases them we retain control,
and a future congress will be at lib
erty to decide whether it viii continue
or chance this policy. Meanwhile the
government can inaugurate a system
which will encourage the separate and
independent DEVELOPMENT of the sur
rce lands for agricultural purposes and
~ =. extraction OF the mineral fuels IN
~. manner as will best meet the
= ~ the people and best facilitate
Sr&opmenR Of manufacturing in
e59 actions Urged
hAlefe, that objections TO thig
/Esbeing urged. II is claimed
1N'ge a part OF the coal lands
I Z the western states has al
~ sed into the hands Of certain
~ borations that parties endeay.
~ operate under a lease system