The Cairo bulletin., 1910-09-06

and also that whatever the result as to
pending claims the existing coal land
laws Of Alaska are most unsatisfac-
tory and should be radically amended
Oil and Gas Lands.
In the last administration there were
Withdrawn from agricultural entry
$4,000 acres of supposed oil land In
California, about 100000 acres In
Louisiana. Of which only $500 acres
were known TO be vacant unappropri-
sted land; $4,000 acres In Oregon and
$4,000 acres in Wyoming. making a
total of nearly 100000 acres,
In September, 1909, | directed that
all public oil lands. whether then with
drawn or not. should be withheld from
disposition pending congressional ac-
ton for the reason that the existing
placer mining law, although made ap
plicable to deposits Of this character,
is not suitable TO such lands and for
the further reason that 1t seemed de-
sirable to reserve certain fuel oil de-
posits for the use of the American.
navy.
Accordingly the form Of all existing
, Withdrawals was changed, and new
Withdrawals aggregating 2.750000
acres We're made In Arizona. Califor
MIA. Colorado, New Mexico Utah and
Wyoming. Field examinations during
the year showed that of the original
Withdrawals 2,170.0O0 acres were not
valuable for oil. and they were re-
stored for agricultural entry. Mean
I time other Withdrawals OF public oil
lands In these states were made. so
that July !, 1910. the outstanding with
drawals then amounted to 4.550000
acres.
Oil For Navy.
The principal underlying feature OF
such legislation should be the exercise
! of beneficial control rather than the
| collection Of revenue As not only the
largest owner Of oil lands, but as
prospective large consumer of oil by
reason of the increasing use of fuel oil
by the navy. the federal government
| Is directly concerned both In encourag-
Ing rational development and at the
same time insuring the longest pos
sible life to the oil supply.
| The royalty rates fixed by the gov
eminent should neither exceed nor fall
below the current rates But much
more important than revenue Is the
enforcement Of regulations to conserve
the public interest so that the cove
nants of the lessees shall specifically
safeguard oil fields against the penal
ties from careless drillings and Of
production In excess of transportation
facilities or Of market requirements.
One OF the difficulties presented, es-
| pecially In the California fields, is that
the Southern Pacific railroad owns
every other section Of land In the oil
| fields. and In those fields the oil seems
| to be In common reservoir or series
| OF reservoirs communicating through
| the oil sands, so that the excessive
| draining of oil Mt one we'll or on the
! railroad territory, generally would ex-
haust the oil in the government land:
hence 1t ia important that II the gov
eminent is to have its share of the oil
It should begin the opening and devel-
| opment ct wells on It's own property.
In view OF the joint ownership
which the government and the adjoln-
| Ing landowners like the Southern Pa.
| ciflc railroad have in the oil reservoirs
below the surface, It IS most inter
esting and intricate question, difficult
Of solution, but one which ought TO adj
| dress itself at once to the state law
makers how far the state legislature
might impose appropriate restrictions
to secure an equitable enjoyment Of
the common reservoir and to prevent
waste and excessive drainage by the
various owners having access to this
reservoir.
Water Power Sites.
Prior to March 4, 1909, there had
been, on the recommendation Of the
reclamation service withdrawn from
agricultural entry, because they were
| regarded as useful for power sites
which ought not to be disposed Of as
agricultural lands, tracts amounting
to about 100000 acres. The with
drawals were hastily made and IN
cluded great deal OF land that was
not useful for power sites. They we're
intended TO include the power sites on
tventy-nine rivers In nine states. a
Since that time 3,475,4t2 acres have
been restored for settlement OF the
original 100000, because they do not
contain power Sites and meantime
there have been newly withdraw n
1,24J, So2 acres on vacant public land
and 211,007 acres on entered public
land, or total Of 1,4l6,S09 acres
These wlthdra walls made from time
to time cover all the power sites in
cluded In the first Withdrawals and
many more on 1876 rivers and in eleven
states,
The disposition of these power sites
involves one OF the most difficult ques-
tions presented In carrying out prac-
teal conservation.
The forest service, under a power