Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-12-08
workmen,s Compensation.

In view of the keen. widespread in
terest now felt in the United States in
system OF compensation for indus
trial accidents TO supplant our present
thoroughly unsatisfactory system Of
employers liability "a subject the inn
portance Of which congress has al-
ready recognized by the appointment
of cOmmission), | recommend that
the international congress on indus
trial insurance be invited TO hold it's
meeting in 1913 in Washington and
that an appropriation of $4,000 be
made TO cover the necessary expenses
Of organizing and carrying on the
meeting.
Safety Appliances and Provisions.
The protection of railroad employees
from personal injury is a subject Of
the highest importance and demands
continuing attention.
Negro Exposition.
also renew my recommendation
that steps be taken looking to the hold.
ing Of a negro exposition in celebra.
ton Of the fiftieth anniversary of the
issuing by Mr.. Lincoln of the emanci.,
patton proclamation.
Conservation.
Nothing can be more important il.
the matter of conservation than the
treatment of our forest lands. Spcak
ing generally, the government has re-
served of the existing forests about 10
per cent Of all the timberlands of the
government Within these forests lin.
cluding 2G,0OO,OOO acres in two forests
in Alaska) are 192OOO,OOO acres. Of
which 1GG,0O0,000 acres are in the
United States proper and include with
in their boundaries something like o.
00O, 900 acres that belong to the states
or to private individuals. We have.
then. excluding Alaska forests, total
of about 144.0O0,00O acres of forests
belonging to the government which
are being treated in accord with the
principles of scientific forestry.
The law now prohibits the reserva-
ton of any more forest lands in Ore
gon. Washington, Idaho, Montana.
Colorado and Wyoming except by
act of congress. l am informed by
the department of agriculture that the
government owns other tracts of tim
berland in these states which should
be included in the forest reserves.
tation herein imposed be repealed In
the present forest reserves there are
lands which are not properly forest
land and which ought to be subject 10
homestead entry.
Coal Lands.
The next subject, and one most i'm.
portant for your consideration, is the
of the coal lands in the
United States and in Alaska. At the
beginning of this administration there
were classified coal lands in the Unit
I'd States amounting to 5,476,OO0 acres.
md there were withdrawn from entry
Tor purposes of classification 1867 600
lcres. Since that time there have been
by my order from entry
'or classification 1871 ,745 acres. max
ng a total withdrawal Of 96.S44,74J
acres. Meantime of the acres thus
10061, $50 have been classi-
led and found not to contain coal and
lave been restored to agricultural en-
ry and 472G,09l acres have been elias
ified as coal lands, while 79,903 .23e
lcres remain withdrawn from entry
md await classification. In addition
$4,000 acres have been classified as
oal lands without prior withdrawal.
hus increasing the classified coal lands
o 10,429,372 acres.
Ihe question as to how great an
rea ought to be included in a lease 10
ne individual or corporation Is NOT
rec from difficulty. but in view of the
act that the government retains con-
rol as owner l think there might be
ONE liberality In the amount leased
nd that $500 acres would not be too
reat maximum. The leases should
My be granted after advertisement
nd public competition.
The secretary Of the interior thinks
here are difficulties In the way of
easing public coal lands. entirely
his stating at length in his
eport the objections In order that the
hole subject may be presented to
ongress, but after full consideration
favor leasing system and recon-
lend It.
The needed oil and gas law is essen.
ally leasing law. In their natural
'currence oil and gas cannot be
easured in terms Of acres, like coal.
nd 1t follows that exclusive title 10
lese products can normally be Sc
lred only after they reach the sur
ice. OIL should be disposed of as
in terms of barrels of
ansportable product rather than in
res Of real estate.