The Mena weekly star., 1910-01-20

the natural resources in fuel supply in forests in water power and in other public utilities. must be saved from waste. monopoly. and other abuses and the general public is in accord with this proposition. as they are with most truisms. The problem, however is how to save and how to utilize, how to con serve and still develop, for no sane per
 ,4, eaA contend that it IS tor the com mon good that natures blessings are only for unborn generations.
 Noteworthy Reforms.
 Among the most noteworthy reforms
 initiated by my distinguished predecessor were the vigorous prosecution of land frauds and the bringing 10 public atten- ion of the necessity for preserving the remaining public domain from further spollation. for the maintenance and ex- tension of our forest resources. and for the enactment of laws amending the ob- solete statutes so as to retain govern mental control over that part Of the pub lie domain in which there arc valuable deposits Of coal. of oil. and of phosphate and. In addition thereto, to preserve con trol, under conditions favorable to the public. of the lands along the streams fin which tho fall Of water can be made to generate power to be transmitted in the form of electricity many miles to the point of It's use, known as water power sites.
 The Investigations into violations of the public land laws and the prosecution ot land frauds have been vigorously con tinued under my administration. as has been the withdrawal of coal lands for classification and valuation and the tenn porary withholding of power sites. Since march 4, ia09 temporary withdrawals os lower sites have been made on fa dreams and these withdrawals therefore ,aver z2s per cent more streams than were covered by the withdrawals made ,rIor to that date.
 The present statutes. except so far IS they dispose of the precious metals ind the purely agricultural lands. are not adapted to carry out the modern Flew of the best disposition of public ands to private ownership. under con itions offering on the one hand suffi- ,tent fnducement to private capital to take them over for proper develop nent with restrictive conditions on the other which shall secure to the public that character of control which will prevent monopoly or misuse of Inc lands or their products. The power If the secretary of the interior to with 1raw from the operation of existing tracts of land. the disposition lf which under such statutes would be detrimental to the public interests, Is not clear or satisfactory. This power has been exercised In the interest of Inc public. with the hope that congress might affirm the action of the execu- | live by laws adapted to the new condi- | Hons. Unfortunately. congress has not | hus far fully acted on the recommen- | iations of the executive. and the Ques- | Hon as to what the executive is to | 10 is under the circumstances full or | If seems to me that it is he duty of congress now, by statute, o validate the withdrawals which | nave heen made by the secretary of the | interior and the president and to use he secretary of the Interior temporar- ly to withdraw lands pending submis- lion to congress of recommendation as o legislation to meet conditions or as they arise.
 Properly to Classify Lands.
 One of the most pressing needs in he matter of public-land reform is hat lands should be classified accord ng to their principal value use. This | ught to be done by that or depa rtment whose force is best adapted to that york. It should be done by the inter- or department through the geological urvey Much of confusion. fraud, and | ontention which has existed in the |
  n official md determtnative classif- | ation of the public lands and their ontents.
 IL is now proposed to dispose of az | icuitural lands as such and ct the | anne time tp reserve for other disposi- | ion the treasure of coal. oil. ashphal- | um natural gas and phosphate con | aimed therein This may be best ac- 1 omplshed by separating the right l f.z tz fr s.rsfa giving the necessary use of so much of he latter as may be required for the extraction of the deposits. The sur lace might be disposed of as agricul- urai land under the general agricui- ural statutes, while the coal or other mineral could be disposed of by lease 'n royalty basis, with the provisions eduiring certain amount of develop nent each year: and in order to pre- fent the use and cession of said lands with others of similar character so as o constitute a monopoly forbidden by aw, the lease should contain suitable provision subjecting to forfeiture the interest of persons participating In uch monopoly. Such law should ap- fly to Alaska as well as to the United ,tates.
 Statute Difficult to Frame.
 It is exceedingly difficult to frame statute to retain government control ,ver property to be developed by private capital in such a manner as Q secure the governmental purpose md at the same time not frighten way the investment of the necessary 'apitai Hence. 1t may be necessary " laws that are really only exper- mental to determine from their prac- icai operation what is the best method of securing the result aimed at
 The extent of the value of phosphate g hardly realized. and with the need hat there will be for it as the years 'oll on and the necessity for fertiliz- ng the land shall become more acute his will be a product which will prob- .bly attract the greed of monopolists.
 Public Land Along Streams.
 With respect to the public land which lies along the streams offering opportunity to convert water power nto transmissible electricity. another important phase of the public land question is presented There are val iabie water power sites through all he public land states. The opinion s held that the transfer of sovereignty rom the federal government to the territorial governments as they become states. included the water power In Ihe rivers except so far as that owned by riparian proprietors. l do not think 1t necessary to go into discussion of this somewhat mooted question of