Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-12-27
Secretary Fisher Defends the
United States.
MONDELL'S CHARGE
STRONGLY DENIED
It Is Pointed Out That the Higher
Priced Coal Lands Win De pur.
ehased--Wyomins Lands Are the
Bone Of acknowledgements
10 Discouraged.
(speclaI 10 The Worlds

Especial to The world)
WASHINGTON, Dec "a 1.-The pol.
Icy OF the administration With refer
ence to coal lands owned BY The Unit
ed States was defended in n letter
from Secretary OF the Interior Fisher
to Representative + w. Mondell. q
Wyoming. has been made public.
This letter which was written last
August, states that the higher pric-
ed Government coal lands viii be pur-
chased, fact denied by Representa-
tive Mondell, and also states that the
purchase of these lands at added Gov
eminent prices viii not prevent their
purchase for immediate development,
but will discourage speculation. The
coal lands specified were located at
Hot Springs, Wyoming, and were sold
at prices ranging from 1870 to $405
per acre.
Representative Mondell held that
the high price charged tended TO Gre
ate monopoly and was higher than
private monopoly would be justified
In charging. He thought th1t this
large Initial price would be eventual
~ charged against the public, several
times over and stated that the prohib-
tive land prices pfeeluded mining by
men OF small means. Mr. Mondell cx-
pressed his belief in the desirability
of the coal lands being leased by the
states, to whom the Government
should turn them over.
In reply TO this letter, Secretary
Fisher wrote:
That II was his opinion that the old
policy of selling coal lands worth hun
dreds of dollars per acre at $40 or
$40 that fostered and invited monop-
olistic control.
He denied the Representatives.
charge that the price asked by the
Government was higher than that a
private concern would charge. and
also that the high government price
should eventually be laid against the
consumer In reference TO this charge
he said:
Il do not see how the selling price
Of these coal lands would form iegi-
innate basis for charging more for the
coal to coal users than Is charged by
other companies, and It r. certain that
the recent purchasers viii charge the
ruling market prices and would make
that charge even If this coal had been
practically given away at $40 or $40
per acre"
The secretary secuted Representa-
tive Mondell's conclusion that the
high acreage price of the government
coal lands precluded mining by small
capitalists He quoted figures to show
that the price OF installing coal mine
machinery was prohibitory for the
man Of moderate means, irrespective
Of the price Of the coal land. With
reference to the leasing OF coal lands
the Secretary said:
y am interested to know that after
your abundant opportunities for OBJ
serving the workings OF the public
lease system in Wyoming and Col.
orado, you heartily endorse it. Your
opinion In the matter will carry great
weight The leasing system has
spread rapidly In the east in the last
few years; until today almost one
third of the active coal lands OF the
country are held under leasehold and
in some of the states, as West Virgin
la, the ratio is almost one-half and Is
rapidly increasing. Its fairness to
both parties and It's many advantages
particularly In the case OF lands, IN
public or trust ownership. is obvious
In the administration OF leasehogds
on public lands, while granting that
there are some advantages in local
control, past experience in State con-
troll in matters somewhat similar to
this has SO often been unsatisfactory
that there has come to be vide
spread feeling that. on the whole,
Federal administration Is more eff
Gent, certainly more uniform and less
likely to be subject TO local infIuen-
ces that are not working for the gem
eral good OF the commonwealth.
While, therefore, | heartily agree with
you on the desirabiIity Of the leasing
system and believe that In any ey-
ent the financial benefits should 20 10
the people Of the region Affected,
strongly believe that the administra-
ton OF such a policy should be vest
ed in the Federal Government