Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-13
Land Laws
RADICAL REVISION WILL Be
RESISTED BY WESTERNERS.
Senator LaFoiIette, With the White
house Behind Him, Will Lead the
Fieht-Substance Of the New Bill,
Covering Mineral Land Leases, Civ.
en- In Following Article. 4.

en- IN Following ArticIe. q
1t is apparent that prolonged strug-
gle is to ensue over the revision of the
federal land laws. Many western mem
bers of both houses will resist radi-
cal alteration. Senator LaFollette of
Wisconsin, with the White House be-
hind him, doubtless will lead the fight
for revision. The substance Of the La
Toilette bill covering mineral land
leases is as follows:
All public lands OF the United States,
containing coal or other minerals,
mined for fuel, oil, gas, or asphalt,
are to be reserved from entry and sale.
Any person above the age of Fl
years, who is a citizen of the United
states, or who has declared his inten-
ton to become such. or any associa-
ton Of persons, shall have the right to
apply for license to mine coal or 9TH
err minerals mined for fuel, oil, gas, or
asphalt, on areas not exceeding five
government sections of land, and to
use SO much of said area as shall be
determined by the secretary of the
interior to be necessary to the proper
conduct of the business. No common
carrier or association, or any member
of which he is an officer, agent, or
shareholder, of or in any manner in
terested in tho business of. any COM
mon carrier, or any person who is an
officer, agent, or shareholder OF or in
any manner interested in the business
of any common carrier. is to be per-
mitted to hold license under the pro-
visions Of the LaFollette bill.
Amount Of the Royalties.
A royalty to the United States gov
eminent must be paid Of not less than
eight cents per ton on all coal and
other mineral mined for fuel, and not
less than 60 cents per ton upon min
eral mined for hard asphalt, and of
not less than Is cents per barrel of
mineral mined for soft asphalt, and not
less than one-Sixth Of the value of the
product of any oil we'll; and not less
than $50 per annum for each gas we'll
not utilized. and at a rate of not less
than one cent per thousand cubic feet
Of gas, when the product of such well
is utilized at the works. exclusive,
however Of coal dust and coal or other
mineral mined for fuel. oil. gas or as
phalt. used about the works. In de-
termining the amount of royalty which
shall be paid for the mining of coal
or other mineral mined for fuel, oil,
gas or asphalt, the secretary of the
interior shall give consideration to
proximity to transportation facilities.
to market conditions. and such other
circumstances and conditions as affect
the business.
Covenants shall be made for secur.
ing the proper and effectual working
of the coal or other mineral, oil, gas
or asphalt; for the observance of all
lawful rules and regulations and pro-
visions of law relative to the safety
of employees; for the proper protection
of the surface of licensed areas, and
for the surrender of the works at the
expiration Of the license.
Every license shall be deemed to
have been granted and accepted sub
ject to the followisg reservations and
conditions:
The surface of the soil, water and
water courses shall be excepted from
the license granted, except SO much
thereof as may be necessary for the
proper conduct Of the business, to be
determined under such rules and regu-
lations as the secretary Of the interior
may prescribe.
Rights to the surface of such areas
for the purposes Of agriculture may be
patented under the laws in force, but
such patent shall except so much OF
the surface as may be necessary for
the proper conduct of the business Of
licenses.
May Cut Necessary Timber.
The licenses of any area, the surface
of which has not been entered for
agricultural purposes, shall have the
right to cut a limited amount of tim
Der for the construction Of necessary
railways, rolling stock, plant and other
purposes incidental to the safe and
proper operation Of the works and the
protection of the surface Of the H.
censed areas, but the permission OF
the forestry service to cut such timber
shall first be obtained; and upon the
entry of such surface for agricul-
tural purposes, the permit of the IL
censor to cut such timber shall
terminate.
The licenses shall permit any duly
authorized agents Of the government
OF the United States to enter upon the
premises at ali reasonable times and
to survey and inspect and make plans
thereof, and to see whether the said
mines and works are in good and sub
stantial order, condition and repair,
aid are ventilated, worked and man.
aged in a proper manner, and to view
timber according to the intent of such
license; and the licenses, by means OF
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