Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-25

a region whose fuel resources are mex
haustible. Practically none of the coal
from what is now government land can
ever be profitably shipped east Of the Mis-
souri, river, and IL II could, Wyoming alone
could supply the entire country at our
present rate of consumption for over seven
hundred years according to government
estimates.
THE question of the disposition of the
coal on government land, SO far as the
use of the coal is concerned, is ons af-
fecting only the people of the country west
OF the Missouri and the people Of that re-
gion, not blessed is the territory further
east, with bountiful supplies of high grade
bituminous Goals, but nevertheless FORUM
ate in an inexhaustible supply of coal such
as it is, should not be expected to agree
to a policy which creates a monopoly by
government action and which contemplates
laying on them and their descendants a
burden for fuel amounting to many hum
dreds OF millions OF dollars, no part of
which is proposed to be returned to the
people who pay it.
Asks for Earlier Action.
II trust that you will find time to give
this matter your careful consideration at
an early date. The policy OF prohibitive
coal land prices which proposes a grievous
burden on our people and an entire reversal
OF our governmental policy, has never been
approved by congress or formally endorsed
by any branch of our government. 1t has
simply grown out of a single bureau OF the
Interior department and it has been sug-
gested that the determination to force a
coal leasing system on the country is
largely responsible for the prohibitive
prices at which coal lands have been clas-
sIfied. II the leasing system has virtues
and advantages, and no doubt 1t has some
they should be apparent enough to bring
about the adoption OF the system, other
wise than by prohibiting sales of coal lands
through hostile administration of the coal
land law and prohibltive or grievously
burdensome coal land prices.
The coal land law as now interpreted
by the department is inadequate in that
1t renders practically impossible the as
sembling OF a sufficient area for a modern
mine. The policy OF selling at a classified
price high enough TO discourage purchases
OF coal lands purely for speculation or flu
ture development has its advantages with
our law as interpreted in protecting ope-
ratOrs unable to secure large holdings
against purchases by others of land in ad-
vance OF and necessary to the extension
OF their operations, with a view of specula-
ton at their expense, but this merit and
such others as may be claimed for the
system of classification are entirely mega
lived by the extraordinary prices adopted
which create a burdensome monopoly In
coal lands and lead TO a monopoly of coal
prices. We shall in all probability never
return to the nominal prices named in the
coal statute, but every consdera ton of
sound public policy dictates values that
shall not lay grievous burdens. not contem-
plated ~ congress, on the users OF coal
in one portion of our country and every
proper purpose claimed for the policy Of
classification will be served by values high
enough TO discourage the purchase of coal
land for speculation. The experience OF
the last few years seems 10 indicate that
with the possible exception OF very rare
cases. $50 per acre is about fair maxi
mum. rather than $500.
Very respectfully yours.
''F. W. MoNDELL."