The Washington herald., 1919-03-01
FIFTY BILLIONS
IN idle LANDS
This Amount, Says Hol-
{ land, Represents Value
of Unclaimed Sections.

" POSSIBLE BeI some lGea VI AiAS
magnitude of our undeveloped re-
sources. II these natural resources,
much of which are owned by the gov
ernment, were so utilized as to add TO
the wealth Of the nation the amount
which they would be able to add.
then instead OF a national wealth Of
two hundred and fifty billions II
would be a reasonable estimate that
this wealth was In excess OF three
hundred billions.
Arthe time OF tbs Civil War when
something like despair prevailed
throughout the North. and when In
Europe there was doubt about the
ability Of the Federal forces TO
triumph. a statement was made by
the late David A Wells of the ma
tursl resources OF the United States
as these were in 1868. Mr.. Wells
pamphlet decided investors in Europe.
. especially in Holland. that it would
be a safe investment II they were to
buy United States government bonds.
Results OF Legislation.
While We are talking about obliCa-
tons which the United States has in
CURED by reason OF the war. twenty
billions or more. wondering whether
II We continue to spend as We have
been spending money the United
States may not become bankrupt, II
may be worth while to return TO the
Information upon which the lower
house OF Congress felt justified in
supporting a measure wheTby an
I enormous amount of the natural re-
sources Of the United States can be
speedily exploited. Until this is pos
sible then hundreds Of millions, even
hllltnnz ~ NETf11
be worth to Us no more than so much
water.
e For instance. IL the Senate acts IA
Eorably so that the measure becomes
a law 10000 900 acres OF government
land upon which and under which ex-
ist enormous resources will be open
to exploitation. The government will
not give away this land as it did at
the time our great railroad develop
ment began. Then as matter OF
public policy and for the purpose OF
opening up to settlement vast regions,
at first in Illinois and afterwards
throughout the West and Southwest,
the government turned over to rail-
road companies many millions of
land as a free gift.
Now the government will maintain
an interest in the Tpj.OOO.OOO acres OF
land which will be open to develop
ment in case Congress enacts into law
the measure which has already been
adopted by the Lower House. For
whatever wealth may be taken from
the surface or from under the soil
by those who undertake the exploita-
lion Of this wealth, the government
will receive due return in the form
OF royalties or fees. which. in the
course Of time should amount to
very large sum.
At least One-h5-If Of this entire
amount Of 100000 acres Is forest
reserves. Presumably the government
will not permit devastation Of the for
est, but. on the other hand. will grant
licenses whereby capital can make
reasonable use OF this enormous and
hitherto unused natural resource.
tor some time some of the expert
authorities have ventured to comment
upon the danger Of exhaustion OF our
coal deposits. Some OF them have
said that if the present consuraption
OF anthracite coal is maintained. then
the anthracite mines will within fifty
years have been exhausted, same
who have studied the bitumIuous coal
resources have ventured. rather guard
edly TO predict that these at the pres-
ent rate Of consumption will be e1
hausted within lOO years. Therefore.
caution Is often given with intent to
conserve our coal resources. II the
Measure now before Congress Is enact
60 INTO law then 100000 acres Of
coal lands hitherto untouched will he
opened to exploitation, and there a.
no doubt that in due course adeouat to
investment in these properttes viii he
under way. That will serve consi5er~
aoIy TO Increase the life OF our coal.
resources. 1oa'
Mexican OIL Imports.
"hlle the lower house OF Con-
Eress was considering this measure
the somewhat startling report was
Hiaue that the United States is now
ing on from Mexico at the
1a's I-, OF SIV'OoO,Oo0 worth a year
"aS va time when it was not
I,s', iOr us to import any oil.
I'I'f so extensive has been tbo nso
OF American oil and g, -
the demands for the yari0I,s -,
ucts which science has shou-n -,
70 ootaln from oil, that VIC arc ~
producing now a. much as We ncoJ
w are beginning TO import oil
some or the authorities saw that -,
less new fields are discovered a. ~
united states our supply OF petroi-
cum VIII have been exhausted ,,,jtb
IN twenty years. Now the chance
are excellent that new reseryoJrs
some OF them very large, of oil viii
De opened up because under this
olil thetgoYernment will yield to in
Nestors and for exploitation nm
OoO acres presumably COVERING a,
enormous amount OF petroIsur,
furthermore the government "a 20
open 70 the investors and eynIoits
ton 100000 acres OF nbosnIsso
lands. Here then are ro,,r ,.,
TseS OF which no account hos
u oeen taken, because thev
7 "re undeVeioped. which may be-
come available for investments and
may yield new and very great
wealth the amount Of which cannot
now De estimated. excepting in
general way. IN
There are other resources n, .ho
United states. not under govsrr
ment control which. a. soon ss ~
distur Dances occasIoned bv tbo Ne
and by the readJustment sitnstio,
are ended. will be exploited Al
or these resouTcesLara Of sucb ,,,aor
nitude In the aggregate as 10 su,,
Eest That such a relatively triT,J1s
sum as $1,000, 100000 lent 10 the goH7
ernrnent. some day to be pais bac,,
is secured by the amplest naturaT
resources any nation in the world
possesses.
HOLLAND.
CHICAGO GRAIN.