The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-20
LAND IS SAVED
FOR P05TER|TY.
Geological Survey Keeps an
Empire of Mineral Ground
From Entry.
UNCLE SAM GREAT
COAL LAND OWNER
PhosphateS, Oils, Coal and
Water Power Sites Have
Been Tied Up.

Over seventy million acres OF coal land
In the west is still owned by Uncle sam
The coal content of this land is enor-
nous: IL can be figured only III nun
dreds OF billions of tons. Some tracts
are Of immense value, containing beds oil
coal OF the highest grade, 80, 80. SO and
even so feet or more in thickness. The
old way was to sell the coal land. re-
gardless OF value, at the absurd figure
OF $40 an acre il il was more than M
teen miles from n railroad, or at S2O n
within that limit. The present way Is
10 measure the coal In an acre and sell
the land at A price determined by lts
content of coal. AS a result coal land
has been priced as high as SiOO an acre.
and one tract at even $500 acre. Since
March 4. 1909. the geological survey mas
classified, by 30-acre tracts. S52' 'leo
acres of the government coal lands. AL "A
total valuation OF $3.50. ST. ,oSl. lnclnd-
ing the work done under the last admin
istration total Of 13,4So,53S acres has
valuation OF S6SI. AIS, Al the $40 10
$50 minimum rate these lands would
have a valuation OF S2lS,2S9.0a2, SO that
the work done has resulted in a gain 10
the government OF nearly $42o, ,ooo.o 900 1t
may be noted that the proceeds OF coal
land sales are all deposited To the credit
OF the reclamation fund'-the fund that
paws for the construction OF the govern
ment's vast water-storage projects.
Government Appraisal Is Accepted
The work involved In the classification
and valuation OF the nations coal tieids
is immense and the scheme under which
il has been worked out is remarkably ac-
curate and scientific. The best evidence
OF its accuracy Is the ready acceptance
of the estimates and valuations by pur1
chasers OF coal lands and the fact that
the geological survey is constantly re-
ceiving applications and petitions for the
classification Of coal lands.
AS result OF geologic field eNamina-
mi n = "A
drawn 62.1i0.54S acres of probable coal
land and restored 10 agricultural entry
has been Withdrawn from entry pending
the geological surveys determination or
its character. single Montana with
drawaI, made last July, included Eo,2os,I
In this area is almost incredibly great.
4 single f0-aCre tract for example. con-
tains over two and half million Tons
of coal The present outstanding with
dra walls awaiting geologic classification
aggregate so o07.sSS acres.
Large Withdrawals of Oil Land
Another public fuel resource in the
conservation of which the administra-
ton is taking an, active interest is oil
Many OF the public land states are un-
dcrlain by deposits OF petroleum. with
which natural gas is frequently asso-
ciated, TWO years ago the geological!
servation commission that the oil con-
tained in the California deposits alone
amounted to eight and half billion bar
rels. and this estimate Is now declared
TO he moderate. Careful geologic eX-
animation has been made of the western
oil fields. and 3,I9e.5l2 acres of public
try in California, Oregon. Wyoming. Utah.
New Mexico, Colorado and Louisiana.
These Withdrawals are made in aid Of
proposed legislation. for the present gold
placer law under which oil or gas land
must he acquired is absurdly inadequate
and provides no means by which the
government can retain an oil supply, for
the navy. every new ship OF which is
now equipped with oil burning furnaces,
Withdrawals of water-power sites on
public lands by the geological survey in
thousands OF sites. The Withdrawals
made during the last two years cover
ISL streams In twelve states and aggre-
gate | :403 05i acres.
Discoveries of Phosphate Beds.
Even the classification of agricultural
land In the west has devolyed upon the
geological survey. which during the last
two years has designated 1s6.005S5S acres
as nonlrrigable and thus subject 10 en-
try under the enlarged homestead act.
The geological survey has contributed
most notably. to the farming interests
In connection with the discovery and
classification Of phosphate lands. Phos-
potash The -'orld's supply of phosphate
is small, but fortunately the largest
known deposits have been recently dis
covered In the publicland states OF this
country As the result OF careful geologic
examination 2,5IS.145 acres OF phosphate
land are now withdrawn from entry
awaiting legislation TO safeguard them
from monopoly. and another area recent
ly discovered to be undcrain with this
mineral resource Will soon be withdra wn.
These lands include several areas dis
covered by survey geologists. The lands
Withdrawn are in Montana. Utah. Idaho.
Wyoming and Florida,
Mineral Land Now Withdrawn.
The areas OF public mineral lands OF
all kinds now Withdrawn are given be-
low. in acres
Coal ...,....,...,....,.... so 007, ,6SS
OIL and gas ........,-,<....,.,. 3.T96.572
Water power .......,.,.,...-,.. ,i03, ,054
Phosphate .-.........,.,..s,.,.. 2,54S. .145