The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-09-06

| l0lS power OF WllnufbWuA u a mus
useful one. and | do not think IL Is
likely TO be absurd.
Coal Landa
The next subject and one most i'm
portant for our consideration is the
disposition OF the coal lands In the
United States and in Alaska. First as
TO those in the United States. At the
beginning of this administration there
were classified coal lands amounting to
5.476,000 acres, and there were with
drawn from entry for purposes OF
classification 1857 900 acres. Since
that time there have been withdrawn
by my order from entry for classifica-
ton 77.64SOO0 acres. making a total
withdrawal of 95,515.000 acres.
Meantime OF the acres thus with
drawn 1870 have been classified
and found not TO contain coal and have
been restored TO agricultural entry. and
4.356.000 acres have been classified as
coal lands. while 70.TSS,000 acres re-
main Withdrawn from entry and await
classification. In addition 100000
acres have been classified as coal lands
without rrior withdrawal. thus in
creasing the classified coal lands TO
1O.16S. 600 acres.
The present congress, as already
said, has separated the surface of coal
lands, either classified or withdrawn
for classification. from the coal be-
meath. so as TO permit at all times
homestead entries upon the surface
of lands useful for agriculture and 10
reserve the ownership in the coal TO
the government
To Adopt New Methods.
The question which remains 10 be
considered is whether the existing law
for the sale OF the coal In the ground
should continue in force or be repealed
and new method Of disposition adopt
ed.
Under the present law the absolute
title in the coal beneath the surface
passes TO the grantee OF the govern
ment.
The price fixed is upon an estimated
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 necessary.
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 geological survey
estimate that In the United States to-
day 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
other 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.
IL 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 choice as TO the as
signee of the lease. a power OF resum-
ing possession at the end of the term
Of the. lease or Of readjusting terms at
fixed periods of the lease, which might
easily be framed 10 enable II TO exer-
else a limited but effective control In
the disposition and sale OF the coal TO
the public.
1t 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 tie coal resources.
venture to differ entirely from this
view.
Austraiia's Plan.
/ have looked with some care into
a report made at the instance of Pres
ident Roosevelt upon the disposition
Of coal lands In Australia. Tasmania
and New Zealand. These are peculiar
ly mining countries, and their expert
ence ought TO be most valuable. In
all these countries the method for the
disposition and opening Of coal mines
NAAeA4aNy cNAtN ~ AuN SDN tAhAAtAA -
by granting leasehold and not by
granting an absolute title.
The terms of the leases run all the
way from twenty to fifty years. while
the amount of land which may be
leased TO any individual there Is from
800 acres to 1000 acres. II appears
that full examination was made and
the opinions OF all the leading experts
on the subject were solicited and Civ
en- and that with one accord thoy ap-
proved In all respects the leasin.s sys-
tenn.
Its success is abundantly shown. 1t
Is possible that at first considerable
latitude VIII have to be given to the
executive In drafting these forms OF
lease. but as soon as experiment shall
show which is the most workable and
practicable its use should be provided
for specifically by statute.
The question as TO how great an
area ought 10 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 con-