The state herald., 1907-02-22
new Land Laws
PRESIDENT URGES RADICAL LEG.
isLATioN.
NATION TO RETAIN THE TITLE
Special Message Advocates Leasing
System Both for Coal Lands and
Grazing Lands-Wants Appropria.
tlon to Detect and Prevent Erauda.

Grazing Lands-Wants Appropria.
tion to Detect and Prevent Frauds
Washington.-President Roosevelt
Wednesday sent to Congress a 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 conservatism OF
coal and other fuel resources on lands
still belonging to the government,
saying that henceforth the nation
should retain Its title to It's fuel re.
sources; urges government control OF
the western public pastures, with
system of small grazing fees. etc, and
asks for an appropriation of half mil.
lion dollars. Immediately available, in
addition to present estimates. to aid
in detecting and preventing land
frauds.
He contends for system OF govern.
ment leasing of It's mineral lands and
for treating these fuel lands as public
utilities.
The President points out that It
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 tho
conditions we deplore in the East"
Citing 2.300 cases of public land en-.
tries In four districts mentioned, the
President says no compliance with tho
law was found in over half OF them and
deliberate fraud In many cases.
The President first refers to his pre-.
vious message TO Congress on the sub.
1cct and again calls attention to the
Importance of such legislation as
would provide for title to and develop.
nlent OF the surface land as separate
ana distinct from the right to the un.
deIlying mineral fuels In regions
where these may occur. and the dis,
posal OF those mineral fuels under q
leasing system on conditions which
would inure to the benefit OF the public
-" " "h'i'#
for the details and that the prime need
is that the system should be estab,
lished. The message in part says:
such n 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
crnment leases and on conditions sc
favorable for development that their
coal and coke are to-day being sold on
the Pacific coast Of both the American
ccntinents. In all the great coal.pro
ducing European countries except
Great Britain conl Is being mined un
der government leases.
"In Great Britain leases are granted
almost entirely by the private land
owners. but there. as In other coun
tries, the surface culture and the min
Ing operations are conducted indie
pendently OF each other. In Nova SEQ
tia. British Columbia, India and other
British colonies government leasing
system has been adopted and is work
ing satisfactorily.
Mineral fuels. like the forests and
nnvipable streams. should be treated
MS public utilities. This IL generally
recognized abroad. In some foreigH
countries practical control of large
Tortlon of the fuel resources was al
lowed years ago TO pass into private
hands. but the existing governments
are endeavoring to regain this control
in order that diminishing fuel supply
may be safcguarded for the common
Ia. ..f Lalas, Of f.s
the benefit Of the fcw-though the mis-
take Of the preceding generation In
d.sposing Of these fuels for n nominal
return cannot always be corrected by
the present generation. as the cost
may be so enormous M TO be prohib'
i,oy.
"ln our own western states and ter
,ritorios the scarcity Of both water and
forests has rendered necessary their
preservation ms public utilities and the
preservation of the forests for the pur.
pof. of conserving both the waters
and the timber supply has come TO be-
recognized MS the wise md proper
policy Of the federal government.
"The quantity of high grade mineral
fuols IN the West IL relatively much
smaller than that Of the forests and
tho proper conservation of these fuels
Is n mnt,cr OF farrcachlnr importance.
"Thls government should no, now
repeat tho mistakes Of the past. Lot
M not do what the next generation
cannot undo.
"wo have n rich, 10 the proper USE
NJ both the forest and the fuel during
our lifetime. but We should not dispose
NJ tho birihri.ht NJ our children. N
this government sells It's remaining
fuel lands, ihoy pass out Of iiH future
control. and future congress will be
ut iib,rty TO decide whether I, will con.
,lnue or change this policy.
"Lct mo nlso again urge that le.ialn.
'ion ho passed 20 provide for govern
mont control of the public pnHtnf.
lands of the West on the same general
principles which now apply IN the GOV
ernmcnt control of the forest reserves
The local control ~ the range should
be IN tho handH of Western men IN.
milinr with stock raising, and there
should be full local participation In tho
management of the range. There II
.a ,,.N ,au, tta unN.tuua.Ng should