Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13
TO LEASE COAL
AND GRAZING LANDS
Legislation Urged on Congress
by the President.
CONSERVATION OF FUEL
System Successfully Tried in Other
Countries.
POLICY LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Of $500, 900 Desired to
Aid in Detecting and Pre-
venting Frauds.
POLICY LOOKING TO THE FUTURE


houses of Congress long message calling
attention to what he terms the urgent
need of legislation affecting the different
phases of the public land situation In the
United States He advocates the con-
servation of coal and other fuel resources
on lands still belonging to the government,
saying that henceforth the nation should
retain it's title to its fuel resources, urges
government control of the western public
land pastures, with system of small graz
ing fees, etc, and asks for an appropria-
ton of half a million dollars. Immediately
available, in addition to present estimates,
to aid in detecting and preventing land
frauds He contends for a system of gov
eminent leasing Of its mineral lands on
conditions beneficial to the public and for
treating these fuel lands as public utilities.
as generally recognized abroad The Presi-
dent points out that 1t would have been
better if some of the eastern coal lands mad
been left under government control, and
suggests provision in the west against re-
currence Of the conditions we deplore in the
east" Citing 1890 cases of public land en-
tries 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.
The President first refers to his previous
message to Congress on the subject, and
again calls attention to the Importance OF
such legislation would provide for title
to and development of the surface land as
separate and distinct from the right to the
underlying mineral fuels in regions where
these may occur, and the disposal OF these
mineral fuels under a leasing system on
conditions which would inure to the benefit
Of the public as a whole He says he cares
little for the details, and that the prime
need is that the system should be estab-
lished. The message, in part, says:
Not an Untried Policy.
''Such leasing system as that proposed
represents by no means an untried policy.
In the Australian countries during the last
fifteen years coal has been mined under
system of government leases, and on con-
ditions so favorable for development that
their coal and coke are today being sold on
the Pacific coast of both the American con-
tinents. In all the great coal-producing
European countries except Great Britain,
coal is being mined under government
leases In Great Britain leases are grant
ed almost entirely by the private land own
ers, 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 a 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 the COM
mon practice, the separate development or
the two interests is increasing; and in the
eastern and middle states large part OF
the coal is being mined under q system OF
private leases. 1t is gratifying to note that
in these states, as in foreign countries,
these two great industries, agriculture and
mining are conducted within the same
boundaries and the country thus attains Its
highest dual development without conflict
Of interests. Indeed the mining industry
and the factories using these fuels create
H. To-, 1yntc f0y~ thn 11ofc of tha
farm.
Mineral fuels, like the forest and navi-
gable streams, should be treated as public
utilities. This is generally recognized
abroad. In some foreign countries, prac-
teal control of a large portion of the fuel
resources was allowed years ago to pass
into private hands; but the existing gov
ernments are endeavoring to regain this
control in order that the diminishing fuel
supply may be safeguarded for the common
good instead of being disposed of for the
benefit of the few-though the mistake or
the preceding generation in disposinS OF
these fuels for nominal return cannot al
ways be corrected by the present genera
ton as the cost may be so enormous as to
be prohibitory. In our own western states
and territories the scarcity of both water
and forests has rendered necessary their
preservation as public utilities; and the
preservation of the forests for the purpose
of conserving both the waters and tie tim
Der supply has come to be recognized as
the wise ana proper pollcy VI tue leuerdl
government.
Conservation of Fuel Important.
1.-The quantity of high-grade mineral fuels
in the west is relatively much smaller than
that of the forests. and the proper conser-
walton of these fuels is a matter Of far
reaching Importance. This government
should not repent the mistakes of the past.
Let us not do what the next generation
cannot undo. We have right to the prop
er use of both the forests and the fuel
during our life time. but We should not
dispose of the birthright of our children.
If this government sells its remaining fuel
lands they pass out of its future control.
If it now leases them We retain control,
and a future Congress will be at liberty
to decide whether it will continue or change
this policy. Meanwhile, the government
can inaugurate a system which will en-
courage the separate and independent de-
velopment of the surface lands for agri-
cultural purposes and the extraction of the
mineral fuels in such manner as will best
meet the needs of the people and best
facilitate the development of manufacturing
industries.
Objections to the Proposition.