The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-02-09

Urgent Need Of Legislation That
Shall Develop the Resources o. the
Territory and AFFORD Protection 10
settlers-Wouid Have oovernment
Build and Own q Trunk Line Rail-
road Waterway improvements.
Washington, Feb 3. President TAFT
sent the following message to con-
gress today:
TO the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
There Ii 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 its
limitations, which should be remedied.
The rules governing the acquisition
of4homesteads. OF land that Is 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 is made upon land being
reclaimed, actual occupation as q
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
emit issue for the land at the end of
I'VE years cultivation and three
years occupation, with reservation
OF q government lien for the amount
Of the unpaid purchase money. This
leniency to the reclamation home
steader viii relieve him from occupa-
tion at q time when the condition of
the land makes it most burdensome
and dificult. and at the end of ave
years will furnish him with title
upon which he can borrow money and
continue the Improvement Of his hold
ing.
/ also concur il the recommended
tion 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 to
that particular class.
Leaalru 81 Governmert Lands.
The CHIEF change however which
o,,eht ~ Re made ana whicb / nave
aIraadv recomrendad 4 nrevio,,s
messages and communication 70 con-
grass is that nv which vovarnnent
coal land and nbosnbata ana ott.r
mineral lands containing non-matsI-
iiferous minerals. shan he ieased bv
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
system leaves no doubt as to its wis
dom and practical utility. Require
ments as to the working OF the mine
during the term may be SO framed
as to prevent any holding of large
mining properties merely for specula-
ton, while the royalties may be made
suficiently low. not unduly to In
crease the cost of the coal mined. and
at the same time sufficient to furnish
d reasonable income for the use Of
the public In the community where
the mining goes on. In Alaska, there
Is no reason why substantial income
should not thus be raised for such
public works as may be deemed
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