, 1923-02-11

OF dollars invested in this way would
be an excellent Investment.
Let us consider the above state
ment and see. The very few sections
that are today producing income for
the state are paying between eleven
and twelve per e on such an in
vestmnt. In other words, our annual
income from state lands totals $1,192,.
$4,000 being divided as follows. OIL
royalty, $l,125, 0 300: coal. limestone.
timber. prospeCtors' leases, grazing
leases. etc. S67, $4,000. Therefore. sur
oil royalty alone IS more han eight
cen times hat of all the other in
comes from state lands and. If the
income from the coal be added to
that of the oil. these two would be-
come more than 500 of such income.
If n good business mar owned the
above. he would consider tina he had
a business we'll worth investigating
with the purpose in view OF enlarglng
that same income. I say, he would
at least investigate. He would not
spend any ten millions of dollars to
make n survey either. He might set
aside 10 per cent of the income an.
nually for the purpose of making
such a survey and in five years he
would have the work completed with
a total expenditure of something like
one-half Of n years income.
These revenues from state lands
are constantly increasing and will
continue to do so for several years to
come. Surprising the state should not
become acquainted with her property
in such a way. then the only recourse
would be TO reserve all mineral rights
whenever a sale is made.
Some 100000 acres have already
been sold without mineral reservation
and these mineral rights. II valuable,
should remain the property OF the
state, while, II not valuable, all rights
should be clear to the purchaser. A
survey would settle the question Of
the mineral character and probable
value OF the land for minerals and
would determine the status OF the
same, so that n prospective purchaser
would be duly advised and would have
no complaint on account OF mineral
reservations.
The publication OF such informa-
ton would undoubtedly lead to great.
err development and to increased eve
nues for schools, university and other
public institutions. By legislative &c.
ton. setting inside 10 per cent Of the
income from state lands, such u sur.
vey could be readily made and should
be under the direct supervision of the
state biologists department and un.
der the direct field supervision OF
competent biologists in charge.
At the same time such work Is be.
! ing 1nnn nDNn1a y-,<rHI a.,,Ta ..-ff-
be collected whereby we could get a
correlation OF geologic formations.
There are many reasons why this
should be done n one Of the first
Is that there would be found many
unexpected outcropp'ngs of strata
that would lead to oil and gas deyel.
opment where It is least thought OF
today.
This would eliminate the present
CONFUSION in the present oil producing
fields Of the state. The wasatch
should not be also known as the Wind
River or Fowke5. nor the TT. Union
ms the Evanston. Neither should the
Lance be known as the Laramie or
the Ho. and will the Fox Hills be tho
Lewis or the Ntoateetse7 Is the Park.
man the Eagle7 So on through tho
formations until h GRANTEES arc
reached.
II a state correlation should be
made, the incompetent person who
claims to be a geologist would easily
be detected and there would be less
fake" geologic reports in circulation.
Add to this rho fact tina ms outside
investor. knowing little or nothing OF
tho Wyoming strata, could get n
check from h stnts records where.
by no could know OF tho merits OF the
offered Investment.
1t Is the belief OF Tho writer that
very competent Beoiogista with q good
Z old crew to each, could he main.
timed IN tho field for tho better part
Of n year at a figure not In ezcess
OF $4,000 for eacit crew. This IL