Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-28
OIL CONSERVATION
STIRS DELEGATES
Pinchot Plans Both Attacked and
Warmly Defended at the
Mining Congress
BALLINGER WRITES A LETTER
Resolution Is Passed FaVoring
Government Chemical
Laboratory
BALLINGER WRITES A LETTER
tContlnued from Pnre one,


coming convention OF the American Mining
congress, but fear that I will not be able
to do so because CT official duties which
will require my return to Washington city
prior to the date OF your convention
The administration conservation bills wers
prepared in the form Of suggestions for the
consideration of congress, and SO far as I
personally am concerned. I am not in
Eistent upon their adoption as drawn, but
will welcome any changes therein which
will aid in the conservation and develpo-
ment OF the resources affected by the
measures
In my annual report to the president for
the year 1909 suggested with reference
10 coal lands the Importance of separating
the right to mine from the title to the
surface. This has been accomplished by
legislation adopted at the last session. I
further suggested that the conservation OF
the coal deposits and the prevention OF
monopoly or extortion might be accom-
plished either through leasing system or
through the sale OF the coal with restric-
tions as to mining and use. This recom-
ized as needed, while the land itself would
lessees or grantees to open and mine the
coal deposits with provisions in the lease
or grant for the forfeiture Of title in the
event Of combinations as to price, or limita-
tion Of the output. Practically the Same
suggestions were made with reference to oil
and gas deposits. Deposits OF phosphates
are Of special interest because OF their i'm
portance in connection with the refertiliza-
tion OF impoverished soils, and It IS of
primary Importance that the undisposed Of
deposits Of phosphates should hereafter be
disposed of upon such conditions and with
such Limitations as will secure their use
hpon American soil.
VIEWS ON FORESTRY
with reference to the remaining timber
upon the public domain outside the ma
iional reserves, I recommended the repeal
Of the timber and stone acts and the enact
nent Of a law providing for the separate
disposition OF the timber from the land,
the latter to be disposed of after the re-
moval OF the timber under appropriate agri-
cultural mineral laws. It seems to me
this method of disposition would provide a
means whereby this timber might be util-
lzed as needed, while the land itself would
remain for disposition under the home
stead laws, II suitable for agricultural or
for exploration, or purchase under the gen.
eral mining laws II mineral in character.
Provision should ESQ be made for a pref
erence right to purchase by the homestead
of mineral claimant OF the timber on his
claim. The matter of protecting those
public lands suitable for sites for develop
ment of hydro-electric power has evoked
much public interest and more than a
million and a half acres Of public lands
have been withdrawn for this purpose In
the report above described recommended
that II the federal government desires to
control or supervise water power develop
ment it can do so by enactment OF a meas
ure which will grant a lease or easement
for a limited period, with the option Of re-
No ID For
development and a moderate charge for the
rights granted or the entering into any
combination to charge rates beyond rea-
sonable profit on the investment and cost
of operation. It is admitted by nearly
every one that the waters of the streams
are subject to state Jurisdiction in their
appropriation and lenefcial use, and with
this in mind bills were introduced in con-
gress during the last session providing for
the granting Of public lands for this kind
Of development to the states upon condi-
Non that they dispose OF easements or
Seases for the development Of electrical
power upon proper conditions, the title to
,he lands to revert to the general govern
ment in the event OF their application to
ny other use.
WANTS LAND LAWS REVISED
Our present public land laws in so far
rs they relate to the classes Of land here
lnbefore described need revision. and even
y congress shall fail to agree entirely with
)he suggestions made by the department or
the bills presented, It is hoped that same
will form the basis for new legislation.
ANY departure in legislation on these SUBJ
aects is, Of course, in a sense experimental,
but 1t is the desire of the interior depart
snent to secure practical legislation and
eliminate the experimental features so far
Is possible.
1t seems that the efforts of all citizens
and organizations interested in the subject
should tend to the direction of securing
such legislation as will promote develop
ment, but guard the public interest by pro-
tecting against injurious monopoly or un-
reasonable charges to the consumer for
these resources.
with reference TO the minerals other than
those described, and it seems there is
clear line OF demarkation between the fuel
minerals and those which may be denom-
mated as the precious metals, I believe
1hat our present mining laws, based upon
lhe experience and wisdom of those who
Tor nearly half a century have participated
In their development, should not be changed.
except by such amendment or additions as
may be deemed essential to improve them.
In this connection It is believed that the
law should be modified so as to require
mining location notices to be placed
record in the local land offices of the dis
trict where the lands are situated, that
final payment and entry upon mining claims
should be required to be made within
fixed period after location, say seven years,
exclusive OF such period as the claims
may be involved in contest or adverse pro-
ceedings, and that the placer mining laws
should be amended so to make the maxi
mum area subject to location by an asso-
ciation corporation or individual. forty
areas.
Again assuring you Of my interest in the
work of your association, and trusting that
the next convention will be a most sue
cessful one, remain, sincerely yours,
r. A. BALLINGER,
Secretary OF the Interior.
SHORT OPPOSES CONSERVATION
Hon. Frank Short of Fresno op-
osed conservation as advanced recent
2, claiming that the slogan that all
ne natural resources belong to the
eople was not true. Private control
the law of the land, argued Mr.
hort, basing this argument as an at
1rney upon the findings OF courts and
ne constitution as it exists. He said
nat the corporations were trying to
irect their operations in regard to
le resources in the right direction,
lferrinG that such direction would
E for the benefit of the people Mr..
hort said that he had had many
)rporations for clients and that in his
oinion. they were not striving to de-
,at the people. He concluded his ar
ument by saying that the United
tates is either a government or a
.nded proprietor, and that conser-
alton would decide the question.
After the arguments of the forenoon