The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-05-26
MARKETS, MININGAND METALS

Nhiie all western North Dakota,
part of which had been withdrawn as
coal lands, is believed by the geolog-
isis of the survey TO be actually I'M
derlain by workable deposits of lig-
mite, yet in all but a townships this
area is conceded 10 be at present
more valuable for agricultural pur-
poses than for its deposits of low
grade coal.
The regulations for the classified
! ton and valuation of the govern
ment coal lands as revised in April
provide for somewhat more dis
eliminating separation of the coal
and non-coal lands and for the fixing
of more adequate valuations upon
lands underlain by the higher grades
of coal. These changes we're deter
mined upon by the secretary of the
interior from the consideration of
present conditions in coal mining in
the western states, where thinner
and deeper beds are being mined
than was formerly the case. and of
current practice in the matter of coal
royalties collected both by the states
and by private land owners. Two of
the regulations indicate the spirit of
these administrative measures for
safeguarding the disposal of the ma
+ ton S remaining coal lands. The
price of coal land containing the low
est grade bituminous coal or lignites
is fixed at the minimum provided by
law, the intent being TO thus encour-
age, so far as the law permits, the
] immediate utilization of these low
grade fuels. Another rule states that
in all valuations of coal beds any
special condition enhancing the val
ne of the land for coal mining pur-
poses shall be taken into eonsidera-
ton.
The revised scheme used in the
valuation OF the coal lands differs
from that formerly in force in two
general respects. The basis is now
specifically that of coal tonnage and
the land prices thus determined for
the better grades of coal. anthracite
and coking- bituminous, are some
what higher, the maximum being
raised from 500 to $500 per acre,
and indeed this maximum does not
hold in districts which contain
large coal mines where the character
and extent of the coal deposits are
well known to the purchaser.
The plan of valuing the public
coal lands by accurate determination
of coal quality and tonnage is the
most equitable possible. and while
adequate returns are secured TO the
government the land prices thus fix
ed rarely amount to one-fourth of
the royalties prevailing in the same
districts among private interests.
The present scheme of valuation
is as follows: Anthracite and coking-
bituminous Goals are valued at to 3
cents a ton. High grade non-coking
bituminous Goals are valued at l cent
TO cents a ton. High grade sub
bituminous and low grade bifumin-
Gus Goals are valued at p cent TO |
cent ton. Low grade sub-bitumin-
Gus Goals and lignites are valued at
the minimum price fixed by law OF
$40 and $40 an acre. The tonnage
is very conservatiyely estimated and
actual recovery ought always TO eX-
coed the tonnage upon which the val
uation is based.
A few instances are cited as show
ing the comparative working out OF
valuations under the different land
policies. In one township near Rock
Springs, Wyoming. the valuation of
which has just been completed by
the geological survey. the coal land
values aggregate $500, 600, on the
basis OF | cent ton. The amount
for which the government would
have sold these lands on the basis of
the minimum price allowed by law.
u Int n uzh
prior TO 1906. is $3.50, 900. while I'M
der the valuation plan of last year
the amount would have been little
less than 100000.
In Montana township. near the
town of Roundup. on the new line of
the Milwaukee, the original amount
which the government would have
received under the $50 minimum
rate was $4,000: under the regu-
lations of last year. S141 900. and
under the present valuation scheme
adopted April 81, by this administra-
ton. $4,000. some of the coal be-
ing now valued at s65 an acre where
$40 and S25 respectively would have
/ been the former rates.
Near the great Castlegate coal
j field in Utah. the survey Is now val
uing some of the government land
containing thick beds of eoking coal.
! In this field thousands of acres
would run over the maximum of
i $500 an acre, as opposed 10 the $40
minimum price and SIS under the
former valuation scheme. Dozens OF
other equally striking instances of
comparative valuations might be cit
ed.
The conservatism of even the pres
ent valuation plan is clearly shown
| from an examination of the records
/ in several cases where land was
/ fraudulently entered by certain COM
panies and in which suit for recovery
of land and damages was instituted
by the government. In one instance
of this kind a coal company secured
a .lsaw.e