The roundup record. [volume] (Roundup, Mont.) 1908-1929, 1912-08-16

lSueF udS pan 10 dllOI government
coal lands to cities, which, in turn,
may operate them, under certain regu-
lations, to supply municipal needs as
we'll as those of citizens.
AS first step in the plan, Secretary
Fisher has recommended that congress
pass bill granting GAO acres of coal
land to the city of Grand Junction,
Colo, and meanwhile the interior de-
partment has withdrawn from entry
the land the city desires.
Cities in Colorado. Wyoming, Utah,
Montana, Idaho and other public lands
in states west of the Missouri river
would be most vitality affected by Se-
cretary Fishers plan.
The bill he offers would authorize
the secretary OF the interior to patent
GAO acres of government coal land for
each city and 100 for each town under
conditions providing for prompt and
continuous development of the coal,
the prevention of any assignment or
transfer of the land, the safeguarding
of the health and safety of laborers,
mining or handling the coal, the pre-
vention of undue waste of mineral
resources and other restrictions.
The secretary believes that any such
patents should be safeguarded by the
provision that the title shall revert to
the government if any city or town to
which coal land shall be patented shall
at any time fail to perform any condi-
tion of the patent.
Secretary Fisher maintains that the
aim of the federal policy with respect
to government owned coal lands is to
insure for the public an abundant sup.
ply at prices which will yield fair
return and no more upon capital in
vested in mining and handling the
coal. He thinks this impossible when
a fee simple patent is granted to pri.
vate persons or corporations for com.
mercial exploitation of the coal de.
posits.
The leasing system, Secretary Fisher
thinks is the method for the private
exploitation of government owned coal
lands which best can protect the pub
lie. By retaining the title in its own
hands and properly conditioning the
lease. it will be possible to protect the
public from extortion
Such policy Mr.. Fisher holds en-
tirely consistent with the principles o1
conservation.
Altho he believes long time lease
for a nominal consideration would be
better for some purposes than an out
right grant. because it would admit OF
greater fleXibility in dealing with each
city according to local circumstances
/ he said it is possible to embOdy in 6
patent to city the most essentia
conditions necessary to effect the sue
cess of the federal conservation policy
1t is desirable he says, to retain II
the hands of the federal government {
certain amount of supervision to make
ure the city will develop the coal with
out waste and with due regard to the
health and safety of the miners: alst
that all transactions of the city bt
given the fullest publicity to preven
any opportunity for corporation abuse!
and to keep the federal government
fully informed as to how legislatio!
of this character is working in actua
practice.
Upon the request of Representative
Taylor OF Colorado, Secretary Fishe
has directed that the coal lands de
sired by Grand Junction be withdraw
rom entry. The right of the secretar,
TO make Withdrawals by executive or
der in the absence Of express authorit,
previously conferred by statue ha
been a subject of controversy, espec
tally in Colorado. but Secretary Fish
er has no doubt of his authority II
this matter