The Calumet news., 1910-12-09
Ballinger, in Report, Declares Con-
gress Is Steward Of Public
Domain and Respons-
ible to People
fAvORS A LEASING SYSTEM
Believes Coal, Oil and Gas Lands
Should be Developed, But Public
Lands Should be Saved from
Monopolization.

washington. Dec. 9.-In his annual
report, just made public. Secretary
Ballnger, OF the Department of the
Interior, devotes a large amount OF
space to public-land problems. The
secretary recites the history of the
public domain. giving statistics TO
show that there is now remaining un-
appropriated and unreserved 1885,
4O9 acres OF public land i'm continental
United States and Alaska
Under more conservative theories
the question now Is of saving the rem
nant of the public lands from monopo-
lization or misuse without abandoning
the old policies of encouraging de-
velopment, says Mr.. Ballinger. "The
highest productive use of these lands
is the concern OF the people. The me-
thods of securing this use are the con-
cern of the national and state govern
ments.
Up to Congress.
by the Constitution the Congress Is
made the steward of the public domain
and for it's stewardship il is response
BILE TO the people. The executive can
move only as directed or authorized
by Congress i'm selling or otherwise
disposing of this national estate:
therefore all questions relating to 4
change form the existing status or OF
policy over this estate resides alone
i'm the legislative branch of the Gov
ernment, and all popular movements
looking to the reformation of our lanc
system must OF course be addressed
to the Congress. Consequently th'
movement TO conserve the national re-
sources I'm this national estate of lands
that is. to secure the wisest and mos
lasting benefit to the nation In theil
use-is a matter with which Congress
must deal.
New or amendatory legislation re-
specting our public lands should be di'
rect, simple, effective, and relate prin
cipally to the proper form of dispo
sition of the withdrawn lands-water
power sites. oil lands, coal lands, an'
rights of way over public lands.
Leasing Coal Lands.
The secretary directs attention t1
the recommendation contained In ms
report for 1909 for coal-iand legisla'
tlon and quotes from an official state
ment made In 1907. wherein some o
the difficulties which would be en-
countered i'm the operation OF a leas
ing system are pointed out. and agaii
calls attention to the Importance o
cnacting legislation which would give
the department an effective metho'
OF disposition of coal lands, especiall!
in Alaska. He points out that
Alaska IL Is possible that leasing
system could be adapted to the coun
try with efficiency and with less com
Tlication than i'm the states In IN
states the administrative policy is U
secure by appiaisement and sale
the coal deposits what would aceru
TO the government Ii the deposit
were mined on a royalty SIS pu
this Is not possible under exi ing iaN
IN Alaska, where the price is fixed
fiat acreage rate.
Leasing Oil Lands.
81 am in favor of a general leasin
system of oil and gas bearing lahds
such a. system as will promote legitl
mate development of this industry
prevent monopoly, and conserve on
of the great natural resources of th
country" says the secretary. "The o.
oklahoma Is developed on the leasin
system, the term Of the lease extend
ing as long as oil Is found In com
mercial quantities. The lessee usuail
pays TO the government for the use {
the Indian one-eighth in value Oh III
oil produced as royalty This systei
has worked out very satisfactory
and Is in anse In many of the oil re
gions Of the country where land
held In private ownership and not b
the government. / would apply tr
leasing system only to areas Win
drawn for classification or clasSli1e
by the Geological Survey. The un
known and unexplored oil lands
would leave open to exploration an
location. This would give rewar
TO the diligent prospector. Even u''e
the surrounding lands could be with
drawn from further location after IN
prospector had secured his his
claims.
Water Powers.
There Is now withdrawn from dis
position, pending legislation concern
ing water ,power sites. approximate
l,450,000 acres OF the public domain
In the various public-land state
and territories containing WATERPROOF
er resources. IN SO far as there
present market for those powers u
title to areas greater in extent ina
that remaining I'm the government ma
long since passed into private owner
ship, and IL must be realized that an
radical or burdensome restriction in
posed by the federal government vi
on this resource will operate as a se'
Vitude on the public lands and di'
courage their development and use
Taking into consideration the rae
That the state own the waters IN u
streams and have police power to SUI
ervise and control public utilities,
would seem n direct and effective M
thod of control would be to trustee "