The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-12-09

lands are permitted TO be sold is $40
an acre: but the secretary OF the In
terror has the power TO TX 4 maximum
price and TO sell at that price.
las one-third OF all the coal supply
is held by the government. IL seems
wise that It 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 ificulues 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. l entirely approve his stating
at length in his report OF the objec'
tons In order that the whole subject
may DO presented TO congress. but
after q full consideration. for the rea,
sons have given above. favor a
leasing system and recommend IL"
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 withdrawn from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 1000. 00J acres. The with
drawals were hastily made and in
Guided great deal OF land that was
not useful for power sites. They were
intended TO include the power sites
on 29 rivers In states. Since that
time 3.475.442 acres have been re-
stored for settlement OF the original
1000 900 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 l,2lS.356
= acres on vacant public land and 2J2,-
1877 acres on entered public land. or a
r total of 1,420,553 acres. These with
drawals made from time 10 time cover
: all the power sites included In the
p first Withdrawals and many more. on
I ISL rivers and In ~ states. The dis
= position of these power sites involves
5 one OF the most difficult questions pre-
D sented In carrying out practical con
I servation.
a The subject is one that calls for
J. new legislation. II has been thought
, that there was danger of combination
10 obtain possession OF all the power
S sites and to unite them under one
y control Whatever the evidence OF
s this or lack OF IL. at present we have
o had enough experience to know that
a com animation would be profitable. and
e the control Of a great number of pow
e err at will within certain sections.
e However this may be, II Is the
e plain duty OF the government to see
b To IL that in the utilization and devel
5 opment of all this immense amount
e of water power. conditions shall be
Al imposed that will prevent extortion
4 ate charges. which are the usual &C
IT compartment OF monopoly
II The question of conservation Is
not a partisan one, and ! sincerely
n hone that even in the short time o.
e the present session consideration MAJ
a be given to those questions which
he have now been much discussed, an
~ that action may be taken upon them.
Alaska.
with reference to the government
!. OF Alaska, have nothing to add 4
= tie recommendations | made In m
last message on the subject. | ar
convinced that the migratory charaC
ter of the population. its unequal dis
tribution and its smallness OF nun
OF Der, which the new census shows
| L. 70 y
81 enormous expanse Of the territor,
make II altogether impracticable
e. give to those people who are 1
OF Alaska today and may not be there
ne year hence. the power to elect a LEI
ne islature to govern an immense tel
IT. ritory to which they have relation
Us little permanent
Pensions.
~ The uniform policy of the govern
~ ment in the matter OF granting pei
% sions 10 those gallant and devote
=. men who fought TO save the life {
the nation in the perllous days of th
great civil war. has always been {
the most liberal character. Thos
re men are now rapidly passing ava.
4 ne pest OONdlndOAt ohhNtaA SeoboefN
show that they are dying at the rat
= Of something over three thousand
- month. and. in view OF their advan
ing years. this rate must inevitably
- proportion rapidly increase. To II
~ man who risked everything on Ii
~ field of battle to save the nation
~ the hour OF its direst need we owe
=. debt which has not been and shoul
~ not be computed in begrudging
,oo parsimonious spirit"
I'd Bureau OF Corporations.
re Referring TO the report of the cor
nd missioner OF corporations. the pres
SEES dent says
es. The commissioner finds como
yes ton in the ownership OF the standir
to timber OF the United States oth'
than the government timber that ca.
for serious attention. The direct !
yestigation made by the commission
~ covered an area which contains
M per cent. OF the privately-owned til
=. Der OF the country.
His report shows that one half