Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-25
MONDELL ON COAL LANDS
Wyoming Congressman Criticises Pol
icy Of Interior Department.
LETTER TO SECRETARY FISHER
Charges that High Prices Asked Are
Not Legal and that People of
West Must Pay Too Much
for Coal.
CFrom q staft correspondentl

From a staff Correspondent)
WASHINGTON June 4-tSpecisl.)-The
following is a copy of a letter which Con-
gressmsn Mondell of Wyoming addressed
to Secretary Fisher on the status Of coal
lands Of the United States:
Hon. Walter L. Fisher. Secretary Of the
Interior.-Sir Prior TO 1873 the public coal
lands of the Unased States were disposed
Of without taking into consideration the
question as to whether or not they con-
tanned coal, and therefore all the lands con-
tanning anthracite ard bituminous coal in
/ Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky.
Maryland. Michigan Missouri. Ohio, Penn
sylvania. Tennessee. Virginia and West
Virginia and most OF such lands in Ala
bama, passed into private ownership as
4 agricultural lands and at nominal prices.
In 1878 congress passed the coal land
law. providing for the sale Of coal lands az
not less than so per acre where such lands
were more than fifteen miles from a com
pleted railroad and not less than so per
acre for such lands as were within fifteen
miles Of railroad. and from that time until
1907 coal lands were sold at the prices
named in the law.
In 1907 the policy of considering the price
OF $40 and so per acre fixed By law the
| price OF Selling coal ldnOE
at a classified price in excess of the mini
mum was adopted. For time the classified
prices were not generally greatly in excess
of the minimum prices. but gradually those
prices have been increased by reclsssifica-
tion lin some cases the same lands have
been classified three times) and by higher
original classifications until. according to
a statement made by the director of the
geological survey. the classification of IA
fI369 acres, made prior TO March 81 1911
had raised the valuation OF these lands from
S2S6.4 Gls, under the minimum prices fixed
by law. TO S6ss. 4SS.s42 under classification.
Many Valuations Exceedingly High.
The mere statement of an increase in
valuation to nearly three times that fixed
BY the statute does not. however. give an
adequate idea Of the actual conditions in
the fields where coal is being mined for
IN such localities the classified price is
from ten to twenty-five times the statute
price. The comparatively low average in
crease in valuation is due TO the fact that
much of the land which has been classified
contains. or IT is believed TO contain, thin
veins or deposits OF low grade Ignite coal
having no present market value and not
salable at any price as coal land These
lands have largely been classified at or
near the minimum price. thus keeping down
kthe general average. on the other hand IN
all OF the fields where the coal is OF suffi-
4 ciently high grade to be workable or is being
worked. the prices even for lands far from
means of transportation have been in
creased from the minimum fixed by law to
from $50 to 500 per acre
| Whatever ones views may be as TO the
proper Interpretation OF the coal land law
and therefore, as TO authority of executive
officers TO fix prices above those contained
In the statute. there is much force in the
argument that the value of coal-bearinK
land differs so widely and the temptation
to large holdings. particularly in fields Of
exceptional quality. is so great that a
graduated price rather than fiat rate is
the better from the standpoint OF public
policy However, IL has never been the
policy Of the government 20 attempt TO Sc
cure an exorbitant price for it's lands by
creating land monopoly. It would seem
logical that under q system of valuation
the price should be fixed with a view OF
discouraging the acquisition OF lands for
speculative purposes. rather than with the
intent of capitslizing the necessities Of
citizens who must have coal OF which the
government has a monopoly.
Earlier Prices Not Excessive.
The first prices fixed under classifIca-
ton were in the main not excessive, though
quite high enough to discourage purchase
except with a view OF immediate develop
ment. and therefore though the policy in
volved q questionable exercise OF executive
authority, there was a general disposition
In the country affected 10 withhold cfiti-
eism and give the new policy a fair trial.
The reclassifications and increased valua-
tions. however. have placed coal lands at
such prohibitive figures and contemplate
such a serious burden on western COM
munities that the people Of the public coal
land states have become thoroughly
aroused over the situation. and as the
representative OF the people Of one Of the
states whose citizens are suffering and
are certain to suffer more from the effect
Of the present policy ] feel Il my duty 10
call these matters 10 your attention, in
the hope that the present policy may be
radically modified.
The valuations which have been fixed
on public coal lands in Wyoming. Colorado.
Montana, Utah. New Mexico and other
western states are. in my opinion. 30 be-
yond all reason and justification that I
find IL difficult 20 discuss the subject in
an entirely dispassionate and respectful
way. for 10 characterize the policy and
procedure which has been pursued In what
believe 20 be a hitting manner would re-
quire the use OF language more foroefuI
ana pointed than I care 10 use In a com
munieation OF this character. II the situa-