Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-02-07
URGES NEEDS OF
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Immediate Legislation Is I'M
perative, Says the Fresi-
dent.
ASKS NEW LAWS FOR ALASKA
Rules Governing Acquisition Of Arid
or semLArld Lands Should Be
Medlhed-commlssio 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-
sentatives:
There Is no branch OF the Federal
jurisdiction which calls more impera-
lively for 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 It's
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 a pat
ent issue for the land at the end OF
| five years cultivation and three
years occupation, with a reservation
of a government lien for the amount
of the unpaid purchase money. This
! leniency to the reclamation home
steader viii relieve him from occupa,
ton at time when the condition oil
the land makes 1t most burdensome
and difficult, and at the end Of five
years will furnish him with a title
upon which he can borrow money ant
continue the improvement of his hold
ing.
also concur in the recommends
ton Of the Secretary of the interior
that all of our public domain should
be classified and that each class
should be disposed Of or administered
in the manner most appropriate t
that particular class.
Leasing Of Government Lands.
The chief change, however, which
ought to be made, and which ] hay,
already recommended in previous
messages and communications to con
gress, is that by which government
coal land and phosphate and othe
mineral lands containing non-metal
liferous minerals, shall be leased b,
the government, with restrictions a
to size and time, resembling thos
which now obtain throughout tn
country between the owners in fe
and the lessees who work the mines
and in leases like those which hav
been most successful in Australia
New Zealand, and Nova Scotia. TIL
showing made by Investigations Int
| the successful working of the leasin
system leaves no doubt as to its viii
dom and practical utility. Requir,
ments as to the working of the min
, during the term may be so frame
, as to prevent any holding of Iarg
mining properties merely for specul,
tion. while the royalties may be mad
sufficiently low, not unduly to il
,, crease the cost of the coal mined, an
at the same time sufficient to furnis
a reasonable income for the use {
the public in the community wher
the mining goes on. In Alaska, theI
!. is no reason why substantial incom
should not thus be raised for sue
public works as may be deeme
: necessary or useful.
Would Build Trunk Line Railroad
am not in favor of governmeI
3 ownership where the same certaint
and efficiency of service can be ha
by private enterprise, but I think Il
conditions presented in Alaska are
{ such a character as to warrant Il
9 government, for the purpose Of e
couraglng the development of tn
t vast and remarkable territory,
d build and own a trunk line railroa
n which 1t can lease on terms Whit
E may be varied and changed to me
3 the growing prosperity and develo
II ment Of the territory.
have already recommended
Congress the establishment of a for
of commission government for Ala
ka. The territory is too extended.
. needs are too varied, and it's distan
u from Washington too remote to G
= able Congress to keep up with
u necessities in the matter of legis
ton Of a local character,
" The governor of Alaska in his
y port points out certain laws Ii
ought to be adopted, and emphasiz
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