Semi-weekly herald., 1910-12-22
TAFT ON COAL LANDS.

GTeSluenL lalt ldNOTS d leasing Ol
the coal lands of the country. the ma
jority of which lie in the western
states, Colorado having big share of
undeveloped coal lands.
Leasing may be all right when prop.
erly carried on and restricted, but
there are some who find fault wi.l' 1t.
The main objection to leasing is made
by those who fear the leasing may be
made with favoritism to large cor
rorations and to the exclusion OF the
smaller independent dealers. Tie
same may be said of the system of
selling coal lands, the main objection
to the sale being that the whole Kat
ter is left to the discretion Of the
Sc cretary of the interior who has "the
power to fx a maximum price and
to sell at that price" He can make
the price prohibitive.
The whole matter SINNERS down to
the question of state control OF our
natural resources. The West oelicves
il can take care of its own resources,
and can conserve the best interests
of the people at close range better
than they can be managed by bureau
| at Washington.
One thing Is certain. The West
does not want TO see its great natural
resources withdrawn from entry and
development, and the prosperity of
this great country retarded for the
purpose of conserving our resources
for generations yet to be born. Nor
do we want to see small western con-
Germs excluded from their priority
rights to our coal and other resources
and have them turned over TO large
eastern corporations
President Taft in his annual mes
sage in speaking OF the coal question
says:
Csal Lands.
THE next subject, and one most I'm
pertant for your consideration, Il the
disposition Of the coal lands in the
United States and Alaska. At the be-
unning Of this administration there
we're withdrawn from entry for pur-
,ssss Of classification 1885,, 900 acres.
Since that time there have been With
lrawn BY my order from entry for
classification 7s.s77.7l5 acres. making
total withdrawal Of e6.s44,7Ab aorsS.
Meantime Of the acres thus viii,
lrawn 1.os1.S have been olassifsd
md found not to contain. coal and
ave been restored to agriculturaI an.
~, and 4.72e.091 acres have besn
classified a. ceal lands; while 1893 .2aS
.ores remain withdrawn from entry
md await classification. In additten
900 acres have been classified =.
oal lands without prior withdrawal
hus increasing the classified on.i
ands to 1o,42s.372 acres.
Under the laws providing for the
hsposd OF coal lands in tho UnitsA
Itatsa. TIE minimum price It vhaoA 1
Lands are permitted to be sold b S1o
an acre: but the secretary OF the In
terror has the power to fix maximum
price and to sell at that price.
AS one-third OF all the coal supply
II held by the government, 1t seems
wise that It should retain such con-
troll over the mining and the sale a.
the relation Of lessor to lessee fur
nlshes.
The secretary Of the interior thinks
there are difficulties In the way of
leasing public coal lands, which OBJ
1ecdons he has set forth In bis re-
port, the force Of which freely con-
oede. l entirely approve his stating
At length In his report of the objec-
tions In order that the whole subject
may bs presented to congress. but
aftsr full consideration, for the rsa-
sons have given above. l favor at
AeasinS system and recommend II"