The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-02-09
Urges NEEDS OF
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Immediate Legislation Is I'm
peratIve, Says the PresI-
dent.
ASKS new LAWS For ALASKA
Rules Governing Acquisition Of ARID
Or semLArid Lands Should Be
Medlfed-comr,lssIon on
Cost Of Living.

Cost Of Living.
Washington, Feb "A special mes
sage on the work Of the interior de-
partment and other matters was read
10 Congress today.
TO the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives:
There 10 no branch OF the Federal
Jurisdiction which calls more impera-
lively for impediate legislation than
that which concerns the public DO
main. and especially the part OF that
domain which is in Alaska.
The progress under the reclamation
act has made clear the defects OF Its
limitations, which should be remedted.
The rules governing the acquisition
OF homesteads, OF land that 10 not arid
or semi-arid, are not we'll adapted to
The perfecting OF title to land made
arabic by government reclamation
work.
/ concur with the Secretary OF the
interior In his recommendation that,
after entry 10 made upon land being
reclaimed, actual occupation as a
homestead OF the same be not re-
Quired until two years after entry
but that cultivation Of the same shall
be required, and that the present pro-
vision under which the land Is to be
paid for in ten annual installments
shall be so modified as to allow a pat
ent issue for the land at the end Of
Eve years cultivation and three
years occupation, with q reservation
Of a government lien for the amount
OF the unpaid purchase money. This
leniency to the reclamation home
steader will relieve him from occupa-
ton at time when the condition Of
the land makes 1t most burdensome
and difficult, and at the end OF f1vo
years will furnish him with title
upon which he can borrow money and
continue the improvement of his hold
Ing.
also concur In the recommends.
tton OF the Secretary Of the Interior
THAT all Of our public domain should
be classified and that each class
should he disroaed OF or administered
In the manner most approximate to
that particular class
Leasing Of Government Lands.
The chief change. however. which
ought to he made. and which I have
already recommended In previous
messages and communications 70 con.
gress. 10 that bv which government
coal land and phosphate and other
mineral lands containing non.metal.
iiferous minerals. shall be leased BY
the government, with restrictions as
to size and time. resembling those
which now obtain throughout the
country between the owners In Zee
and the 'essees who work the mines,
and In leases like those which have
been most successful In Australia,
New Zealand aad Nova Scotia The
showing made hy Investigations into
the successful WORKING ~ the 'eaairg
system leaves no douh' as TO its Wis.
dom and practc71 utility Require
ments as to the working OF the mine
during the term NAV he so framed
as 10 prevent any holding Of large
mining properties MERELY for specula-
tion while the royalties NAV be made
sufficiently low. not unfu'v n IN.
crease the cost Of the coal mined and
az the same time sufficient 70 furnish
reasonable income for the use of
the public In the community where
the mining goes on In Alaska, there
is no reason w!v substantial Income
should not thus be raised FOR such
public works az may DO deemed
necessary or useful
Would Build Trunk Ltne Railroad.
am not in favor OF government.
ownership where the same cer7airts
and efficiency Of service can be had
by private enterprise, but I think the
conditions presented in Alaska are OF
such a character as to warrant the
government, for the purpose of en-
couragtng the development of that
vast and remarkable territory, tc
build and own trunk line railroad
which 1t can lease on terms which
may be varied and changed to meet
the growing prosperity and develop
ment OF the territory.
| have already recommended t.
Congress the establishment of a form
OF commission government for Alas
Ia. The territory is too extended, It.
needs are too varied, and its distanc.
from Washington too remote to en-
able Congress to keep up with 1t.
necessities In the matter of legisla
ton OF a local character.
The governor of Alaska in his re
Port points out certain laws tina
ought to be adopted. and emphasizes