New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-14
GUARD PUBLIC LANDS.
MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT.
Sags Government Should Control
Coal and Grazing Resources.


calling attention to urgent need Of legislation af-
4ecrtug the different phases of public land
situaton in the United States" He advocates the
conservation Of coal and other fuel resources on
lands stin belonging 10 the government saying
lint henceforth the nation should retain its title
70 its fuel resources He urges government control
~ the Western public land pastures with a system
~ small grazing fees, etc. ana asks for an ap-
propriation OF $4,000 Immediately available in
addition present estimates TO aid in detecting
and preventing land frauds He contends for a
system Of government leasing Of its mineral lands
ard for treating these fuel public utilities
The President points out that 1t would have been
better Il some nj the Eastern coal lands had been
lef- under government control and suggests pro
vision i'm the West against recurrence of the con-
ctons We deplorA in the East Citing 300 cases
of public land entries four districts mentioned
the President SAYS noncompliance with the law
was found fin over half Of them. and deliberate
fraud IN many cases
The President first refers 10 his previous
ssEes 10 Congress Or the subject. and again calls
attention 70 the imoorteEo' Q: such legislation
would provide for t!r,e 70 ana development Of the
surface land - separate and distinct from the
rig1t % tie underlying rn.nera. fuels in regions
where these may occur, a1c Tie disposal Of these
mineral fuels under leasing system conditions
which would inure 70 l1e bepeht the public as
whole. He saws he carss l.ttIe for the details and
iast tho prime need is that The system should be
established. The message say in part:
eGch q leasing system that proposed represents
by no means an untried policy. In the Australian
countries during The lasl fifteen years coal has
been mined under q system of government leases
AID on conditions favorable for DEVELOPMENT
the Pacihc Coast Of both American continents In
al the great coal producing European countries
n.enr leases In Great Britain leases are Granted
there, IN other countries Gh snTf 7;lri' i
90 ,5 MI ',-tllls OPERATIONS are conducted indie
Columbia, India other British colonies a gov
S---f ea5.Fg system has been adopted and is
tholsh conveyance of the mineral rights with the
ing ana in Eastern ana Mjl5e So s ic i ss,
Of the coal is being mined tlndar S,sa "a IS Re
t--tals eases. II IS gratifying 10 note that in
Asse states, as IN foreign countries the two greaT
industries, agriculture and mining. are cond1cts5
z-ts;1 - 9IIIle boundaries and the country thus
7fcs - s -.-s-le7i ala development without con
~ fs 81 lhdeea The mining industry and
markets for the products Of the farm 40 a.
streams should he 4 9s me forests end navigable
Is generally recognized abroad. In some orairS
lie fue resources was allowed years sf Por }o CT
55r.Ie L9.sllos, eut the existing governments
mat The diminishing fuel supply NAV be e safs
osed Of for the benefit Of the feE@b OF BENG
IF -rls q 80 ne preceding generation in dsposing
Iced oy me present generation the cost
IN our own Western states and territories the
1F..1ss OF poth water and forests has rendered
"a re preservation Of the foress For the 4 DaT6oss
Iy has come 10 be recognized as the wise and
Tie o I59lfy o. ~ ne fedeTal goyernment
Vest is relatively much smaller fhe1 has ~ b
Is = mater Of far reaching Importance This gov
- nae- S9oq gu s not now repeat The mistakes Of
-. 81 Us not DO what the next generation
S-t-ol .i,ao. We have right 10 the proper use
':ne. 5lt We should not dispose Of the birthrght
naming fuel lands fhe ses CO. H. se!!s us re-
y u row leases them retain control and
,-tt1Ie 'onEress viii be az liberty 10 decide
-.@fher = VIII continue change this policy
e. 65oP NE l!f goyerament can naugurate sys
r'er5a-, 'eE vi encourage the separate and indie
er-.rrlI-,-s1 +oiIrellL Of TIE surface lands for
TIE needs Of the people and beei facilitate he de-
feioFr-ent OF manufacturing industries
-s IN ware ii5at DIRECTIONS 10 this system are
ne IN &c s j, IS IS cslr2ea that so large part Of
., s,+iIs - Ill,1S % eeFtaln large corporal atoms
TleT1 ot1er coal deposits would be unable to com
f.ei deposits s'ili belonging 10 the government
SrC-'a also BE- allowed to pass into private owner
- presumably into The hands of the same or
ceIl.oratLoTls II is also claimed that
~ 20 e~rlleut would raise the price Of coal IN
r-s-ar il IS clatned H. he >" ase1T ~ ms rs
rural forests IS raisirg he price Of lumber in
l-- r-oEt accessible bodies # timber In the West
-as=ea irto private holdines hefore the forest re-
-..-, $500, - I'D IN tie West. It has advanced
ese7-es. that sunnlies ~ timber TO-DAY being
=+ssIppi Valley and even n foreign countries and
80 Tie nroha bi1y II obtaining future supplies
e:eEonabe prices viii be much greater with large
fe control Of the government than If this control
should pass 70 private parties To secure cheap
nsss of thinner and fuel for the moment az tho
cost ~ ruin 70 our children would surely be 4 sui
= Taay he fairly claimed among the. ADVANTAGES
the working. under favorable conditions. of coal
depozts for local markets by miners without large
capital - 10 land-purcnase money would be
ouired and the small royalty charged would be
PAID our ~ 7 earnings; ~ II viii facilitate larger
CTers tons tho leases could be made sufficiently
liberal in the matter Of time. and other
ctioEs - induce healthy competition and meet
I'll real demands. and vet an cases the general
supervision or the government could be such
81 and and ny
# these fuels: ~ the system can be operated in
such manner as 10 prevent the evils Of monopo-
mont from general ilse fuels especially
suitable for metallurgical and other special indus
Ll'S ana ~ ~ "l!i +Iapie me government 70 pro-
teCt fhH public against uIrea onable and discrim-
mating charges for fuel supplies
tie high--rad@ Goals ia The West has passed under
private control includnE both the Ignite and the
gate nor loss than ao69loog acres Of coal fields
Win the remainder Of the lands containing min
oTal fuels reserved and leased by the government.
rhere viii be ample opportunity to determine in
the near future which ~ the t%o systems-private
government sEperVisiou-Wll best protect the inter
ests of Ire people and thus promote the perma-
In planning such leasing system by the gov
eminent TIE question 81 revenue, beyond that nee
fssaTH 70 cover the expenses or administration and
exploration, need not be seriously considered. The
spirit OF generosity which the country as a whole
-aS SHOWN IA connection win lhe dlsposaI OF inc
public lands and the use Of the proceeds of the
sales from these lands for the further develop
r0ent or tho west through inc recialla ton service
and u other WAYS is Of Itself sufficient guaran-
that IN the administration Of both the coal re-
serves and te ma tlCal forests ms generous pocy
VIII be continued. j. is safe TO believe also that
federal SUPERVISION Of both the coal Lands and the
forests VIII Zoe reduced 10 minimum ana mat IN
me future even than in the past this super
vision viii be limited TO that necessary 10 carry
ont the pohc- Of conserving these natural re-
sources IN such manner will best promote the
permanent interests Of the people, and, above all.
q the Western people, Of the people in the neigh
horhOOd Of The mines and the forests Which