The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-06

no private claims for Alaska coal
lands have as yet been allowed or per-
fected, and also that whatever the re-
suit as to pending claims. the existing
coal land laws OF Alaska are most un-
satisfactory and should be radicany
price of the land IL fiat rate OF $40
the estimate of the agent OF the geo
maximum OF value to $500 an acre. In
my Judgment II is essential In the
proper development OF Alaska Alaska, tna maj
these coal lands should be opened ana
that the Pacific slope should be gwen
the benefit Of the comparatively cheap
coal OF fine quality which can be FUR
nlshed at a reasonable price from these
eminent. ought certainly to retain
wise control and interest in these coal
deposits, and I think IL may DO so
s srsni,ns Of scnf leases as already sus
gested Tor government coal lands In
the United States. with provisions Tor
bidding the transfer OF the leases seek. en-
ment, thus preventing their acquisi.
ton by q comb nation or monopoly and
upon limitations as TO the area 70 pe
viduai, and at certain moderate rem.
tai, with royalties upon the coai mineo
mined proportional to the market vaiue
e. sns SSai e' OF course such leases
should contain conditions requiring the
erection of proper plants, the proper
DDS OF the properties leased, and the
use OF every known and practical
means and device for saving the lives
The government OF the United States
has much to answer for In not having
given proper attention TO the govern
ment OF Alaska and the development!
the people of the country. ! would not
force development at the expense OF
present or future waste OF d resSSTses;
o OF the ins S coSi lands for present and
future waste OF resources: but the
problem as to the disposition OF the
coal lands %.e for aPPa ssfsy n seted IN
session II congress gives careiui
attention.
. In the last administration there were
withdrawn from agricultural entry r.
$40. 900 acres OF supposed oil land In
California; about a million ana natI
acres in Louisiana, OF which only
vinau land; $4,000 acres in
making a total Of nearly four millions
ed that ali public oil lands, whether
then withdrawn or not. should be with
held from disposition pending congress
sional action, for the reason .nat ,nS
made applicable to deposits OF this
character. is not suitable to such lands,
and for the further reason tnat ~
f fuenen deposits for the use Of the
American navy. Accordingly the form
81 ali existing Withdrawals was
changed snd o6 new acTss weye made In
Mexico. Utah, and Wyoming. Field ex.
arninations during the year snowe'
I'D 600 acres were not valuable for oil:
and they were restored for agriculturai
entry. Meantime. other withdrawals OF
made. so that July 1, 1910. the out.
standing Withdrawals then amounted
TO 4,5BO, 900 acres.
The needed oil and gas law is essen;
Occurrences, off and gas can not be
m eas,lred In terms of acres, like coal.
and II follows that exclusive titie 70
oniy after they reach the surface. OH
should be disposed OF as COMMODITY
in terms of barrels OF transportable
estate. This is, OF course. the reason
f of the hns i leasing system wherever oil
LAND Is IN R,iyat Would noe be ENTERING
on an experiment. but simply putting
into effect a plan successfully oper..
atsd In private contracts why snoulo
deal directly with the oil producer
rather than through the Intervention
Of q miidddleW,,a~3 W ,hs 1an the govern
The statute OF 1891 with it's amend
ments permits the secretary OF the In
terror to grant perpetual easements or
ri ghts of way from water sources over
public lands for the primary. purpose
OF irrigation and such electrical cur
rent as may be incidentally developed
but no grant can be made under this
statute TO concerns whose primary pur-
pose is generating and handling cleo
tricity. The statute OF 1901 authorizes
the secretary of the interior to issue
revocabie permits over the public lands
statute Is woefully inadequate because
II does not authorize the collection OF
charge or IKE a term or years. Cap
ital II slow TO invest In an enterprise
The subject Is one that calls for new
legislation. II has been thought that
there was danger OF combination to OBJ
tain possession OF all the power sites
and to unite them under one control.
Whatever the evidence OF this, or lack
experience TO know that combination
would be profitable, and the control OF
a great number OF power sites would
enable the holders or owners to raise
tain sections; and the temptation
would promptly attract Investors. and
the danger OF monopoly would not be
a remote one.
However this may be. IL L. the plain
duty of the government TO see TO *
that in the utilization and development
OF all this immense amount OF water
power, conditions shall he imposed that
will prevent monopoly and will pre-
vent extortionate charges, which are
the accompa niment OF monopoly.
AT the risk Of wearying my audience