Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-11-29

difficulties OF the. interior depart
ment In administering the public do
main.
Seems Radical Departure.
II may seem at the outset that
this would be a radical departure
to the extent of suspending the dis
position Of public lands pending their
classification, but, as a matter Of
fact. a large portion OF the undls-
posed-of public lands has already
been classified by the department,
but such classification has not the
authoritative basis or effect to ac-
complish the result above outlined.
AS to minerals other than those
hereinafter specified because of the
manner OF their occurrence. doubt
less no effective classification can be
made In advance OF discovery. and
they should for that reason be treat
ed as an exception in classification
and dealt with accordingly.
separate Right to Mine.
AS regards new legislation the
present coal land laws respecting the
states and territories, as well as Alas
ka, should be supplanted by an act
fully meeting existing as well as flu
ture conditions. The inducements
for much OF the crime and fraud.
both constructive and actual, com
mitted under the present system can
be prevented by separating the right
to mine from the title to the soil.
The surface would thereby be omen
to entry under other laws according
to its character and subject to the
right to extract the coal. The OBJ
tect to be attained In any such leg
islation Is to conserve the coal de-
posts as public utility and to pre-
vent monopoly or extOrtion In their
disposition.
This may be accomplished either
through leasing system by which
the title would remain In the gov
eminent. under proper regulation
and supervision by the secretary Of
the interior. or through the sale OF
the deposits. and In either case with
restrictions on their mining and use
which would control the minimum
output and conserve the deposits as
q public utility. l believe the most
advantageous method will be found
Ia a measure authorizing the lease
or sale of the coal deposits in the
lands. subject to forfeiture for fall
ure TO exercise the rights granted.
under such reasonable regulations as
may be imposed,
An exploration period Of at least
one year upon q permit basis al
noniinai charge would insure to the
applicant the necessary preliminary |
knowledge upon which TO make the |
lease or purchase OF the coal depos-
It's and venture the necessary invest
ment for operation. The miximum
unit authorized for this use could |
safely be made from three to Ave
sections, provided no greater sur.
face rights be granted than win give
proper facilities 10 reach ana extract |
the coal deposits.
Title should Re Forfeited.
In case OF the failure OF the les
sees or grantees TO open ana operate
the coal deposits under reasonable
and to maintain an out.
put reasonably suited to the deposits
and In case OF combinations as 10
price or limitation OF output. title
should be forfeited by proceedings in
curt for that purpose. Government
nine supervision would doubtless be
necessary to enforce the conditions
md limitations uader the grant.
The above suggestions with refer
nee TO the disposition OF coal depos-
Is are equally applicable to the oil
nd gas fields In the public domain.
nd similar legislation as to lands