New-York tribune., 1909-11-29
BALLINGER REPORTS
WHAT HE Has DONE
FOR CONSERTATION.
Recommends Legislation for
Better Protection of Nat
ural Resources.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]


\ hnger OF the Department OF the Interior
submits 10 the President a record OF
achievements and series OF carefully de-
Nlsed recommendation for future legisla-
4 uon which he believes will meet the high
! est expectations OF every sincere advocate
OF the conservation OF the nations re-
sources Secretary Ballinger begins his
report with a tribute 20 his predecessor,
/ Mr. Garfield. whom he describes as having
by his earnest and disinterested services
/ contributed greatly 10 the advancement OF
the department in organization and ef-
hciency OF administration"
he shows a record Of temporary with
drawals. for the purpose OF suggested con-
servation legislation. OF lands valuable for
/ noWer sites. OIL, phOsphates. coal. etc: pre-
sents table OF these and previous with
drawals. and urges that. the legal authority
/ OF the Secretary TO make temporary with
drawals pending legislation by Congress
having been questioned, the President
recommend TO Congress the enactment OF
legislation specifically authorizing such
Withdrawals.
POWER SITES.
/ Secretary Baninger advises the President
that all lands known to possess power pos
sibilities, except in the national forests.
have been withdrawn from entry, the total
Withdrawals for this purpose approximate
ing 63.S55 acres. He urges legislation for
the protection Of such sites which shall
embody seven specific provisions as fol-
lows:
!. That title TO such lands be reserved
In the federal government and only
easement granted for purposes Of develop
p That such easement he limited 10 a
maximum Of at least thirty years and
carry an option Of renewal on terms TO
8. That entrymen upon such sites be re-
CURED 10 furnish plans and Specifications
covering works 70 be installed TO the maxi
mum Of the horsepower CAPABLE Of develop
ment, mat substantial fee be paid, ana
that the eutryman be required to transfer
70 the United states the water rights
which he would receive from the state.
Ills Is 4 highly important and ingenious
IN exchange for the privilege of using
the site. would secure title 10 the water
rigLt now controlled py the state.
That cntrymen must develop power
within a prescribed time.
8. That moderate charge be made On
capital invested or on gross earnings for
the nrst ten years AMI readjusted Iy ap-
pralsement eaCn decade theI eafter
o, That al rights be forfeitable )a) for
failure 70 develop power, 90 upon entry
INTO any contract or com 5ination 70 charEe
unreasonable rates. or Co upon entry into
a com inolnauon 70 limit supply II electrical
current or maintain the plant imperative.
- Ihal I'll books ana accounts shall
always be subject 10 inspection bv me
federal government
CLASSIFICATION
Applying the views set forth in his
report as Commissioner OF the General
Land Office, Secretary BaIIinger empha-
sizes the importance 10 intelligent ad-
mlnistratiOn OF specific classification OF
the public lands. according TO the purposes
for which they are chiefly valuable, de-
. aI inc ha~ rt,r
way the government can scientifically and
effectively proceed 10 conserve the natural
resources OF the public domain" He
points out that 10 leave 10 the self-inter-
ests OF applicants the option 10 claim a
particular tract as more valuable for
minerals agriculture. timber. phOsphates.
oil, gas OF for sites lis 10 invite confusion.
fraud and contention and has been the
source Of the major portion OF the diff
culties Of the Interior Department in ad-
ministering the public domain"
COAL LANDS
StiIl further ampllfying the recon-
mendations made by him as Commissioner.
. Secretary BaIlinger insists on the impor-
tance Of separating the right 10 mine from
the title 20 the soil permitting entries on
the surface and reserving title 10 the min
eral deposits beneath IL He says.
I believe the most advantageous method
viii be found In a measure authorizing
the lease or sale Of the coal deposits in tie
lands, subject 10 forfeiture for failure 20
exercise the rights granted under such
reasonable regulations as may be imposed.
He further recommends provision for
forfeiture OF the title in the case OF com
binauons es 10 price OF limitation OF out
put. and declares that similar provision
should be made with reference to oil and
gas fields and all other mineral resources
which require that their disposition be
expressed IN terms OF quantity Of the
product extracted, rather than Of acre
age
The Secretary announces that, pending
new legislation, all known coal areas have
been withdrawn from entry for classi-
hcaton and appraisement. and presents
a table showing upward of 100000
acres classified and restored. 100000
acres withdrawn from coal entry pend
ing classification and 100000 acres with
Z drawn from all entry pending classified
ton. The report shows a change 10 a
practical and scientific system Of classi-
fcation and valuation of coal lands af-
fected in April, 1893, coal deposits being
divided into four classes according TO their
coal value and the thickness and depth
; Of the deposits Prices are determined on
/ range from half a cent 10 three cents
f ton, according 10 quality and location.
From April 10 10 October q more than
100000 acres Of land were classified,
. a538.562 acres defined a. coal lands con
+ tanning coal valued AT sl4l 90 SO. At the
minimum the sale price of this coal would
have been s470s0.140, showing a gain
through the new system in seven months
g q S4 sl0.536.
OIL LANDS
The Secretary shows total withdrawal
4 of oil lands pending legislation Of 3.62l.062
acres. and calls attention 10 the impor-
tance OF legislation authorizing the reser-
walton OF al least a part Of these lands
for the purpose Of supplying fuel OIL for
the future use OF the navy.
PHOSPHATE LANDS.
. Secretary Ballinger reports the existence
. Of AN. 4s0 acres %: lands Withdrawn be-
J cause Of their phosphate content. some
10000 acres having been eliminated from
| the original withdrawal on the report OF
/ the Geological Survey that they did not
contain phosphate, and says that further
examination will probably result in the
elimination OF some additional non-phOs-
Dhate lands lie says, THE lands contain
ing phosphate should not be allow ID
. 20 b. disD0eed Of as either placer Or lode