The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-12-09

government work done on government
soil and government work done in q
private establishment
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 i'm
portance Of which congress has al
ready recognized by the appointment
Of a commission), I 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.
I also renew my recommendation
that steps be taken looking to the hold
ing of 2 negro exposition in celebra-
ton Of the fifdeth anniversary Of the
issuing by Mr.. Lincoln Of the emanci-
patton proclamation
Conservation.
Nothing can be more important In
the matter Of conservation than the
treatment Of our forest lands. Speak
ing generally, the government has re-
served Of the existing forests about 20
per cent Of all the tmberlands Of the
government. Within these forests Qn-
Guiding 26,O00,0O0 acres in two forests
In Alaska) are 100000 acres Of
which 166,0OO,00o acres are In the
United States proper and include with:
In their boundaries something like 22,~
100000 acres that belong to the states
or to private individuals. We have
then, excluding Alaska forests, totai
Of about 144,OO0,000 acres Of forests
belonging to the government Whtcn
are being treated in accord With the
principles Of scientific forestry. I
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. I 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. (
recommend to congress that the hmt-
tation herein imposed be repealed In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 to
homestead entry.
Coal Lands. --T-..>f51.
The next subject, and one most I'm
portant for your consideration, Is the
disposition Of the coal lands in the
United States and in Alaska. At the
beginning Of this administration there
we're classified coal lands In the Unit
ed States amounting to 5,476.00O acres,
and there were withdrawn from entry:
for purposes Of classification 1885,, 600
acres. Since that time there have been:
withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 78,977,745 acres, maxi
ing a total withdrawal Of 96,844,745
acres. Meantime Of the acres thus
withdrawn 1O061 ,889 have been CLASH
fed and found not to contain coal and
have been restored to. agricultural en-
try and 4,726,O91 acres have been clas-.
sifed as coal lands, while 79,9O3,2S9
acres remain withdrawn from entry
and await classification In addition
$4,000 acres have been classified as
coal lands without prior withdrawal.
thus increasing the classified coal lands
to 10.429,372 acres.
The question as to how great an
area ought to be included in lease to
one individual or corporation IS not
free from difficulty, but in view Of the
fact that the government retains COD.
trol as owner l think there might be
some iberality in the amount leased
and that $500 acres would not be too
great q maximum. The leases should
only be granted after advertisement
and public competition .-
The secretary Of the interior thinks
there are difficulties in the way OF
leasing public coal lands. I entirely
approved his stating at length in his
report the objections In order that the
whole subject may be presented 70
congress, but after full consideration
I favor a leasing system and recon-
mend it.
The needed oil and gas law is essen
tally leasing law. In their natural
occurrence oil and gas cannot be
measured in terms Of acres, like coal.
and it follows that exclusive title to
these products can normally be Sc
cured only after they reach the SUP
face. Oh should be disposed Of as a
oo-nrod;+v IN torroo Of barrels Of