Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-13
NATION SHOULD KEEP TITLE
FaVors Government Control oil
Public Land Pastures, With Sys-
tenn of Small Grazing Fees.
Would Lease Mineral I.ands--Argu,
ments in Favor of Systeni--Has Been
Successful in Other Countries.

w a74tlitbAQl4s Ets lOs--f ItH1Qtllk
Roosevelt today sent to Congress-
long message calling attention to what
he terms the urgent need al lsgisa-
ton affecting the different phases OF
the public land situation In the United
States" He advocates the conserva-
ton or coal and other fuel resources on
lands still belonging to the government,
saying that henceforth the nation
should retain It's title to it's fuel re-
sources; urges government control OF
the western public land pastures, WITH
system of small grazing fees, etc,
and asks for an appropriation OF half
a million dollars, Immediately avail
able. in addition to present estimates,
to aid in detecting and preventing
land frauds. He contends for system
OF government leasing OF its mineral
lands and for treating the fuel lands as
public utilities.
The president points oct that 1t would
have been better If some eastern coal
lands had been left under government
control, ana suggests provision in the
west against recurrence of the condi-
tons we deplore IN the east" Citing
$500 cases of public land entries In four
districts mentioned. the president says
noncompliance with the law was found
IN over half OF them and deliberate
fraud In very many cases
The president nrst refers 10 his pre,
Vious message to Congress on the sub
9ect. and again calls attention to tha
Importance of such legislation as would
provide for title TO and development az
the surface land as separate and dis
tinct from the right to the underlying
mineral fuels In regions where these
hn
mineral fuels under a lease system on
conditions which would inure to the
benefit of the public as a whole He
says he cars little for the details. and
that the prime need is that the system
should be established. The message IN
part says
THE LEASING SYSTEM.
such a leasing System as that PRO.
posed represents by no means an I'M
tried policy. In the Australian coun-
tries during the last TO years coal has
been mined under system OF govern
ment leases and on conditions so favor
able for development that their coal and
coke are today being sold on the Pa
cihc coast of both the American con-
ilnenss. In all the great coal produce ;
ing countries except Great Britain coal
is being mined under leases In Great
Britain leases are granted almost en-
ilrely by the private land owners. but
there. as in other countries the arr
face culture and the mining operations
are conducted Independently of eacn
other In Nova Scotia, British Column
bia, India and other British colonies.
a government leasing system has been
adopted and is working Satisfactorily.
In the United States, although convex
ance OF the mineral rights with the sur
race has been common practise, the
separate development OF the two inter-
GStS is lnTTpn sing nd In, ~
ana middle states. a large part OF the
coal is being mined under a systenn or
private leases. II is gratifying to note
that IN these states, as in foreign coun-
tries, agriculture and mining are
conducted within the same boundoria.
and the country thus attains It's birn.
est duty development without conflict
of interests. Indeed, the mining indus
try and the factories using these fuels
create large local markets for ths
products OF the farm.
MINERAL FUELS.
Mineral fuels, like the forests ona
haYigable streams, should be treated
as public utilities. This Is generally
recognized abroad. In some Foreign
countries practical control OF n IargA
portion of the fuel resources was al
lowed years ago 10 pass into private
hands, but the existing governments nre
endeavoripg "a regain this control ~
order that diminishing fuel supply may
be safeBuarded for the common GOOD
instead Of being disposed of for the
benefit Of the rew--though The ,,is,ala
Of the preceding generation In dfsposine.
Of these FUELS for n nominal ret,Irn
cannot always be corrected by ina
present generation. as the cost NAV h.
70 enormous as to be prohibitory.
MISTAKES OF THE PAsT.
IN our own western states and ta+,i.
tories, the scarcity OF both water and
forests has rendered necessary thar
preservation as public utilities ana tha
preservation OF the forests for the Mir
pose OF conserving both the waters ana
the timber supply, has come to be rec
osal1ed as the wiso and proper policy
OF the federal government. The quar-
tlty OF high grade mineral fuel 81 the
west IL relatively much smaller than
that OF the forests and the proper con-
serYation OF these fuels Is a matter OF
ran reaching Importance. This govern
nlent should not now repeat the nils
taxes OF the past. Lot us not do What
the next generation can not undo. We
have a right 70 the proper use OF both
the forests and the fuel during our
life time but We should not dispose
OF the birthrlght Of our children ~
this government sells It's remaining fuel
lands they pass out OF lts future con-
control, and future Congress WIN DO
az liberty 10 decide whether Il win cor
tlnuc or change this policy. Meanwhile.
tho government can inaugurate a sys-
tom which WIZ encourage the separate
and Independent development OF The
surface lands for agricultural purposes
and tho extraction OF tho mineral fuels
In such manner as win best meet the
needs Of tho people and best facilitate
The development OF manufacturing IN
dustrieH.
OBJECTION TO SYSTEM.
II am aware that objections 10 this
system arc bolng urged II Is claimed
that so large a part Of the coal In some
OF the western states has already
passed into tho hands of certain large
thot parties endeavorlns
10 operate under a lease systam other
coal deposits would he unable 10 COM
pete with these corporations, ana there-
fore thar the fuel deposits SIN belong-
Ing 20 the government should also ha
allowed 10 pass into private ownership
Al