The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-09-08

area Of %. Alb acres, which sold for $685.
sl3; and down to August. 1910. there were
but II entries, with an area Of 1,720 acres,
which sold for $50, SIC. 90, making a dispo-
sition Of the coal lands in the last two
years OF about $1,000 acres for 81. 800, 900.
The present congress, as already said,
has separated the surface Of coal lands,
either classified or withdrawn for clsssi-
~ication, from the coal beneath, so as to
permit at all times homestead entries
upon the surface of lands useful for ag-
riculture and to reserve the ownership
In the coal to the government The ques-
ton which remains 10 be considered 10
whether the existing law for the sale OF
the coal IN the ground should continue
in force or be repealed and a new method
OF disposition adopted. Under the present
law the absolute title in the coal be-
meath the surface passes to the grantee
OF the government. The price fixed ia
upon an amount Of the tons
OF coal per acre beneath the surface, and
the prices are fixed so that the earnings
will only be a reasonable profit upon the
amount paid and the investment neces-
sary. But, Of course, this is more or less
guesswork, and the government parts
with the ownership OF the coal In the
ground absolutely. Authorities Of the ge-
illogical survey estimate that in the
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 under no more control as
to the use or the prices at which the
coal may be sold than any other private
property. II the government leases the
coal lands and acts as any landlord
would, and imposes conditions in its
leases like those which are now imposed
by the owners in fee of coal mines In the
various coal regions of the east, then II
would retain over the disposition Of the
coal deposits a choice as 20 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 it to
exercise a limited but effective control
In the disposition and safe OF the coal to
the public. It has been urged that the
leasing system has never been adopted in
this country, and that its adoption would
largely interfere with the investment OF
capital and the proper development and
opening up of the coal resources. I ven
ture to differ entirely from this view.
The question as TO how great an area
ought to 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 liberality in
the amount leased, and that $500 acres
would not be too great a maximum.
BY the opportunity to readjust the
terms upon which the coal shall be held
by the tenant, either at the end Of each
lease or at periods during the term, the
government may secure the benefit OF
sharing in the increased price of coal and
the additional profit made by the tenant.
BY imposing conditions in respect to the
character Of work to be done In the
mines, the government may control the
character of the development OF the
mines and the treatment of employees with
reference to safety. By denying the
right to transfer the lease except by the
written permission of the governmental
authorities. II may withhold the needed
consent when It is proposed to transfer
the leasehold to persons interested In es-
tablishing a monopoly of coal production
In any state or neighborhood. The change
from the absolute grant TO the leasing
system will involve d 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 / am
glad to approve it.