Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-02-13
WOULD LEASE ALL
PUBLIC LANDS
President Sends
Message to u.
Congress
FUEL TIMBER AND RANGE
Should Be Under Fee Sys-
tenn He Urges---Fears Con.
troll By Monopolists.

tenn he OrgeS---f ears Iof1s
troll By Monopolists.
Washington, d. c.. Feb. 13-Presi,
dent Roosevelt today sent to Congress
a message calling attention TO what
he terms "the urgent need of legisla.
ton affecting the different phases OF
the public land situation in the United
States" He advocates the conserva-
ton Of the coal and other fuel re.
sources on government lands, urges
government control Of the western
public land pastures by the use of a
system of small grazing fees and asks
for the appropriation of half million
dollars to aid in the detection and
prevention of land frauds The mes
sage contends for a system by the
government for the leasing of its min.
eral lands and for treating these fuel
lands as public utilities. The Presi.
dent points out that It would be bet.
ter if some eastern coal lands had been
left under government control and
suggests provision in the West to
guard against recurrence of the CON
ditions we now deplore in the east"
Citing 1900 cases of public land en-
tries in four districts mentioned, the
President says noncompliance with
the law was found in over half and
fraud in many others The President
asks for legislation which will pro
vide two distinct titles 10 public lands
one for surface and the other for
underlying mineral These mineral
lands the President would dispose Of
by lease,
Congress to Work Out Details
The details of the plan he leaves for
Congress to work out, only arguing
for the adoption of some such a plan.
Instances Of the successful leasing of
such lands by foreign governments
are cited by the President and he ar
CUES at length for the separate devel.
opment Of farming and mining on
land Foreign practice is
also cited as reason why mineral
and fuels, like forests and navigable
should be treated as public
Seeks to Protect Future Americans.
In this way only, can the rights of
future generation adequately be pro-
tected The quantity of high grade
mineral fuel in the West relatively, is
smaller than the forests and its
should be subject to the
wisest legislation. Ultimately these
rich lands will pass out of federal con
troll and future generations will be de-
prived Of their birth-right unless
leasing system is adopted
President Answers Grave Charges.
Answering the charge that the reser
walton Of the natural forest raises the
price of lumber in the West. the
President says
ut should be remembered that the
best and most accessible bodies of
timber In the West passed into pri-
vate holdings before the forest re-
serves were established and that while
the price of timber has advanced in
the West it has also advanced still
more in the East where there are no
forest reserves; that supplies of tim
Der are today being shipped from the
West to markets in the Mississippi
Valley and even to foreign countries,
What Leasing System Will Do,
ut may be claimed fairly that
among the advantages of leasing
system that the following will result:
"1) 1t will facilitate the working
of coal deposits for local market by
miners without large capital. ~
"(2) 1t will facilitate larger opera
tions.
"(3.) 1t will prevent waste in the
extraction and handling of these fuels.
90 The system can be operated
in such a manner as to prevent the
evils of monopolistic control.
"(5) 1t will permit the government
to reserve from general use a fuel
supply suitable for special industries
"(6) 1t will enable the government
to protect the public against unreason-
able and discriminating charges for
fuel supplies"
President Fears Future Years.
The President urges care in the dis
posal of these mineral land interests
foreseeing the time when the so-called
resources will be taxed
to more than their capacity in supply
ing the demand. The President trusts
that Congress may prevent the coal
ands of the West from getting into
The control of corporations as have
he Eastern anthracite fields.
Government control of the Western
pasture lands is urged upon the same
general principles as now apply to the
governments control of the forest re-
serves Only enough revenue from
the range to pay for its admission aud
would be sufficient, the
urges. More land agents are
urgently reoueStad