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

/ ithtiy ny mummy entTynen IN Tue IN
terest of one individual or corporation
or because of agreements made prior
to location between the applicants to
cooperate In developing the lands.
There are thirty-three claims for 160
acres each. known as the Cunning
ham claims" which are claimed TO be
valid on the ground that they were
made by an attorney for thirty three
different and bona fide claimants, who,
as alleged. paid their money and took
the proper steps to locate their entries
aud protect them.
The representatives Of the govern
ment In the hearings before the land
office have attacked the validity Of
these Cunningham claims on the
ground that prior 70 their location
there was an understanding between
the claimants to pool their claims after
they had been perfected and unite
them In one company. The trend OF
decision seems to show that such an
agreement would invalldate the claims,
although under the subsequent law Of
May %. 1908 the consolidation OF such
claims was permitted. after location
and entry. In tracts Of 1850 acres.
IL would be, Of course. improper for
me TO intimate what the result OF the
issue as to the Cunningham and other
Alaska claims Is likely to be, but II
ought to be distinctly understood that
no private claims for Alaska coal lands
have as yet been allowed or perfected
and also that whatever the result as to
pending claims the existing coal land
laws Of Alaska are most unsatisfac-
tory and should be radically amended
Oil and Gao Lands.
In the last administration there were
withdrawn from agricultural entry
10000 acres of supposed oil land in
California. about 100000 acres In
Louisiana. OF which only 6.50o acres
were known to be vacant unappropri-
ated land: $4,000 acres In Oregon and
$4,000 acres In Wyoming. making a
total of nearly 100000 acres.
In September. 1909. directed that
all public oil lands, whether then with
drawn or not. should be withheld from
disposition pending congressional nc
ton for the reason that the existing
placer mining law. although made APP
plicable TO deposits of this character,
Is not suitable to such lands and for
the further reason that Il seemed de-
sirable 10 reserve certain fuel oil de-
posits for the use OF the American
navy.
Accordingly the form of all existing
Withdrawals was changed. and new
Withdrawals aggregating 2.75o.ooO
acres were made In Arizona. Califor-
MIA. Colorado. New Mexico. Utah and
Wyoming. Field examinations during
the year showed that of the original
Withdrawals 2.170oo0 acres were not
valuable for OIL. and they were re
stored for agricultural entry. Mean
time other Withdrawals of public oil
lands In these states were made. 30
that July 1. 1910. the outstanding with
drawals then amounted TO 100000
acres.
Oil For Navy.
The principal underlying feature of
such legislation should be the exercise
Of beneficial control rather than the
collection Of revenue. As not only the
largest owner of oil lands, but as n
prospective large consumer of oil by
reason OF the increasing use OF fuel oil
by the navy. the federal government
Is directly concerned both In encourag-
ing rational development and at the
same time insuring the longest pos
sible life TO the oil supply.
The royalty rates fixed by the gov
eminent should neither exceed nor fall
below the current rates. But much
more important than revenue Il the
enforcement OF regulations to conserve
the public interest so that the cove
nants OF the lessees shall specifically
safeguard oil fields against the penal
ties from careless drillings and Of
production In excess of transportation
facilities or Of market requirements.
One Of the difficulties presented. es-
pecially In the California fields, Is that
the Southern Pacific railroad owns
every other section OF land In the oil
fields. and In those fields the oil seems
to be In common reservoir or series
Of reservoirs communicating through
the oil sands. 30 that the excessive
draining of oil at one well or on the
territory generally would ex-
haust the OFF in the government land;
hence It Is important that IL the gov
eminent is to have fits share Of the OIL
L should begin the opening and devel-
opment Of wells on its own property.
In view of the Joint ownership |
which the government and the adJoin-
ing landowners like the Southern Pa |
life railroad have In the OIL reservoirs /
below the surface. II Is a most inter
sitting and intricate question. dif,lcult
II solution, but one which ought TO adj
iress itself at once TO the state law
makers how far the state legislature
night impose appropriate restrictions
o secure an equitable enjoyment Of |
he common reservoir and to prevent
waste and excessive drainage by the
'arious owners having access TO this
eservoir.
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