Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-09-06
114,0 900 acres In Wyoming. making q
total Of nearly 100000 acres.

1S4,0OO acres In Wyoming. MAKING 4
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 &C.
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 it seemed de-
sirable to reserve certain fuel oil de-
posts for the use Of the American
navy.
Accordingly the form Of all existing
Withdrawals was changed. and new
Withdrawals asgregating 100000
acres were made in Arizona, Califor-
MIA. Colorado. New Mexico, Utah and
Wyoming. Field examinations during
the year showed that Of the original
Withdrawals $4,000 acres were not
valuable for oil. and they were re-
stored for agricultural entry. Mean
time other Withdrawals Of public oil
lands in these states were made. SO
that July /. 1910. the outstanding with
drawals then amounted to 4,55O,OOO
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 Us a
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 encourage
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 a common reservoir or series
Of reservoirs communicating through
the oil sands, so that the excessive
draining Of oil at one we'll or on the
railroad territory generally would ex-
haust the oil In the government land:
hence it Is important that If the gov
eminent is to have its share Of the oil
it should begin the opening and devel-
opment Of wells on Its own property.
In view of the joint ownership
which the government and the adjoin-
ing landowners like the Southern Pa
ciflc railroad have in the oil reservoirs
below the surface, 1t is most inter-
esting and intricate question, difficult
Of solution, but one which ought to ad-
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 a great deal Of land that was
not useful for power sites. They were
intended to include the power sites on
twenty-nine rivers in nine states.
Since that time 3,475, 442 acres have
been restored for settlement Of the
original 1900. 900, because they do not
contain power sites. and meantime
there have been newly withdrawn
1885, 1892 acres on vacant public land
and 211,OO7 acres on entered public
land, or a total Of 1,456,699 acres.
These Withdrawals made from time
to time cover all the power sites in
cluded in the first Withdrawals and
many more on 135 rivers and in eleven
states.
The disposition of these power sites
involves one Of the most difficult ques-
lions presented in carrying out prac-
teal conservation.
The forest service, under a power
found in the statute, has leased q
number Of these power sites in forest
reserves by revocable leases. but no
such power exists with respect to
power sites that are not located with
in forest reserves. and the revocable
system of leasing is, Of course, not a
one for the purpose Of in
viting the capital needed to put in
proper plants for the transmutation Of
power