Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-08-17

W euLiy' do PAo'AuS" 40 ~
said act.
In this connection it should be stat
ed, however, that application for such
lands should be specifically made sub.
ject to the provisions of the act OF
June %, in the event that the lands
are classified as valuable for coal, be-
cause entrymen should not be COM
PEELED to receive patent for the sur
face only If, in fact, the lands are
thereafter shown not to contain Valu-
able coal.
TO the end that the uneasiness and
apprehension existing throughout your
district among those who have made
homestead entries, and others who
possibly contemplate making entries
for such lands, may be relieved, you
will give as much publicity as posi-
BILE to these instructions.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) S. v. PROUDFlT,
Acting Commissioner.
Approved:
(Signed) FRANK PIERCE,
Acting Secretary.
Alert to the interests of the settler
on these broad prairies, as well as to
the practical conservation of the ma
tons natural resources so earnestly
championed by Secretary Ballinger,
President Taft has been prompt In
relieving the anxiety of the people OF
North Dakota in respect to the con-
I<,k, MI 80 10 ovoaNfiV0
der withdrawing large areas of public
lands from settlement, sale or entry,
pending investigation as to the value
of coal deposits. The fixed policy of
the government is to give the home
steader surface title where coal de-
posits exist and full title where coal
deposits are not declared of CONNER
cial value. And the entryman has the
right to elect to take surface title now.
1t will be noted by the Tribune's
telegraphic advices of Tuesday that
provision is being made that the
rights of settlers to the agricultural
title to the land is not to be molested
or interfered with, and that the gov
eminent merely reserves to itself the
coal deposits, in accordance with the
general policy of conservation being
carried out through the president and
the secretary of the interior.
Homesteaders file on the land for
agricultural purposes, and not for coal
mining purposes, and have always
been required to take specific declar'
alton that their entries were not for
coal or mineral purposes. So that
the order of the president recently
made merely makes definite and GER
tain what are the rights Of the home
steader and what are the rights OF the
government. And the construction
placed upon this order by the general
land office and the secretary OF the IN
terror is that the homesteader Is to
get his agricultural rights and title.
Under this construction, there is no
reason why the settler cannot prove
up and get his patent, and there Is
no reason that loan companies should
not make loans on final certificates as
heretofore, as the honesteader's agri'
cultural title is the basis of security
for any loan, and the security that the
loan company understands and de-
sires.
President Taft's action is in line
with the policy of conservation hand
in hand with the development OF the
country. He does not want to do any
injustice to the settler and home
steader and he does not intend that
any shall be done. He understands
the conditions in this section, and
knows what the settler needs, and the
dispatches from Washington show
that the rights and interests OF the
settlers are to be preserved and that
no Injustice or loss is to be inflicted.
It is the settled policy Of the govern
ment that the homesteader is to De
encouraged, but that coal land Is to De
reserved to the government, and II
the government disposes Of the coal
in the future, the loss or damage to
the settler will be taken care OF By,
wise legislation and suitable provi-
sion. There need be no alarm among
the settlers that their rights viii be