The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-11-18

these factors are i'm reality OF hardly
less interest 20 the public than TO the
operator. for upon them depends in
the last analysis much that determines
prices and concerns general welfare
The public should also demand that no
right to the public coal land shall be
granted except for present use. Ac-
tual development must be made the
first condition of occupancy Of any
part now remains of the public do
main.
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 bypur-
chase Of agricultural entries as well
as those patented to the states as nom
mineral lands, together constitute a
supply OF coal land that has practi-
cally met the demand. Up 10 the
present time the acquisition Of the
coal land i'm the public domain has
been largely accomplished without re-
course 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 az an adequate
price, makes possible selling price
that may promote development and at
the same time prevent monopolization
h.1lfpor
The purchaser instead Of paying a fiat
rate per acre actually buys the coal by
the ton at prices graded according to
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 SO per cent In value, as COM
pared with the four years preceding
and this i'm spite of the fact that the
four years since July 1, 1907, have in
cluded a period Of industrial depression
and slow recovery as contrasted with
the preceding period of boom condi-
tons. So far as it's provision for pric-
ing is concerned, the present law APP
pears 10 be as satisfactory as sale
law can be.
In one serious respect however, the
present law Is absurdy out of accord
with good mining practice, in that it
restricts legal purchases to maxi
mum Of 100 acres for an individual
and Of $40 acres for an association.
The fixed charges Of modern coal
mine so equipped az 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 in
that it has encouraged every citizen
to own home, but there is neither
sentiment nor sense in proposition
TO sell at low price 100 acres Of coal
land TO an indivldual--every citizen
does not need TO own a coal mine.
The Leasing Alternative.
The difficulties involved in the adj
of the present law suggest
the wisdom of considering the other
method of disposition. namely, n leas-
ing system. AS Secretary Fisher has
stated. TT may well be that liberal
but wisely protected leasing law would
be found to promote development more
than any system of outright
purchase
The greatest advantage of the leas-
ing system, both 90 the operator ana
to the public. is relief from the capital
outlay now required i'm the acquisi-
ton of the larse acreage absolutely
necessary for a modern mine This
advanced against the pres
ent policy OF valuing the public coal
lands at even conservative prices thus
becomes an argument for a leasehold
law
Tie objections made TO leasing sys-
tenn are. first that the eastern coal
lands were disposed Of In fee and that
the west deserves the same treatment;
and. further, that the natural re-
sources Of the west should not pei
made source of profit to relieve the
castor, taxpayer. The large tonnage
NJ coal now mined under lease meets
fifo objection to direct government
leasing. and as regards the argument
~ fsserying the western resources Tor
ibe vest. n should be noted that under
tbf present system Of sale the pro-
reeds from the coal lands go directly
jDt0 western development through the
reclamation fund. and II Is proper tol
exDsei that the cost Of coal to the con-
Guild be Increased; but the
royaify paid into the United States
treasury can be no greater tax upon
fbe consumer than the royalty paid tol
The state OF Colorado or TO railroad
land company The average price Of
luminous coal AT the mine in the
United States last year was Slip,
which usually includes a royalty to
private owners or an equivalent inter-
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