The state herald., 1910-12-09
lands are permitted to be sold is SO

=
AS one-third of all the coal supply
is held by the government, it seems
wise that 1t should retain such con-
troll over the mining and the sale as
the relation of lessor to lessee fur.
nishes.
THE secretary Of the interior thinks
there are difficulties in the way of
leasing public coal lands, which OBJ.
jections he has set forth In his re.
port, the force of which freely con.
cede. entirely approve his stating
at length in his report of the objec,
tons In order that the whole subject
may be presented to congress, but
after full consideration. for the rea
sons | have given above, favor a
leasing system and recommend It."
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reclamation service, withdrawn from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 were
intended to include the power sites
on 20 rivers in 0 states. Since that
| time 3,475,4i2 acres have been re.
stored for settlement of the original
100000 because they do not con.
tain power sites. and meantime, new
| Withdrawals have been made which,
with other restorations based upon
field examination, result in withdraw
ais at present effective of 1,21S,35G
acres on vacant public land and 202,-
| 1877 acres on entered public land, or n
total of l,i20,553 acres These with.
drawals made from time to time cover
all the power sites included in the
| first Withdrawals and many more, on
ISL rivers and in ~ states. The dis
position of these power sites involves
one of the most difficult questions pre-.
scented in carrying out practical con
seryation.
THE subject is one that calls for
new legislation 1t has been thought
that there was danger Of combination
to obtain possession Of all the power
sites and to unite them under one
control Whatever the evidence of
this, or lack of It, at present We have
had enough experience 10 know that
combination would be profitable, and
the control OF great number OF pow.
er at will within certain sections.
However this may be. II is the
plain duty Of the government TO see
TO It that In the utilization and deyel.
opment OF all this immense amount
OF water power, conditions shall be
imposed that will prevent extortion
ate charges. which are the usual nc,
compartment Of monopoly
THE question OF conservation is
not partisan one, and | sincerely
hope that even In the short time OF
the present session consideration may
be given TO those questions which
have now been much discussed. and
that action may be taken upon them.
Alaska.
with reference 10 the government
OF Alaska, | have nothing to add to
the recommendations made In my
last message on the subject I am
convinced that the migratory charac,
ter OF the population. It's unequal dis.
trlbutlon, and its smallness OF mum,
Der. which the new census shows to
be about 10000. IN relation TO the
enormous eNpanse Of the territory.
make It altogether imprRctlcable TO
give to those people who are In
Alaska today and may not be there n
year hence, the power 10 elect leg.
islature 10 govern an immense ter
ritory to which they have relation so
little permanent
Pensions.
The uniform policy OF the govern.
ment In the matter Of granting pen.
sions TO those gallant and devoted
men who fought 10 save the life Of
the nation In the perilous days Of the
great civil war, has always been Of
the most liberal character Those
men are now rapidly passing away
The best obtainable Official statistics
show that they are DYING nj the rate
Of something over three thousand a
month, aud. IN view Of their adyane.
Ing years. this rate must Inevitably In
proportion, rapidly Increase To the
man who uskcd everything on the
field Of battle 10 save the nation In
the hour Of iis direst need We owe
debt which has not been and should
not be- computed In bogrudglng or
parsim0nious spirit"
Bureau Of Corporations,
Referring to the report Of the com.
missioner Of corporations, the pfeBl,
dent says.
TInp commissioner finds condl
ton In the ownership OF the standing
timber Of the United States other
than the government timber that calls
for serious attention The direct IN.
yestigalion made by the commissioner
covered an area which contains so
p.r cant pf tho uriyufsty nwnFd tim.