Evening star., 1913-01-19
LAND CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM IS DISCUSSED
M LANsBURdH FURNITURE co, STREET
Director Smith Takes Up Mat.
ter in Address Before
Philadelphia Engineers.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA. January lS.-"Not
only is the engineer interested in the
right classification of land in order that
he may not be an accessory or instrument
of fraudulent practice, but he does not
want to be connected with an engineer
ing project that involves large economic
waste"
Such was the statement made here to-
night by Director George Otis Smith of
the geological survey before the Engi-
neers' Club of Philadelphia. Continuing
he said:
"Your professional code opposes your
contributing your technical skill to a
scheme. or a hydro-electric installation
whose only possible purpose is the TAX
ing of promoters profits before that
day of reckoning when the balance is
fore. YOU and 1 are alike interested in
knowing the facts of land classification
that will prevent the construction of
reservoirs and canals for Carey act
project where the water supply is INSULT
cient or the soil unsuited to irrigation.
Use of Power Sites.
We will agree that power sites should
be used as such, and not all homesteads;
that mineral lands should be acquired
by mining men for mine development
and not by nonresident capitalists for
the timber value; that irrigable lands
should be irrigated ard not dry -farmed,
and that reservoir sites should be used
10 promote irrigation or power develop
ment, and not as cattle ranches"
Director Smith declared the public
land problem of today relates to ap-
proximately One-third of a billion acres
of unappropriated and unreserved lands
in the United States and a similar
acreage in Alaska, together with some
parks and other reserves. That is the
size of Uncle Sans real estate holding
In 1913 Fifty years ago it was much
larger. though perhaps possessing no
greater market value. he said.
| The speaker told of the various ac-
| QUESTIONS Of land by the government,
and Of the uses to which it has been put.
He outlined the work of the geological
survey, and spoke OF the vast amount
of information concerning the country
which it has gathered.
Inadequate Mining Laws.
| Referring to the present system of
| land classification. he said:
| THE mining engineer first of all en-
counters indefinite and inadequate min
| ing laws. perpleXinG and unsatisfactory
alike to himself and to the administra-
| tive officer. Here is the opportunity for
cooperation in the crusade for legis-
| lation that will at least recognize the
last one-third of a century's progress
| in mining engineering, geology and
metallurey. Pending such Legislation
which needs to be framed to meet mod
| ern conditions in the mineral industry.
| the chief executive, acting upon spe-
| cific recommended Of the geological
survey. is making withdrawals of pub
| lie lands whose chief value is for oil or
| gas. phosphate and potash
There is no business wisdom in allow
| ing oil lands to be longer located and
| explored under law framed to meet the
conditions of discovering placer gold. In
| the development Of an oil field that law
provides no protection Of the purposeful
prospector against unscrupulous claim
| jumpers, nor of the developer, well
equipped with engineering experience and
necessary capital, from the hold-ups Of
| Glackmailing paper lOcatOrs. Again.
viewed from the standpoint of the citi-
zens generally. the federal landlord re-
| ceives nothing from these rich lands. al
| though commonly the operator pays trib-
ute to a nlidGleman. usually larger in
amount and often with more eXactins
conditions than would be asked under a
| federal lease.