Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-19


servaton bills follows:
"The conservation measure prepared
by the administration and introduced
by Senator Nelson of Minnesota last
January more clearly defines the con-
servation policy of the government
than speeches to popular audiences.
1t was therefore thought desirable to
obtain copies of bills prepared by the
administration and abstract them for
the benefit of mining men.
"The bills abstracted cover coal,
water, phosphate, oil, asphaltum and
timber measures
These bills appear so radical and
may so entirely change the spirit OF
the old laws that mining men should
scrutinize the bills very carefully in
order to see their effect upon the min
ing industry.
"Candid, free and open discussion of
| these measures can result in no harm.
There is much to be said for, as we'll
as against the measures of which abb
stracts are given, inasmuch as these
bills practically apply only to the west,
although, of course not so stated in
the texts, 1t behooves western men to
pay special attention to these measures
in order that no permanent injury be
sustained by the western mining
states
EXAMINATION OF LANDS
Senate bill b4ss-''Be It enacted by the sem
ate and house OF representatives OF the United
States of America in congress assembled
That the secretary Of the interior be, and he
is hereby. authorized and directed to cause
to be examined any public lands, national
forests, national monuments, national parks
game reserves or other reservations valuable
or which may become valuable, for the de-
velopment Of water powers, or power FOR
hydro-electric uss or transmission and classify
and reserve by legal subdivision or by metes
and bounds. from other use or disposition. all
lands he may deem OF more value for power
development than for other uses. whenever
areas so reserved include lands covered by
valid existing locations, selections, or entries,
the locators. selectors entrymen or their as
signs, upon relinquishment Of the lands so re-
served to the United States, shall be paid
the value OF the lands and Improvements so
renqushed at the time Of such relmnuish-
ment as determined by the secretary of the
Interior; provided, that in the event any such
locator, selector. entryman, or assignee hav-
ing n vested right in such reserved lands fails
or refuses upon request Of the secretary OF the
interior to relinquish the lands or improve
ments claimed by him, such lands, or I'M
provements, both may be tacquired by
said secretary under condemnation proceed
lngs."
Section provides that the applicant must
furnish plans, specifications. etc., and calls
for a deposit of $1,000. All rights Of way over
private land, secured by the applicant shall
be conveyed to the United States. The life
of the leases granted is 40 years. The lessee
will be allowed FIVE years to develop or trans
nit at least 20 per cent Of the power avail
able.
Section g. Each lessee shall pay for the
leasehold privileges such rates per electric
horsepower developed -- as may be
! specified In the lease, which rate may be
graduated according to the amount of power
developed and also may be increased every
ten year period during the term Of the lease"
| Section provides for the maximum rates
for power which may be charged to the pub
lie Also provides for the forfeiture OF lease.
Section 5 calls for detail reports to be made
to the government 'in such manner and at
such times as the secretary of the interior
may require"
TO APPRAIsE PROPERTY
Section calls for apprasement Of the prop
erty within FIVE years Of the expiration OF
lease an da new lease for a period Of forty
years shall be offered to the original lessee
which, II declined, shall be sold at public auc-
tion at an upset price. The original lessee
shall thereupon be entitled to be compensated
to the extent OF the sum received for the i'm
movements only. Same section provides that
no transfer, sale assignment of the lease
shall be made without the approval OF the
secretary of the interior.
Section provides for railways and other
rights Of way.
''Section s. That the proceeds derived from
entry fees and leases under the provisions OF
this act shall be distributed as follows, to-
wit: One-third shall be paid to the state or
territory to be expended under the direction
of the legislature thereof. for roads and
schools in the counties where the leasehoids
are situated and the residue shall be COW
cred into general fund Of the treasury OF
the United States"
"section O. That jurisdiction 10 determine
the issues and matters which are by this act
I committed to the courts is hereby conferred
upon the United States circuit and district
courts for the districts in which the lands
or leaseholds situated"
Section TO- That the secretary Of the in
terror is hereby authorized to perform or
cause to be performed any and all acts and to
make such rules and regulations as he may
deem necessary and proper for carrying the
provisions of this act into full force and ef-
| feet"
Senate bill 5is7-Introduced by Senator Nell
son. January 1s, 1910, and referred to the
committee on public lands,
COAL RESERVATION BILL
.'Be it enacted by the senate and house of
representatives OF the United States Of Amer
lea In congress assembled, That all lands
within the United States or the Territory OF
Alaska to which patents have not been earned
| or to which q vested right has not been ac-
auired, and which contain deposits of coal,
or of Ignite or associated minerals which
for the purposes of this act shall be called
coal and the coal therein. hereby re-
served from all forms Of entry, appropria-
tion and disposal except under the provisions
Of this act"
Section provides that any citizen of the
United States or any association of citizens,
corporate or otherwise may on the payment
OF an application fee Of ten dollars receive
an exclusive right TO prospect for coal on land
owned by the United States. 1t is provided
that such licensee shall not prospect on land
within twenty-five miles containing coal de-
posit In which he may be interested as lessee.
assignee owner ''or otherwise"
''section 8. The secretary OF the interior
| is authorized under such rules and regula-
tions as he may prescribe on payment OF
| rental of not less than ten cents per acre to
grant to any qualified applicant prospect
ing permit which shall give exclusive right
for twelve months in the United States or
twenty-four months in Alaska to prospect for
coal on a specified area in compact form not
exceeding hve thousand one hundred and twen-
ty acres of public domain and to lease not
more than two thousand hve hundred ana
sixty acres under the provisions Of the BILL
Section 4 provides that any qualified appI-
cant may develop and extract for domestic
use and dispose Of for local consumption coal
belonging to the United states in areas not
exceeding forty acres nor less than ten acrt
subdivisions for period not exceeding hve
years "at such rates OF payment. on such