The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-12-08

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government work done on government
soil and government work done In
private establishment.
Workmen's Compensation.
In view of the keen, widespread H.
terest now felt in the United States In
q system of compensation for indus
trial accidents to supplant our present
thoroughly unsatisfactory system OF
employers liability "a subject the iD~
portance of which congress has at
ready recognized by the appointment
of Il commission), ! recommend that
the international congress on indus
trial insurance be invited to hold It's
meeting in 1913 in Washington and
that an appropriation Of $4,000 be
made to cover the necessary expenses
of organizing and carrying on the
meeting.
Safety Appliances and Provisions.
The protection Of railroad employees
from personal injury Is subject OF
the highest Importance and demands
continuing attention.
negro Exposition.
also renew my recommends ton
that steps be taken looking to the hold
ing of a negro exposition in celebra-
ton of the fitch anniversary of the
issuing by Mr.. Lincoln Of the emanci-
patton proclamation.
Conservation.
Nothing can be more important in
the matter Of conservation than the
treatment Of our forest lands. Speak
ing generally, the government has re-
served of the existing forests about 70
per cent of all the timberlands of the
government Within these forests Tin
Guiding 26,000.00O acres in two forests
in Alaska) are 192OOO,000 acres, OF
which 166,OOO,000 acres are in the
United States proper and include with
in their boundaries something like 22,-
100000 acres that belong to the states
or to private individuals. We have,
then, excluding Alaska forests, total
Of about 144,OOO,OOO acres of forests
belonging to the government which
are being treated in accord with the
principles of scientific forestry.
The law now prohibits the reserva-
ton of any more forest lands in Ore
gon, Washington, Idaho, Montana.
Colorado and Wyoming except by
act of congress. l am Informed by
the department Of agriculture that the
government owns other tracts of tim
cto oh
be included in the forest reserves l
recommend to congress that the limi-
tation herein imposed be repealed. In
the present forest reserves there are
lands which are not properly forest
land and which ought to be subject to
homestead entry.
Coal Lands.
The next subject, and one most i'm
portant for your consideration. is the
disposition Of the coal lands in the
United States and in Alaska. At the
beginning of this administration there
were classified coal lands in the Unit
ed States amounting to 5,476, 900 acres,
and there were withdrawn from entry
acres. Since that time there have been
withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 7S,977,745 acres, max
ing a total withdrawal Of 96,S44, 745
acres. Meantime Of the acres thus
withdrawn 1O,O61 $3.50 have been classi-
fed and found not to contain coal and
have been restored to agricultural en-
try and 4.726,O91 acres have been clas-
sified as coal lands. while 79,903. 239
acres remain withdrawn from entry
and await classification. In addition
337 900 acres have been classified as
coal lands without prior withdrawal.
thus increasing the classified coal lands
to 1O,429,372 acres.
The question as to how great an
area ought to be included in lease to
one individual or corporation is not
free from difficulty, but in view Of the
fact that the government retains con-
troll as owner I think there might be
some liberality in the amount leased
and that $500 acres would not be too
great ma ximum. The leases should
OuAy UC dIlc uNCILlSC"CAN
and public competition.
The secretary OF the interior thinks
there are difficulties in the way Of
leasing public coal lands. entirely
approved his stating at length in his
report the objections in order that the.
whole subject may be presented to-.
congress. but after full consideration.
l favor a leasing system and recon-
mend it.
The needed oil and gas law. is essen.
TALLY leasing law. In their natural
occurrence oil and gas cannot be-.
measured in terms Of acres. like coal,
and it follows that exclusive title to-
these products can normally be Sc,
cured only after they reach the sur.
face. Oil should be disposed Of as a.
commodity in terms Of barrels Of
transportable product rather, than In,
acres Of real estate.
Water Power Rates.
The water power sites subject is one
that calls for new legislation. 1t has