The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1911-11-18

lies the nations greatest coal reserve
estimated at more than a million mil
lion tons of anthracite, bituminous,
and sub-bituminous coal, and from 60
to So per cent of this tonnage is owned
by the United States. This fuel re-
serve is the key to the present and
future development of the Rocky
Mountain region. Utilization of the
water-power resources will be an inn
portant factor locally, and for several
decades fuel oil may be expected to
affect the industrial situation, but so
far as we can foresee coal must be re-
garded as the principal future source
of power
The west needs and has a right to
demand full opportunity for develop
ment, but that does not include the
right to inflict an unearned speculative
tax on the future consumer. The coal
operator may justly ask two things
first, the right to ocupy an area suffi-
ciently large for economic operation,
and, second, freedom from too great in
vestment risks Both of these factors
are in reality of hardly less interest to
the public than to the operator, for
upon them depends in the last analysis
much that determines prices and con-
Germs general welfare. The public
should also demand that no right to
the public coal land shall be granted ex
cept for present use. Actual develop
ment must be made the first condition
of occupancy of any part of what now
remains of the public domain.
Is Our Coal Law Adequate?
The large holdings of coal land in
the west legitimately acquired through
railroad grants, by coal companies
through dummy entrymen, and by pur.
chase of agricultural entries as we'll as
those patented to the state as non-min.
eral lands, together constitute a supply
of coal land that has practically met
the demand. Up to the present time
| the acquisition of the coal land in the
public domain has been largely accom-
lplished without recourse to the coal
land law, so that the question becomes
opportune, is the present coal-land law
adequate to meet present and future
needs?
! This law, by its provision for the
valuation of coal lands at an adequate
price, makes possible a selling price
that may promote development and at
the same time prevent monopolization
and discourage speculative holding
The purchaser instead of paying a fiat
rate peracre actually buys the coal by
the ton at prices graded according tC
the quality and the character of the
coal. In the four years following the
adoption of the policy of classifying
and valuing the coal lands the sales
have increased 1914 per cent in acre
age and sc per cent in value, as com
pared with the four years preceding
and this in spite aof the fact that the
four years since July l, 1907, have in
cluded a period of industrial depres
sion and slow recovery as contrasteC
with the preceding period of boom con
ditions. So far as its provision fol
pricing is concerned, the present law
appears to be as satisfactory as a sale
law can be.
In one serious respect, however, the
present law is absurdly out of accor(
with good mining practice. in that i
restricts legal purchasers to a maxi
mum of 100 acres for an individua
and of $40 acres for an association
The fixed charges of modern Goa
mine so equipped as to safeguard life
and property and to secure maximum
recovery are too high to be assessed
against the tonnage of so small {
tract. The homestead law expresses
the spirit of American institutions il
that it has encouraged every citizen t
own home, but there is neither senti
ment nor sense in proposition to sci
at low price 100 acres of coal land t.
an individual-every citizen does no
need to own a coal mine
The Leasing Alternative.
The difficulties involved in the ad
ministration of the present law sug
gest the wisdom of considering tn,
other method Of disposition, namely, {
leasing system. AS Secretary Fishel
has stated, ut may we'll be that ;
liberal but wisely protected leasing
law would be foun dto promote devel
lopment more vigorously than any sys
tenn of outright purchase"
The greatest advantage of the leas
ing system, both to the operator anC
to the public, is relief from he capi
tai outlay now required in TIE acqui
sition of the large acreage absolutel,