Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-03
OPPOSE RESERV|NG
OF 4RAD|UM" LAND
Colorado Congressman Voice
Objection to the Plan of
Secretary Lane.
DECLARE CONSERVATION
WILL MEAN STAGNATiON
Representatives Seldomridge and
Taylor Expect Definite Protest
From Residents of State.

The law recently recommended by
Secretary Lane of the Interior Depart
ment giving the President the right to
reserve to the United States all rights
and ownership in radium-bearing ores
round In public lands is not going to
meet with the approval of the people
OF Colorado, In which are lands bearing
the carnotite ores in which radium is
1ound, according to some members of
the House from Colorado.
Tine people of Colorado are seriously
concerned with any proposed legisia-
ton which will result in the sesrega-
uon OF any more land In our state as
the result OF mineral entry and thereby
cause depletion of its mineral prod
ucts," said Representative Harry II.
|Seldomridge of the second Colorado dis
trict, when seen by a Star reporter to-
day. While it is quite necessary that
the value of radium deposits should in
urc t. the benefit of the citizens of our
countIy: II seems to me that all the
iee'siat1on necessary to accomplish this
result Is that which will prevent the
deportation of radium to European
countries. and retain the quantity pro-
duced in the United States
Decline in Prospecting.
hOiS iido DCCI ill GNlnenC decline
prospecting throughout Colorado" con-
tinued Mr.. Seldomridge "as well as other
Rocky mountain states, and while this
apparent decrease in prospecting inter-
ests cannot be entirely laid to the policy
OF conservation, we do think it has been,
to some extent, the cause Of the falling
off in mineral production, by imposing
restrictions and regulations upon those
who are seeking to locate and develop
mines of gold and other valuable min
erals.
Il have been advised that vigorous
protest will be filed with the Secretary
OF the Interior by the state mining COM
missioner of Colorado, and, in his posi-
ton. he will have the Endorsement of hum
dreds of mining men of his own and ad-
joining states that are interested in lands
which might be affected by the action of
the department and by the proposed con-
greSsional legislation.
1T has been stated that it is necessary
to export the carnotite ores in which
radium is found to Europe, i'm order to
have the same treated. If there are no
chemists in this country who have the
our government could well employ such
foreign chemists to treat them in the
United States.
Development Is Promised.
I'm the Paradox valley. in western Col
orado. l am informed that there is a
strip OF these carnotite lands varying
from three to six miles in width and
about 100 miles in length. There already
has been promised a branch railroad line
to open up these lands and mining plants
to develop them have been projected. The
government already plans to establish
laboratory in Denver for experimental
purposes and it is hoped that the pro-
cesses of treatment will be discovered
that will render unnecessary the exporta-
ton of the ores.
Il am heartily in favor of any legisla-
ton to prevent the monopoliZation of
radium-prOducfng territory. and will
gladly support any plan proposed by the
Secretary of the Interior having this end
in view. However, in my opinion it will
be serious blow to the mineral develop
ment of our state if another large amount
of public lands be withdrawn from public
entry and thereby produce further
shrinkaSe in our mineral production. One
of the greatest benefits that could come
to the agricultural. interests of Colorado
would he an enlargement of its mineral
productive area. thereby giving US an in
creased population which will open a
market to our farmers.
Doubtless there will be a pronounced
and definite protest. concluded Repre-
sentative Seldomridge. made very short
~ by the citizens of Colorado and of adj
jaccnt states when the proposed action of
the Secretary of the Interior is more gen
orally known"
Telegram of Protest.
An evidence of the last remark of Mr..
Seldomridge is a telegram dated January
>. received by Representative Edwin T.
Taylor. i'll whose district the carnotitc
lands mentioned lie. from the mayor of
Montrose, Col, which ask Mr.. Taylor
to note the mayors strong protest against
the withdrawal of the lands as embodied
in "A letter which is now on its way TO
Washington. 1t is in Montrose county
that the Paradox valley lies.
I'VE do not like to see Colorado treated
as an insular possession. The bad eff
fects of conservation have been espe-