The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-01-04
FAYORS GOVERN
MfNT LEASING
(Communicated.)

Since the first of the year the Do
minion government of Canada permits
late $4,000 in the treasury before re-
quiring them so pay royalties. The
state of Nevada might be as liberal
with her miners and give them a start
before taxing the output, which is in
fact royalty.
Owing to the wholesale appropriation
of mineral lands of the United States
by INSCRIPTIONS men, who resort to
every known device to secure, hold and
finally obtain patents to the same,
these depredations have grown to such
an alarming extent in the last few
years, and of such fragrant nature,
that the government has brought many
suits on the criminal side of the docket
to recover title and for the safety of
the public, pending more stringent
laws, has withdrawn vast areas Of oil !,
Goa and phosphate lands, as well as tim
Der and power sites.
This action of the government is
timely, and it should go deep in its
investigations. Wise laws should be
enacted to give every one an equal
show and at the same time retain some
of the benefits for the general govern
ment The success of private conser-
vation and management has attracted
the attention of the government and
already a plan is outlined in the case
of oil and coal lands whereby in place
of parting with the titles it is pro
posed to establish system of leasing,
upon royalties, as already in practice
in Canada and otkar countries. This
would prevent the trusts, or combine
of capital securing to private owners
1.-THE vast natural resources, which for
obvious reasons. cannot be distributed
per capita, but as the general govern
ment is the trustee for the whole peo-
lple, could retain all public mineral
ldnu idHds, ictt'uS bhNhf Wv o4 -
basis of royalty, and hold them per-
Ipetually. awarding to each state, where
any of these lands may be situated, at
least three-fourths of the net income
of the leases, to aid such states in pro-
viding homes and reducing general
taxes. Such "A plan would go far
towards benefting the whole people.
The management of the forest resour
ees on thse lines, as to cutting and dis
posing of timber, works admirably.
The proposed leasing of oil lands must
prove successful, for it is proving so
in private pactiee, and why not coalf
If this system of government control
lproves to be beneficial for the govern
ment and the people at large, then the
government should at once include all
mineral lands of every description, be-
fore it is too late. In mining, especial
lly since the discovery of Tonopah, the
greatest developments have been by
leasers. Under the present laws men
take up as many claims as they can see
clear to do the required development
work on. and in most cases with no
financial ability. or intention of doing
real development work. Pofessing
leasers come along (there are now
many "leasing companies with large
capitaD, take leases and go to work,
while the "'locators sit by and look
on. Usually the leasers make a success
of what would otherwise be failure,
and sometimes the lessees have to go ta
law to compel the leasers to faithfully
carry out agreements.
Would il not be best for the govern
enlargement and liberal lease to les
sees and protect them in their rights,
giving the diseoverer percentage OF
rece;ptsP
The mining industry of the
rrrited States under such system
would largely benefit every class ex-
cept "wild eats while stocks OF
"leasirg companies would have the
government as reference as to the
real status of any such operating com
uany There should be a system OF
rewards for poor prospectors, who are
unable to develop properties, or wait
/, until some leasing company should
take hold. The new discovery should
he recorded and noted. on the maps,
ard credited to the diseoverer.
The subject is an interesting one of
great merit and will certainly be ap.
proved of by every one in any way
identified with mining. j. X. M.