The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-02-08
URGES NEEDS OF
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Immediate Legislation Is I'm
perative, Says the Presi-
dent.
ASKS new LAWS FOR ALASKA
Rules Governing Acquisition Of Arid
or semLAvid Lands Should BE
ModIHed-commisslon on
Cost Of Living.

Sost 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-.
sentativcs:
There IL 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
domnin which 10 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 In not arid
or semiarid. are not well adapted to
the perfecting Of tisle to land made
srabie by government reclamation
work.
concur with the Secretary Of the
Interior IN his recommendation that.
after entry 10 made upon land being
reclaimed. actual occupation as q
homestead Of the same be not re-
duired 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 10 ten annual installments
shah be so modified as 10 allow a pat.
cnt Issue for the land at the end Of
five years cultivation and three
years occupation. with q reservation
Of a government lien for the amount
q the unpaid purchase money. This
leniency 10 the reclamation home
steader will relieve him from occupa.
ton at time when the condition OF
the land makes u most burdensome
and difficult, and at the end OF fvo
years viii 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 all OF our public domain should
be classified and that each class
should he disposed OF or administered
IN tho manner most appropriate TO
TINT particular class
Leasing Of Government Lands.
The chief change. however. which
ought to he made. and which ! have
already recommended In previous
messages and communications to con.
gress. Is that by which government
coal fnnd and phosphate and other
mineral lands containing nor. metal.
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
aud 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 10 Its wis
dom and practical utility. Require
mems as to the working OF the mine
during the term may be so framed
as TO prevent any holding OF largo
mining properties merely for specula-
ton. while the royalties may be made
sufficiently low. not unduly TO in
crease the cost OF the coal mined. and
at the same time sufficient to furnish
reasonable income for the use OF
the public in the community where
the mining goes on. In Alaska, there
In M hu 1hata .,sl aI
should not thus be raised for such
public works as may be deemed
necessary or useful
Would Build Trunk Line Railroad.
am not in favor OF government
ownership where the same certainty
and efficiency Of service can be had
by private enterprise. but I think the
conditions presented In Alaska are OF
such character as TO warrant the
government. for the purpose OF en-
couraging the development OF that
vast and remarkable territory. to
build and own a trunk line railroad,
which II can lease on terms which
may be varied and changed to meet
the growing prosperity and develop
ment Of the territory.
! have already recommended TO
Congress the establishment of q form
of commission government for Alas
Ia. The territory IL too extended. its
needs are too varied, and It's distance
from Washington too remote to en-.
able Congress to keep up with its
necessities In the matter Of legisla-
ton of local character.
The governor OF Alaska In his rc
port points out certain laws that
ought 70 be adopted. and emphasizes