The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-11-29

DAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 20,
attained in any such legislation is to
conserve the coal deposits as public
utility and to prevent monopoly or
axtortion in their disposition This
may be accomplished either through
leasing system, by which the title
would remain in the Government, un-
der proper regulation and supervision
| by the Secretary of the Interior, or
j., through the sale of the deposits, and
| in either case with restrictions on
| their mining and use which would
control the minimum output and con-
serve the deposits as a public utility.
| believe the most advantageous ne
tAod viii be found in a measure au-
thorizing the lease or sale of the coal
deposits in the lands, subject to for
feiture for failure to exercise the
| rights granted. under such reasonable
regulations as may be imposed. An
exploration period of at least one year
upon a permit basis, al a nominal
| Charge, would insure to the applicant
the necessary preliminary knowledge
upon which TO make the lease or pur-
chase of the coal deposits and ven
/ ture the necessary investment for op-
Grafton The maximum unit author
lied for this use could safely be made
from three TO five sections, provided
no greater surface rights be granted
than will give proper facilities to
reach and extract the coal deposits
The above suggestions with refer
enc- to the disposition of coal depos-
its are equally applicable to the oil
and gas fields in tae public domain,
and similar legislation as to lands
containing the same is hereby recon
mended. Indeed, the very nature of
these two important mineral re-
sources requires that their disposition
be in terms of quantity of the pro-
duct extracted rather than of acreage.
Pending the enactment of new leg
| islation as affecting coal lands, all
known coal areas We're withdrawn
from entry for classification and ap-
| pAaissenenp through yhe Geological
| Survey.
Power Sites
In anticipation of new legislation
| by Congress TO prevent the acquisi-
| tion of power sites on the public do
main by private persons or corpora
| tions with the view of monopoliZing
or adversely controlling them against
the public interest, there have been
temporarily Withdrawn from all forms
of entry approximately Cos, ,355 acres,
/
sess power possibilities on unappro-
! priated lands outside of national for
| ests. Without such Withdrawals
these sites would be enterable under
! existing laws, and their patenting
would leave the General Government
| powerless 20 impose any Limitations
as to their use.
n tae Federal Government desires
| TO exercise control or supervision ov-
| er water-power development on the
| public domain, IT can only do so by
/ limitations imposed upon the dispo-
| sal of power and reservoir sites upon
the public lands, the waters of the
! streams being subject to state juris.
| diction in their appropriation and
| beneficial use. | would. therefore, ad
wise that the Congress be asked to
enact a measure that will authorize
/ the classification of all lands capable
of being used for water-power devel
| opment, and to direct their disposal
! through this department. under sub
stantially the following conditions:
THAT the title to such lands be
reserved in the Federal Government
and only an easement granted for the
purpose of developing and transnit
1 ting electrical power for private and
public use, and for the storage of wa
/ ters for power. irrigation, and other
uses:
! 2.-Tnat such easement be granted
for a limited period, with maximum
of at least thirty years, and the op
ton of renewal for stated periods up
on agreed terms:
S.-That entry snail be accompal
led by plans and specifications cover
| ing the works sought to be installed
and covering the maximum horse
power capable of DEVELOPMENT a
such site; also, that a substantial
entry fee be paid to show good faith
| and that a transfer TO the United
States of the necessary water right!
10 permit of 1.-The estimated power de
velopmsnt be made:
4.-1'ha' the construction period al
lowed entrvmen for tle development
of al least 25 per cent of such powe
shall not extend beyond four years
or such further time as may be grant
ed b. the Secretary of the Interio
upon a proper showing;
5.-That moderate charge shall b,
made on the capital invested. or up
on the gross earnings of the projec
for the first ten years of operation
adjusted at each subsequent ten-yea
period. and equitably deter-nin Id D,
appraisement:
6.-TAat all rights and easement
shall be forfeitable for failure 10 maxi
development within the limitation
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