The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-27
Appraisal of Public Lands
Reveals Wealth In AmaZ-
ing Amount.
OIL, GAS, AND COAL
FIELDS REVALUED
Withdrawals Recommended by
Surveying Parties in Western
Region Sure to Be Opposed.
By 7. c. wELLIvER.

By 7. c. WELLIVER.
The immense task Of making an ap-
praisal Of the public domain, or classi-
flying its lands, determining their re-
spective values and calculating their
contents of the various minerals, metals,
forests or other resources for which
they are mainly valuable, IS making a
progress which promises within year
or two TO make a complete estimate of
this empire possible.
Nobody today is willing TO venture a
guess at the marketable value of the
vast domain still owned by Uncle SAM
But the figures win be available in a
comparatively short time and they viii
be startling. running without question
far into the billions.
Instead Of the public domain being
well-nigh exhausted. instead of there
being little left save the frozen tUndras
of Alaska, the deserts of the Southwest,
and the aaountein rocks of the continen-
tai spine, it will DO shown that there
,is still an arabic area which will in time
sustain millions. with mineral forest,
and metal reserves 70 maintain a ire
mendous industrial system.
Begun By Roosevelt.
II Is now four years since President
Roosevelt set the Geological Survey at
work on the beginnings Of this survey.
Considerable work. largely preliminary,
was done the first year The second
season its scope was much enlarged and
about 10000 was spent on il. the third
year still more was invested, the eS-
pense running up TO about $l25.O00 or
Sl30 900, and a large number OF scientific
parties being kept in the field.
The work of these three years was
largely Of general character, because
OF The demand for haste. II -Yas desired
especially TO cover all the coal fields
as soon as possible, and make the best
POSSIBLE estimate Of the value of all
The deposits. Somewhat crddCly, there
fore, they were all classified and valued
during this raIhr preliminary survey.
A year ago an entire reorganization OF
the system was effected, with the view
20 going over the ground once more and
making a much more detailed and ac-
Curate classification and appraisal.
A new section was established in the
Geological Survey, known as the Land
Classification Board This was COM
posed Of a general chairman. to serve
with whom on each particular subject
two men We're assigned, as coal lands.
OIL and gas lands, phosphate lands.
precious metals, and non-irriEable lands
available under the enlarged homestead
law. With the reorganization the more
detailed and refined investigation was
pressed and during 1903. while much
less eNten6ed area has been covered. the
work has been more closely and aCCu-
rately done, and the results are cor
respondingly more valuable.
Maximum Too Low.
Under the old project OF valuing coal
lands. To- instance, the maximum figure
that could be set on coal areas of the
public domain was 800 per acre. There
are areae in Wyoming Of such ire
mendous value that this figure would be
as a postage stamp plastered on stack
OF government bonds.
The new valuation. therefore cOntem-
plates a maximum valuation Of 500 and
$500 per acre Under this close scrutiny
about oue-fOU-th OF the coal lands OF
the public area have already been re-
valued and classified. and their value
ton has been increased about three
times what il was under the old max
ina
Two parties have been at work in the
great phosphate deposits Of Wyoming
Idaho. a1d Utah. which are OF almost
priceless value for fertilization unr-
poses, albeit their fun significance as a
national resource is not yet popularity
appreciated.
These lands are being very carefully
valued. against the possibility, for
which strong hopes are entertained, that
the laws may shortly be so amended
that they may be made subject 10 dis
posal on some basis which VIII be some
what commensurate with their actual
value. This is not the case at present
legislation as TO the phOSphatcs and
the water powers Is, indeed, regarded
as the most pressing necessity, at this
time.
Tie oil and gas Of the public domain
are row mainly in Wyoming and Cali
fOTn-a, and they are already known 10
be Of immense value. The necessity
OF leSlslauOnt as carly as possible, Tor
their better protection, has recently
been made the subject Of special con-
sideratiOu and report by the division
having charge OF tLeir valuation and
classification.
Withdrawn From Entry.
Besides the major deposits in wy
oming and California, very considerable
oil and gas areas are under survey in
Utah, Colorado. and New Mexico. Dun
ing the last two years there have been
withdrawals from entry OF about 1000. 90
acres of oil and gas lands: these COM
ING down 10 as recently as a fortnight
age, when on Geographic adviCes from
a party in the field considerable addi-
IiOndl areas in both California and wy
Omlug were Withdrawn.
All the Withdrawals arc made pending
legislation. Whether they viii be con-
tinued indefinitely, or indeed can be, boa
the event that legislation fails, is a
question Of decided interest and vast
Importance.
The advocates Of conservation. fear
ing the answer 10 this question. are es-
pccially anxious that necessary amend
mcuts 10 the laws be secured this win
ter. The President and Secretary Bal
Unger viii both state the necessities
in this regard. very fOrcibly IN their
annual communication 70 Congress
la Congress, just as the stake IS
shown 10 bc immense, so will the OBJ
position Of private interests be intcnsl.
ned. These ere highly organized. II
De- freely charged that they viii have
iu washington this winter one Of tuC
most extensive and Influential lObbie,
that has ever descended on the Capital
determined 10 prevent legislation which
viii interfere with great projects tol
tine further transferencc Of the publ,
domains 10 private and corporate con
troll
In short, 10 rs considered certain thai
tie great struggle for the last Of IN,
Tuhli. domain viii see its real begin
mig at the coming session, and thai
tht time viii come in the future, Whef
10 win bc recalled as the most deter
mined nght, Tor the greatest prize. thai
was ever controlled by action Of thC
National legislature