The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-09-08

carry up tho maximum OF value 20 so
an ACRE" In my Judgment It is essential
In the proper development Of Alaska that
these coal lands should be opened. and
that tho Pacific slope should be given the
benefit OF the comparatively cheap coal
Of hnc quality which can be furnished at
a reasonable price from these fields, but
the public. through tho government
ought certainly 10 retain n wise control
and interest In these coal deposits. and
think It may do so safely II congress will
authorize the granting OF leases, as al
ready suggested for government coal
lands in the United States. with provl-
s.Jus forbidding the transfer of tho
leases except with tho consent OF the
government, thus preventing their acqul-
si'ion by n combination or monopoly and
upon limitations as to tho area to be in
cluded In any one lease 20 ono individual
and AZ n certain moderate rental, with
royalties upon tho coal mined proper
toned TO the market value OF the Conl
either at Seattle or at San Francisco or
course such leases should contain coadi-
tons requiring the erection OF proper
plants. the proper development by mod
'rn mining methods OF the properties
leased. and the use OF every Known and
practical means and device for saving the
ll,o OF the miners.
OIL and Gas Lands.
IN tho last administration thoro were
withdrawn from agricultural entry ESQ.,
80 acres Of supposed oil land In Callfor-
MA. about million and "a half acres in
Louisiana, OF which only 500 acres
were known TO be vacant unappropria-
ted land, Il GO acres In Oregon and l74,-
.'" acres In Wyoming. making q total Of
nearly 10000 acres. In September, 1900.
directed that all public oil lands,
whether then withdrawn or not. should
Hc withheld from disposition pondlng con-
~. ssional action. for the reason that the
existing placer mining law, although
made applicable TO deposits NJ this char
actor, is not suitable to such lands, and
for tho further reason that Il seemed de-
sIrable 10 reserve certain fuel-oil deposits
for tho use OF tho American navy. hc-
r1rdlnEly tho form OF all existing with
3rawnls was changed. and new with
frnwals aEgrcgatiug 2.TjO.Uo0 acres were
made IN Arizona, California, Colorado.
Sow Mexico. Utah and Wyoming. Field
examinations during the year showed
that OF tho original Withdrawals. 2l70.-
$50 acres were not valuable for oil, and
'huy were restored for agricultural entry
Meantime. other Withdrawals Of public
oil lands in these states were made, 50
that July /, 1910 the outstanding with
IrtwGls then amounted 10 $4,000 acres
The needed oil and gas law is essential
" leasing law. In their natural occur
romeo, oil and gas cannot be measured In
'"rms Of acres. like coal and Il follows
that exclusive title to these products can
normally be secured only after they reach
the surface, OIL should be disposed OF as
a commodity IN terms OF barrels OF
product rather than IN
FFaI.
he reason for the practically universal
adoption Of tho leasing system wherever
oil land II in private ownership. Tho
government thus would not he cntor1s
IN an experiment, but simply putting
into effect q plan successfully operated IN
private contracts. Why should not the
government as n landowner dea. directly
with the oil producer rather than through
20" Intervention OF miidleman 70 whom
ho government gives title to the land?
Tho principal underlying feature OF
such legislation should be the exercise OF
control rather than tho cOllcc-
Ion OF revenue, rs not only thu largest
owner OF oil lands. but us q prospective
arge consumer Of OIL by reason OK tho
Increasing use OF fuel oil by the navy
he federal government Is directly con-
'"rned both IN encouraging rational do
.clOpmenk and at the same time inHuring
he longest possible life 10 the oil sup
ply.
ono Of the difficulties presented. cspe-
tally In the California fields. is that tho
Southern Pacific railroad owns every
,thor section Of land IN tho oil field
md IN those fields tho oil seems TO be In
common reservoir. or series OF roscr-
'ors. communicating through tho oil
nnIs, so that the excessive draining OF
~ at ono well, or on the railroad terri
DRY generally, would exhaust tho oil in
he government land. Hence II IL i'm
ortant thar II the government is 10 have
Is share OF the oil II should begin the
pcnIng Of wells on It's own property.
II has been suggested, and l believe the
ugSrston 10 be sound ono. that per-
nits be issued to n prospcctor for oil
living him tho right TO prospect for two
ears over certain tract OF government
and for the discovery OF oil, the right 10
% evidenced by license for which he
ays n small sum. When the oil is dis
ovcred then he acquires title TO Il GER
ain tract. much IN tho Same way as no
you'd acquire tito under mining law
" course II the system OF leasing IL
dopted then he would be given tho
enent Of lease upon terms Ike that
bove suggested. What has been said in
aspect TO oil applies also to government
as lands.
Phosphate Lands.
Phosphorus ia one OF the three essen |
ais TO plant growth. the other elements |
cling nitrogen and potash, or these |