Evening star., 1921-12-06
$50 BILLION. RICHES
IN UNUSED:LANDS
Secretary Fall Reveals Great
sUntapped Wealth in
Public Domain.
ACRES TOTAL 100000, 900
First Annual Report Says United
States Can Realize Vast Sum
From Resources.
ACRES TOTAL 4oo,oo0,o 600

the. more than 400, ,OOO, 900 acres of land
still held in the public domain. secre-
tarI. Of the Interior Fall says in his first
annual report. made public today
The bulk of this wealth is composed OF
coal and oil, the total coal deposits being
estimated at ITO, 900. QO0. .000 tons ana
the; oil deposits at 1.32Se00.0 900 barrels.
with an additional $4,000, 900 barrels
of Shale Sbil.
S1ajAz, ,SOO,O 900 ms L. :. share.
Secretary Fall says from development
of these resources the federal govern
ment would realize by way OF royalties,
rentals, etc, total of s12,3s7,5Oo,O 900,
Bituminous. 10, ,e0O OOo. 900 tons. at 10
cents ROYALTY, 81, 900, 000, 600.
Subbituminous. 80 600. 900. 900 tons. at
S cents royalty. 81, 400. 100000.
Lignite. so, O,000. 900, 900 tons, at cents
royalty. $500. 100000.
(Note-Coal upon railroad lands, pri-
vate grants, private lands in the public
land states but not developed not esti-
mated above.).
00O, 900 barrels, at 50, $1.400. .000, 900; at
lsla cents royalty, SITE. .000, 900.
Shale oil. 50. 900. .000, 900 barrels. at $2,
sl00, ,O00. .000, 900; at cents royalty, $5,-
Phosphate. $500, 900. 600 tons. at 81.
$4,000. 600. 600; at per cent royalty,
Potash, 10000. 900 tons. at s75. ST.
800. 900, 900: at per cent royalty, $780,
coz. .0GO.
13,OOO,OOO Horsepower in Streams.
waterpower, 13.000. 900 horsepower. at
10 cents per horsepower per year.
Indian reservations:
00O, 900 :
Phosphate. 1000, ooe, 900 tons. at ST.
$4,000, 100000
Alaska:
Coal 20. 900. 900. 900 tons, all grades, at
Scents royalty. $1,000, ,0O0. 900.
:Ol, 25.00o0 600 barrels, at 81, $25 .000,-
900; at 10 per cent royalty. S2.5o0.o00.
06G :.
! Surface value of public lands out
side Of national forests:
Desert and semi-arid lands, 100,-
100000 acres. at 81. S100. 900, 900.
Grazing lands. Is, ,000. 900 acres, at 81.
Sl50,008, 900.
Grazing and forage lands. 15.000,-
oeo acres, at 81. s60,000.000.
Rich Grazing Lands
National forests:
Grazing lands. 110,O00.o00 acres, at
s.. s275 100000
Timber, $5S0.000,000.
Other resources. s145, 100000.
History is now repeating ITSELF"
says Secretary Fall, land after a Pc
measures and in preparing for war,
measures and in preparing for war.
i'm the creation of a Navy, ETC., it has
been found necessary to curtail such
expenditures to the very utmost.
am justified in calling attention to
the fact that the Department of In
: terror - the home department is
fully equipped and prepared to do it's
part in the development of those
great natural resources which must
be so developed if the tax burden
upon this and future generations Is
to be borne at all" a..-
able part of his report to reclamation
projects, and In this connection he
urges that IAN affirmative strong
policy be announced by the execu-
tive
Outlines Yearly Progress.
The necessary advances can be
made from year to year without be-
taxpayers" the Secretary says, land,
as has already been proven by ex-
perience. one years crop upon one
acre of reclaimed irrigrated ground
will be of a value largely in excess
of the total amount expended in
rendering such acre productive. I'm
der the present system, or any pro-
posed legislation, of course, the cost
of such project will be repaid. and
meanwhile the added wealth yielded
will tighten the tax burdens upon
all the taxpayers of the country"
~RdUerring to pending bills proVid-
ing for further reclamation activi-
ties. Mr.. Fall says that if they are
labor will be offered the unemployed
and at the same time homes made
for those who desire them.
This department.. he adds. lis
thoroughly organized, with sufficient
force, and is ready to carry on any
work which such an enlightened poll
Icy as suggested might be assigned
no it in reclamation or other de-
Selopment of our national resources.
Alaskan Riches Vast.
Discussing the situation in Alaska,
the Interior Secretary declares the
wealth to be drawn therefrom in the
future are almost incalculable."
There are 21,000,000 acres of lands
in forests in that territory" he says.
''and many millions of acres upon the
public domain upon which settlers
lumber for houses, etc. There are
millions of acres of land fitted for
AgI culture and the agricultural re-
Dol ices are such that a large popu-
Aation can be supported in Alaska
Aithout the Importation of food
countries.
Ask for Coordination.
f"Alaska's resources have not been
develop4d for various easons, among
others the lack of transportation and
largely because of the fact that these
resources are administered through
some thirty-eight bureaus and va
rious departments of this govern
ment. In my opinion authority to
administer the laws relative to
Alaskas natural resources must be
vested in some one department of
this government that the activities
charged with the administration of
such laws may be properly co-ordi-
mated.
Transportation is necessary, OF
course. and the government has as
listed in so far las the construction of
a railroad from Seward to Fairbanks
is concerned. which road will be ready
for. operation within a few months
Vast deposits of valuable metallifer-
Gus minerals and great coal mines
are known to exist and must be made
accessible to the railroad and to
coast transportation.
While no extensive oil development
has as yet been made, it Is well
known to this department that indi-
cations of valuable oil deposits exist
from Point Barrow to the Seward
peninsula"