The Van Buren press., 1912-02-03
URGES NEEDS OF
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Immediate Legislation Is I'm
peratlve, Says the Presl-
dent.
ASKS new LAWS FOR ALASKA
Rules Governing Acquisition OF Arid
or Semi-Arid Lands Should Be
Modifed-Commlsslo on
Cost of Living.

Washington, Feb. "A special mes
sage on the work of the interior de-
partment and other matters was read
to Congress today.
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
seotatives:
Thera is no branch Of the Federal
jurisdiction which calls more impera-
lively ndr immediate 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 remedied.
The rules governing the acquisition
OF homesteads, of land that is not arid
or semi-arid, are not well 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 is 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 pat
ent issue for the land at the end Of
five years cultivation and three
years occupation, with a reservation
OF government lien for the amount
Of the unpaid purchase money. This
leniency to the reclamation home
steader will relieve him from occupa-
ton at a time when the condition Of
the land makes II most burdensome
and difficult, and at the end of five
years will furnish him with a title
upon which he can borrow money and
continue the improvement Of his hold
ing
] also concur In the recommends
ton OF the Secretary Of the Interior
that ali of our public domain should
be classified and that each class
should be disposed of or administered
In the manner most appropriate to
that particular class
Leasing Of Government Lands.
The chief change, however which
ought TO be made and which ! have
already recommended in previous
messages and communications to con.
gress, la that by which government
coal land and phosphate and other
mineral lands containing non-petal
lIferous 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 fee
and the lessees who work the mines
and In leases like those which have
been most successful In Australia,
New Zealand, and Nova Scotia, The
showing made by investigations into
the successful working Of the leasing
v dom and practical utility. Require
n menIs as to the working OF the mine
l during the term may be 80 framed
" MS to prevent any holding OF large
N mining properties merely for specula.
ton while the royalties may be made
Z sufficiently low, not unduly to in.
crease the cost OF the coal mined, md
z nj the same time sufficient to furnish
n reasonable income for tho use OF
the public In tho community where
the mining goes on In Alaska there
Us no reason why n substantial income
rhould not thus be raised for such
fpublc works as may be deemed
necessary or useful,
NJ Would Build Trunk Line Railroad,
AA ! am not In favor Of government
" ownership whore the same certainty
And efficiency Of service can be had
Wy private enterprise, but ! think tho
condltlons presented In Alaska are OF
Wouch character M TO warrant tho
government, for the purpose OF en-
c0uraglng tho development OF that
vast and remarkable territory 10
bulld and own trunk line railroad
which II can lease on terms which
may be varied and changed TO meet
thQ growing prosperity and develop.
mont OF the territory,
] have already recommended 10
Congress the establishment OF form
OF commission government for Alas
~ The territory ls too extended, lts
needs are too varied, and lts dlstance
Hon Washington too remote to en-
eple Congress to keep up with its
necessities In the matter Of legiala
AZ u local character.
The governor of Alaska In his re.
pprt points out certain laws that
wight to be adopted, aud emphasizes