The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-09-08

area % u.uf ncres. which soid Tor fNt.-
81 and down 20 August. 1919. thsrs were
but n e~Efries. With az area % LIN serta.
which sold for tu.si0O. making a aispo-
siiOn % the coal lands IN IN last two
years % about W.0t acres for siSH ~
The present congress. - already said.
has separated the surface % coal lands
either classified or Withdrawn foT eiassi-
ncauon. fr-m the coal bsnsath. - a. 20
permit a. all times homestead entries
upon tho surface Of lands useful for aE-
ricuiture and 90 reserve the ownership
IN The coal 90 the government Ths ques-
Ton which remains ~ BE- considered -
whether ne existing law Tor the sale u
the coal in the ground should continue
IN force or b. nrpnalod and a nee methcd
% diHp0sluon adopted. Under the pressnt
law the absolute title 90 thu coal b.
heath the surface passes - the grantee
of the government The price fixed ~
upon an estimated amount ~ she tons
~ coal per acre beneath the surface. and
the prices are fixed 30 that the earnings
VII only b a reasonable prOdt upon the
amount paid and the Investment necea-
snry But o. course. this IL more o. less
gueEsw0rk. and the government parts
with the ownership Of the coal IN the
ground absolutely Authorities q the re
o~loeieal survey suma that in the
United States today there O. q supply Of
about three thousand billions % tons %
coal end that ~ this ore thou1EEd Billions
are lnihe public domain % course the 9TH
pr two thousand billions are within private
ownership and under no more control no
60 the use or the prices al whJch the
coal may be sold than any other private
property. II the government leases the
coal lands and acts as rny landlord
would. and imposes conditions in ita
leases like those which are now imposed
by the owners in Zee Of coal mines On ths
HA
would retain over the deposition 81 the
coal deposits a choice ss % the assignee
n the lease, or Of resuminE possessiOn az
the end u the term nf the lease. which
might easily be framed 90 enable e. %
exercise a limited but elective control
In tfo disposition and safe % The coal 20
the public. II has been urged that tire
leasing system has never been adopted in
this country. and that is adoption would
largely Interfere with the Investment q
capital and the proper development and
opening up ~ the coal resources. I ven
ture 20 direr entirely from this view.
The question 40 20 how great an ara
ought % be included tn q lease % one
Individual or corporation, is not FREE from
difficulty. but On view Of the tact that
the government retains control as owner.
7 think there might be some hheraity IN
the amount leased and that z.Ao acrsa
would NOT BE- too great a maximum.
By the opportunity 90 reAfiEst the
terms upon which The coal shall be held
by The tenant. either AZ the end n each
lease or az periods during the term. the
government may secure the beneht OF
sharing 90 The increased price or coal and
tte additional profit made by TIE tenant
By imposing conditions in respect 70 the
character ~ work % Be- done IN the
mines, the government may costrol the
character of the development Of the
mines and the treatment ~ ezpioyes win
reference 10 safety. by denying me
right % transfer the lease except by the
written permission % the govvTnmentAi
authorities 81 may withhold the needed
consent whom u &C. proposed % transfer
The laazshUId 20 PERSONS Interested n cs-
Publishing % monopoly o. coal production
iu amy state or ueighborhood The chanEe
from the absolute grant 20 the leasing
system will involve a good eeal Of
trouble iu the outset. and the training Of
experts 90 the matter Of making proper
leases but the chang will be = Fona
one and can De- made. The change is 10
ths iat"rCst % conservation. aud I am
glad O. approve 81