Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-06

FIRST, tnat the limitation now l!H-
liQsea upon the executive which for
Oregon, Wash'nGton, Idaho, MontaiSl,
colorado and Wyoming, be repealed.
COAL DEPOSITS.
Second. that the coal deposits OF the
government be leased after ADVERTISE
!nent inviting competitive bids. for
terms not exceeding so years, with a
minimum .NniaI and royalties upon the
coal mined 20 ne readjusted every 10
or L. yc0i t..t with conditions as to
.naintenanca h.ch win secure proper
mining and us to assignment which will
prevent combinations to monopolze
control OF the coal in any one. district
or market ] do not think that coal meas
ures under $500 acres of surface would
be too large an amount to lease TO any
one lessee.
PHOSPHATE LANDS.
Third, that the law should provide the
same separation in respect to govern
nent phosphate lands of surface and
mineral rights that now obtains in coal
lands, ana that power to lease such
lands upon terms and limitations SIM
liar tc those above recommended TOR
coal leases, with an added condition
enabling the government to regulate
and If need be, to prohibit, the export
to foreign countries of the product.
OIL PROSPECTING.
Fourth. that the law should allow a
prospector for oil or gas to have the
right to prospect for two years over q
certain tract of government land, the
right to be evidenced by license for
which he shall pay Il small sum, and
that upon discovery. lease may be
granted upon terms securing q mini
mum rental and proper royalties to tie
government and also the conduct of the
oil or gas well in accord with the best
method for outstanding the supply OF
oil In the district. The period Of the
leases should not be as long as those
OF coal, hut they should contain similar
provisions rs to assignment SO as to
prevent monopolistic combinations.
WATER POWER SITES.
Fifth. that water power sites be
directly leased by the federal govern
ment. after advertisement and bidding,
for not exceeding so years upon prop
er rental and with condition fixing
dates charged to the public for units
of electric power both rental and rates
to be readjusted equitably every 10
years by arbitration or otherwise. with
suitable provisions against assignment
to prevent monopoilstic combinations.
Or that the law shall provide that upon
application made by the authorities OF
the state where the water power site is
situated, 1t may be. patented to the state
on condition that the state shall dispose
of 1t under terms like those just de-
scribed and shall enforce those terms,
or upon failure to comply with the con-
ditions the water power site and all the
plant and Improvement on the site shall
be forfeited and revert to the United
States, the president being given the
power to declare the forfeiture ana to
direct legal proceedings for its en-
forcement. Either of these methods
would I think. accomplish the proper
public purpose In respect to water
power sites. but one or the other should
be promptly adopted.
CONSERVATION LEGISLATION.
l earnestly urge upon Congress that
at this session general conservation leg
islation OF the character indicated be
adopted. At Its last session this Con-
gress took most useful aud proper steps
in the cause of conservation by allow
ing the executive, through withdraw-
ais, to suspend the action of the exist
ing laws In respect to much of the pub
lie domain. I have not thought that
the danger of disposng of coal lands
in the United States under the present
laws In large quantities was so great
as to call for their withdrawal because
under the present provisions it 10
reasonably certain that the government
will receive the real value of the land.
But, in respect to OF! lands, or pho.;-
plate lands, and of gas lands in the
United States, and in respect to coal
lands in Alaska. I have exercised the
full power OF withdrawal with the hope
that the action of Congress would fol-
low promptly and prevent that tying
up of the resources of the country in
the western and less sparsely settled
portions and In Alaska, which means
stagnation and retrogression.
The question of conservation Is not .
partisan one. and sincerely hope that
even in the short time OF the present
session consideration may be given to
those questions which have now been
much discussed, and that action may be
taken upon them.
ALASKA.