El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-11
MINER ADVOCATES
NEW MINERAL LAW
Favors Lease System and
Tax ON Speculative
Property.


In view of the fact that senator
Hudspeth intends to urge governor
Campbell TO ask the legislature TO pass
a mining law at the coming called ses-
sion, suggestions from mining men of
experience at this time, especially of
those who have made a special study
of the necessities OF the mineral por-
lions of this state, are interesting. The
suggestions of c. F. L. Caracristi who
has been identified with the mining
development of the state as much. if
not more, than any other man, are
most timely. In an interview, he said:
NO one will gainsay that a new min
ing law is not needed in the state OF
Texas, but it is impossible to frame
mining law, or any law, in fact that
deals with vested interest. that will
meet with general approval and will
not incur the opposition of some inter
ests. For the last ten years 1 have
lived mostly in this state; know its pos
sibilities and limitations and presume
to discuss its affairs because of my cIi-
zenship.
4 am irrevocably in favor of policy
of national. state and municipal conser
walton, believing that the present
rights of the people should be the en-
tailed inheritance of future generations.
The fact that the public lands are a
vast patrimOny TO the school children
of pOsterity, divorce the resources of
the school fund from its legitimate
channel. The protection of this inter
est is naturally inimicable to other in
terests and any law that IS calculated
to protect the school fund will, per-
force, meet with organized opposition
from those who for their own personal
ends desire TO ymOnOpOlize the mineral
wealth of the state.
Whatever mining laws are passed by
the incoming state legislature must be
benevolent alike to the public individ
ually, and the state as a protective
body corporated. If the state is to ac-
cept the principle of conservation as
the basis of future policy, then it must
lease all Of the mining property belong
ing to the public schools and the Tex
as university upon royalty basis or
upon TIE Mexican system, But in order
to force development OF the mineral re-
sources of the state, the legislature
should pass a law taxing all mineral
lands separated from the surface; that
is, separating the taxable assets in
like manner as is done in other states.
Tax on Speculative Property.
There is no valid reason why dor
mant mineral property, held for specu-
lative purposes or cattle industry, of
WHICH II Is I'd pane, StEOUl'l ilO- DC SuO-
ject to an equitable tax. This would
force the sale Of MANY speculative prop
critics and insure prompt development.
The great objection that is heard to-
day against the sale of lands by the
general land commissioner and the re
tentfon of the subsoil right by the state
could easily be put aside by the intro
duction of the lease system affecting all
minerals held by the commonwealth.
provided no lease should be of greater
area than one section and provided
further that ample damage should he
Such a system would perpetuate the
development.
larger average, should be allowed be
in this class of mining The taxation
the railway companies to sell some of
their large holdings.
Conservation Policy Urged.
I believe that all minerals found on
lands directly or indirectly the prop
to a policy of conservation TO be leased
term Of years, and all bids to be subject
put. Many people would object to such
come from large mineral land holders or
from others who desire to acquire vast
areas in prospective for purely specu-
lative purpose.
The Hall Room Rows in The HaroJd