The National tribune., 1909-06-10

ports that from informaipnEr Ereceived in
his office 30 per cent Of tpsI Colorado
entrymen in areas supposed1fo contain
coal will elect to take title t0 the sur
face, reserving to the qnite9rStates the
coal rights. n
Anthracite and cokmg ftituminous
Goals are valued at twPsItO three cents
ton. High-grade noreceking bitumi-
nous Goals are valued at oneseent to two
cents a ton. High-gEade sAb-bitumi-
nous and Iow-grade hituminous Goals
are valued at nehalftu. cent 10
one cent a ton. L6w-grade sub-bi-
luminous Goals and lignites are valued
at the minimum price fixed by law of
$40 and $40 an acre. The tonnage is
conservativeN estimated, and actual re-
covery ought always to exceed the tom
mage upon which the valuation is based
A few instances are cited as showing
the comparative working out of valua-
tions under the different land policies.
In one Township near Rock Springs,
Wyo., the valuation of which has just
been completed by the Geological Sur
vey, the coal land values aggregate
S2,S00,000 on the basis of one cent a
ton. The amount for which the Gov
ernment would have sold these lands
on the basis of the minimum price al
lowed by law, under the Interpretation
which held prior to 1906. is $460,0O9.
while under the valuation plan of last
year the amount would have been lit
tie less than $;,000,000.
In a Montana Township, near the
town of Roundup, on the new line of
the Milwaukee. the original amount
which the Government would have re-
ceived under the $40 minimum rate was
$112, 900; under the regulations of last
year, $141 900, and under the present
valuation scheme, adopted April 21, by
this Administration. $37O,000. some of
the coal being now valued at S65 an
acre. where $40 and SIS respectively
would have been the former rates.
Near the great Castlegate coal field,
in Utah, the Survey is now valuing
some of the Government land contain
ing thick beds of coking coal. In this
field thousands of acres would run over
the maximum of $500 an acre, as op-
posed to the $50 minimum price and
SIS under the former valuation scheme.
Dozens of other equally striking in
stances of comparative valuations
might be cited.
The Nations coal lands are estimated
to be sO,oOO,666 acres.
Mrs. Taft's Health.
The condition of Mrs Taft's health is
giving her friends serious concern, and
while he does not say so, it is thought
that the President is worried over Mrs.
Taft's state of health also. Mrs Taft
has never been considered really Wig
orous woman so far as physical strength
is concerned, and she has certainly gone
the pace since she became the First
Lady in the Land" She has not only
attended to all the social duties which
devoIve upon her, but she has included
many outside duties as well. Mrs. Taft
has always been interested in working
nd hoe faIr
the Woman's Federation of Clubs She
has kept up that interest here. Mrs.
Taft has also kept up the. delightful
western custom of touching hands
with all who call upon, her, and that is
an awful strain on strong woman
No one knows who has not tried 1t what
really hard work it is to shake hands
with hundreds Of people every day. and
on two days or a day and an evening
in week with some 5000 people. Mrs
Taft does something that few wives of.
presidents have donear and that is to,
look after the ways Of her household
and her servants. The ordinary social
functions of the White, House have al
ways been considered onesaus enough
Tor any woman, but totthese Mrs. Taft
mas added dozen others. being Just
flesh and blood, like any other woman.
she has done too much. and, is paying
the penalty. The physical breakdown
VIII keep Mrs. Taft at home for several
months. il is feared, and President Taft,
who il unwilling to 60 on any trips
without Mrs Taft. has given up his
promised Alaskan tour, and states that
he will not undertake it until next year.
If Mrs. Taft does not improve in health.
the President will probably cut out all
his trips for the Summer, and will take
Mrs. Taft to the Summer home at Bey-
erly, Mass, where they will remain
quietly. recuperating for the strenuous
Winter.