The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-09-09

area OF 25.4l3 acres. which sold for s5cs.-
si3 and down to August. 1910. there We're
but II entries. with an area OF LIN acres.
which sold for sSS9.0.so. making dispo-
sition OF the coal lands in the last two
years OF about 6co00 acres fer sl.s050c0.
The present congress as already said.
has separated TIE surface of coal lands.
either classified or withdrawn for classl-
1cation. from the coal beneath. so as to
permit at all times homestead entries
upon the surface of lands useful for as
riculture and 10 reserve the ownership
in the coal 20 the government. The ques-
ton which remains TO be considered f.
whether the existing law for the sale Of
the coal in the ground should continue
in force or be repealed and new method
Of disposition adopted. Under the present
law the absolute title in the coal be-
meath the surface passes 10 the grantee
Of the government The price fixed is
upon an estimated amount Of the tons
0: coal per acre beneath the surface. and
the prices are fixed so that the earnings
will only he a reasonable profit upon the
amount paid and the investment neces-
sary. But. Of course. this is more or less
gresswork. and the government parts
with the ownership Of the coal in the
ground absolutely. Authorities Of the ge-
ologIy6i survey estimate that in TIE
United States today there is a supply of
about three thousand Billions Of tons Of
coal. and that of this one thousand billions
are in the public domain. OF course. the 9TH
er two thousand billions are within private
ownership and dader no more control as
to the use or the prices at which the
coal may be sold than any other private
property. If the government leases the
coal lands and acts as any landlord
would. and imposes conditions in It's
leases Ike those which are now imposed
by the owners in fee Of coal mines IN the
various coal regions Of the east, then il
would retain over the disposition of the
coal deposits a choice rs co the assignee
of the lease, or OF resuming possession at
the end OF the term of the lease, which
might easily be framed to enable ii to
exercise a limited but effective control
in the disposition and sa,e OF the coal to
the public II has been urged that the
leasing system has never been adopted IN
this country, and that it's adoption would
largely interfere with the investment OF
capital and the proper development and
opening M Of the coal resources. ! Ven
tUre to differ entirely from this view.
The question as TO how great an area
ought 20 be included In a lease to one
individual or corporation. Is not free from
difficulty: but in view Of the fact that
the government retains control as owner.
I think there might be some liberaIty in
lAr amount leased, ana lNdt -,HH acres
would not be too great q maximum.
fv the opportunity to readiust the
terms upon which the coal shall be hold
by the tenant, eithcr at the end Of each
lease o. at periods during the term. the
government may secure the benefit of
sharing in the increased price OF coal and
tie additional profit made by the tenant.
~ imposing conditions in respect 10 the
character Of work to Le done in the
mines. the government may control the
character Of the Development Of the
mines and the treatment Of employees with
reference 70 safety BY DENYING the
right 20 transfer the lease except by the
written permission of the governmental
authorities it may withhold the needed
consent when it is proposed to transfer
the leasehold to persons interested in es-
tahlishing a monopoly of coal production
in any state or neighborhood. The change
from the absolute grant 20 the leasing
system will involve good deal of
trouble in the outset, and the training of
experts in the matter of making proper
leases; but the change will be a good
one and can be made The change is in
the interest of conservation, and I am
glad to approve it.