The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-12-04
ASKS COAL NINE
RICHTSBE LEASED
BaIllnger In Annual Report Hits
Idle Land Owners.
WOULD GIVE NAVY OIL OPTION

Legislation Against Monopoly Of Pub.
Tic Commodities 10 strongly Urged
by Head OF interior Department.
Selfish AgsrandIzement OF Soil 10
scored--Many Acres Are Withdrawn
20 Save to People Valuable Phos
phate Deposits.
The leasing OF coal mining rights by
the government In place OF permitting
those rights TO be a concomitant part
of the ownership. of such lands Is ons
OF several reforms urged by Secretary
OF the Interior Bailinger In his annual
report, submitted to the president.
A law to this effect Is advocated by
Secretary Ballinger because IL would
force operations on lands now lying
idle through the wish OF the owners.
who rest secure IN the knowledge Of
monopoly and future enhanced prices.
Like laws are asked for oil and gas
lands.
Attention also Is called to the need
OF these products by the navy. which is
left without lawful resource In making
use OF these commodities without plac.
Ing itself at the mercy OF the price
schedules OF the trusts.
Land pirates are scourged by the sec
rotary and the determined fight waged
by his predecessor to crush monopoly
OF the soil Is Endorsed.
Millions Of Acres stolen.
The report In part Is as follows:
THE liberal and rapid disposition OF
tho public lands and the lax methods
of administration which for a long
time have prevailed naturally have
provoked tho feeling that the public
domain was legitimate prey for the un.
scrupulous and that Il was no crime
TO violate or circumvent the land laws.
II is TO be regretted that we. as a ma.
tion, were so tardy 10 realize the i'm.
portance OF preventing so large a meas.
ure OF our natural resources passing
into the hands OF land pirates and
spectators. with no view TO develop
ment looking 10 the national welfare
1T may be safely said that millions
OF acres Of timber and other lands
have been unlawfully obtained and Il
is also true that actions 10 recover
such lands have In most instances long
since been barred by the statute OF
limitations.
Would Control Right 10 Mine.
"As regards new legislation. The
present coal land laws respecting the
states and territories, as we'll as
Alaska, should be supplanted by an act
fully meeting existing as we'll as future
conditions. The inducements for much
Of the crime and fraud. both construc-
tive and actual. committed under the
present system can be prevented by
separating the right 20 mine from the
title 10 the soil.
"The object 10 be attained In any
such legislation Is TO conserve the coal
deposits as a public utility and 10 pre-.
vent monopoly or extortion in their dis.
position This may be accomplished
either through n leasing system, by
which the title would remain in the
government. under proper regulation
and supervision by the secretary OF the
interior, or through the sale OF the de.
posts. and in either case with restric.
lions.
Il desire 70 call attention 20 the i'm.
portance OF asking congress to author.
lie the executive TO reserve certain
areas OF these lands for the purpose OF
affording supply Of fuel oil for the
future use OF the navy, and 10 mako
such regulations as may be necessary
for the preservation and extraction OF
such deposits.
Monopoly on Phosphate Halted.
Under the previous administration
there we're temporarily withdrawn,
pending action by congress- 4.10262o
acres Of land In the state Of Wyoming.
Idaho, and Utah. an containing phos-
phate deposits. These lands are being
re-eSamined by the Geological Survey
al my direction with a view TO eilmin-
ating all tracts noe containing such de-
posita."