The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-07

mems bank be recognized and paid by
the passage Of the pending bill - hat
subject
Negro Exposition.
I also renew my recommendation
| that steps be taken looking to the bold
ing Of 4 regro exposition in celebra-
ton Of the fftieth anniversary Of the
issuing by Mr.. Lincoln Of the emanci-
pa tion 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 20
per cent OF all the timberlands Of the
government. Within these forests Un
Guiding 26 OOO, 900 acres in two forests
In AIsska, are 1872 O0O. 900 acres, Of
which l68,OOO.0OO acres are In the
rnited States proper and include with
Ia their boundaries something ike 70
ts,o 900 acres that belong to the states
or 70 private individuals. We have.
then. excluding Alaska forests. 4 total
Of about $4,000. 900 acres Of forests
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-. I am informed by
the department OF agriculture that the
government owns other tracts Of tim
berland In these states which should
De 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tation herein imposed be repealed.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 5,476o 600 acres.
: and there were withdra wn from entry
for purposes Of classification 1887 600
acres. Since that time there have been
withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 1927, 745 acres, max
ing a total withdrawal Of 1854, 745
acres. Meantime Of the acres thus
withdrawn 1OO61 ,e69 have been classi-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-
siied as coal lands, while 1908 .239
acres remain withdrawn from entry
and await classification. In addition
1877 900 acres have been classified as
coal lands without prior withdrawal.
thus increasing the classified coal lands
to 10, 429.372 acres.
The question as to how great an
area ought to be included in q 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 net be too
great a maximum. The leases should
only. be granted after advertisement
and public competition.
The secretary Of tho interior tAinks
there are difficulties in the way Of
leasing public coal lands. I entirely
approved his stating at length IN his
report the objections in order that the
!. whole subject may be presented to
! congress, but after q fun consideration
favor a leasing system and recon-
|. mend It.
The needed oil and gas law 10 essen
TALLY 4 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 b Sc
cured only after they reach the sur.
face. Oil should be disposed Of a. a
commodity in terms Of barrels Of
transportable product rather than in
acres Of real estate.
Water Power Raees.
. The water power sites subject n enc
that calls for new legislation. It has
r been thought that there was danger
| Of combination to obtain possession Of
: all the power sites and to unite them
> under one control. Whatever the evi-
, dence Of this or lack of 1t. at present
t we have had enough experience to
3 know that combination would be prof
t table. and the control Of a great mum
. Der Of power sites would enable the
holders or owners to raise the price
: Of power at will within certlin sec.
: tons. and the temptation would
promptly attract investors, an. the
danger Of monopoly and extortlon
would not be q remote one.
However this may be, 1t is the plain
duty Of the government to see to II
+ that in the utilization and develop
ment OF all this immense amount Of
: water power conditions shall be i'm
! posed that will prevent extortionate
| charQpS which q ro TIA ,,o,,oY ~>>~-