The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-09

Alaska Goal Gases.
All the coal lands in Alaska not To-
Gated prior to November l2. 1906. arc
under the bond Of Withdrawals. Those
located prior TO said date arc Tor the
most part under departmental investi-
cation on charges Of fraud or irregu-
lartics, etc.
In view of such conditions ! deem 1t
of the highest Importance that all these
Cunningham cases. involving thirty,
three entries, or $3.50 acres of coal
lands, be transferred from the jurlsdlc-
tion OF the general land Office directly
to the court of appeals of the District
of Columbia for consideration,
Leasing Coal Lands,
The secretary calls attention to the
importance of enactinG legislation
which would give thc department an ef.
fcctlve method of disposition Of coal
lands, especially in Alaska.
The on-land Withdrawals now out
standing, including some private lands
within the exterior limits, aggregate
within the states and territories of Ari-
zona, California, Colorado. Louisiana,
New Mexico. Oregon, Idaho and Wyo-
ming.
Leasing Oil Lands.
am in favor Of general leasing
system of oil and gas bearing lands,
such system as will promote leglt-
imato development of this industry,
prevent monopoly, and conserve one of
the great natural resources of the coun-
try,
] recommend that the government
adopt liberal policy ID opening the
oil lands in California In my ludg-
ment this can be accomplished if the
state of California should declare the
consumption of oil public use.
Water Powers.
There is now withdra wu from disposi
tlon, pending legislation concerning wa.
ter power sites, approximately l.450,-
200 acres of the public domain.
In the various public land states and
territories containing water power re,
sources, in so far as there is present
market for those powers, tho title 60
naming in the government has long
since passed into private ownership, and
1T must be realized that any radical
OF burdcnsonc restriction imposed by
the federal government upon this re-
source will operate AS a servltudc on
The public lands and discourage their
development and use.
/ earnestly advise the adoption OF
some legislation which will in any
event IttdlD IHt Ice IlIIG To lHt IdHuS
in the people and cf1octually vest tho
power of regulation and control in the
state or i'm the federal government, and
which will not result in limiting prompt
and economical development or permit
monopolization or eStoriiou.
Legislation Recommended.
Other recommendation for amend
ments to existing laws or for enactment
OF new laws are az follows.
Amendment of existing desert land
laws so as to limit the maximum OF
area which may be entered TO 100 acres;
to extend the time within which final
proof may be made TO seven years, but
impose the additional condition OF ac-
tual cultivation Of not less than ono
half the irrigable area of The entry
for period of not less than threo
years prior to final proof.
Repeal of the commutation provi-
sions of the homestead law, or. if this
be deemed inadvisabe. modi ication of
the present laws so as to require two
years. actual residence, cultivation and
improvement rs prerequisite to com
mutation. Also provide that no patent
shall issue under any commuted homo.
stead entry hereafter made. except to
citizens of the United States.
Legislation requiring notices Of min
ing lptdIlonS 10 bS TStDTueu III InN bl
Eco of the register and receiver of the
land districts; requiring fual payment
aud entry for mineral claims TO be
made within seven years from date of
location, exclusive of any time covered
by pending adverse or contest proceed
ings; and notifications Of the placer
mineral laws so as to provide that no
placer location hereafter made, wheth.
or by one or more persons, or an asSo-
citation of persons, shall exceed forty
acres In area.
That the act of March 3. 1875, be
amended so as to specifically provide
that no railroad construction work shall
be permitted upon the public lands,
either surveyed or unsurveyed, until APP
pllcatiop therefor shall have been APP
proved by the secretary OF the inter
ior; that he be authorized TO disap-
prove the application or to require APP
propriate stipulat,ons as condition
precedent to the approval of the appli-
cation when in his Judgment the public
interests so require.
Legislation making it criminal of
fense to hunt, kill or destroy game at
anv season of the year in any national
park, natl onal monument, or game pre-
serve; legislation giving police jurisdic-
tion i'm national parks TO United States
commissioners, and legislation amend
ing section 55 OF the penal code of the
United-States (55 Stat. l., 1908, and
SO Stat L., $50. so as 10 insert therein
after the words ''public domain the
words. "national parks, national monu.
mcnts, and other reservations. -
Appeals in Land Cases.
There is now pending in congress
house bill No. 270Tl, which. if passed
will authorize an appeal from the final
decision Of tho department of the in
terror in land cases TO the court OF ap-
pesls in the District of Columbia.
earnestly recommend the early enact.
ment of this bill into law.
In order TO simplify and expedite
the work Of the department in handling
public land cases the old practice OF
permitting numerous reviews and re-
reviews of the decisions Of the com
missioner of the general land Office
and of the secretary of the interior has
been abolished by amended rules of
practice, requiring that the decision OF
the commissioner shall he final and ap-
pealable direct TO the secretary, aud