The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1910-09-09

In the proper development of Alaska tnat
these coal lands should be opened. ana
that tho Pacific slope should be given the
benefit Of the comparatively cheap coal
of fine quality which can be furnished at
n reasonable price from these fields; but
the public, through the government,
ought certainly to retain q wise control
and interest in these coal deposits, and
think 1t may do so safely If congress Will
authorize the granting Of leases. as al
ready suggested for government coal
lands in the United States, with provi-
sions forbidding the transfer Of the
leases except with the consent OF the
government, thus preventing their acqui-
sition by a combination or monopoly ana
upon limitations as to the area to be In
cluded in any one lease to one individual.
and at a certain moderate rental, with
royalties upon the coal mined proper
toned to the market value Of the coal
either at Seattle or at San Francisco. or
course such leases should contain condi-
tions requiring the erection or proper
plants, the proper development by mod
ern mining methods of the properties
leased, and the use Of every known and
practical means and device for saving the
life Of the miners.
Oil and Gas Lands.
In the last administration there were
withdrawn from agricultural entry ESQ.,
OO acres of supposed oil land in Califor-
MIA; about a million and q half acres in
Louisiana, of which only $500 acres
were known to be vacant unappropria-
ted land; $1,000 acres In Oregon and H4,-
600 Acres in Wyoming, making a total OF
nearly 4,00, 900 acres. In September. 1903.
I directed that all public oil lands,
whether then withdrawn or not, should
be withheld from disposition pending con-
gressional action, for the reason that the
existing placer mining law. although
| made applicable to deposits OF this char
ncter. is not suitable to such lands, and
for the further reason that it ceemed de-
sirable to reserve certain fuel-ofl deposits
for the use OF the American navy. Ac-
| cordingly the form OF all existing with
drawals was changed, and new with
drawals aggregating 2.75o,00 acres were
made in Arizona, California, Colorado.
New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Field
examinations during the year showed
that Of the original Withdrawals, 2,l7O,-
900 acres were not valuable for oil, ana
they were restored for agricultural entry.
Meantime. other Withdrawals OF public
oil lands in these states were made, so
that July |, 1910. the outstanding with
drawals then amounted to 4.55O,CO acres.
The needed oil and gas law Is essential
" a leasing law. In their natural occur
renee, oil and gas cannot be measured In
terms of acres. like coal, and 1t follows
that exclusive TUE 10 tiltSc ptOdNStS NHh
ormall be secured only after they reach
the surface. Dill should be disposed of as
a commodity IN terms OF barrels or
transportable product rather mar IN
acres of real estate. This Is, or course,
the reason for the practically universal
adoption of the leasing system wherever
oil land is in private ownership. Inc
government thus would not De entering
on an experiment, but simply putting
tr<o aePaot q nIan SIIrcpSSfullY operated IN
priyata contracts. Why should not the
government as a landowner deal Directly
with the oil producer rather than throush
the Intervention Of a middleman to whom
the government gives title to the land?
The principal underlying feature OF
such legislation should be the exercise OF
beneficial control rather than the collec'
ton of revenue. AS not only the largest
owner of oil lands, but as a prospective
large consumer Of oil by reason or th'
Increasing use of fuel oil by the navy
the federal government Is directly con
cerned both in encouraging rational ue
yelopment and at the same time insurlnt
the longest possible lie 10 'he vi eup
ps.
one of the difficulties presented. espe
ciallv in the California fields. Is that tn
Southern Pacific railroad owns ever:
other section of land In the OIL nelo
and in those fields the oil seems to De Il
a common reservoir, or series or reser
yoirs. communicating through the o.
sands. so that the excessive draining Q
oil at one we'll, or on the railroad 'erri
tory generally, would exhaust the Oil 1
the government land. Hence II Is I'D
, nortant that II the government Is TO nav
its share of the oil 1t should begin tn
onening of wells on it's own property.
} IT has been suggested, and l believe IN
suggestion to be a sound one, that per
-.I 10 q nrnCnaCIor O u
giving him the right to prospect for wv
wears over a certain tract of governmer
land for the discovery of oil. the right I
be evidenced by a license for whlch a
1 paws a small sum. When the OIL is oi'
= covered, then he acquires ute 10 d Gel
3 tain tract, much in the same way as 4
0 would acquire title under a mining laV
: OT course IL the system of leasing
r adonted. then he would be given u
t benefit of q lease upon terms like thi
r above suggested. What has been SAID
{ resnect to oil applies also to governmel
( gas lands.
Phosphate Lands.
p~bosnhorus is one Of the three esse,
+ tails to plant growth, the other elemen
a being nitrogen and potash. or the
q three, phosphorus is by all odds u
= scarcest element in nature. 1t IS easi
II extracted in useful form from the Pho
a phate rock, ana the Crlleu otdtCS "
8 tains the greatest known deposits OF IN
n rock in the world. They are found
= wyoming, Utah and Florida, as well
~ in South Carolina. Georgia and Tenne
IA see. The government phosphate lands a
confined to Wyoming, Utah and Florio
= Prior to March A 1909. there were 4,oo.'
"a acres withdrawn from agricultural ent
a In the ground that the land covered pho
!. phate rock. Since that time. 2,322.UO acr
Of the land thus withdrawn was fou
A. not to contain phosphate in proftat
= Quantities, while 1,67s. 900 acres was elias
"a fed properly as phosphate lands. Duri
"a this administration there has been wit
IA drawn and classified 437,0 acres, so tr
-, today there is classified as phosphate 70
-. land 2.115. 900 acres. This rock is mt
m Important in the composition of ferul1zt
ID to improve the soil, and as the future
certain to create an enormous dema
throughout this country for fertilizati'
the value to the public Of such depos
as these can hardly be exaggerated. q
70 tainly with respect to these deposits
% careful policy Of conservation should
followed. A law that would provide
I'D leasing system for the phosphate dep
"a its, together with a provision for the 81
aration of the surface and mineral rig
as is already provided for in the case
-, coal would seem to meet the need