The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-15
PROTECT THE PUBLIC DOMAIN

PROTECT THE PUBLIC DOMAIN | According to the report of federal agents, who have just completed an investigation in 1 Alabama, millions of tons of coal belonging to the government have been improperly ta- ken from approximately seventy five thousand acres of the public mineral reserve in this state. It is indicated that civil and not criminal claims will be laid against much of these unauthorized operations-but it is in- conceivable that companies or individuals proceeding on large scale would not have accurate knowledge as to their legal bounda ries and mineral rights. They might keep any transgressions of such boundaries a se- cret from others, but it is hardly likely that they would seek to fool themselves. With so many national examples of deliberate scheming improperly to win private control of public resources, it is not hard to believe that where such control hes been % easily attainable as A consequence of government cerns at least have knowingly taken what did not belong to them. An assumption of ignorance as to the soundness of title would not comport we'll with the attributes of sa- gacity the public has been accustomed to concede to big business.
 Fortunately, the government can determine very closely the amount of mineral taken from unauthorized areas. This can be done both from the records of the companies con- cerned, and from measurement of the mines The processes of recovery are well outlined which recovery would not De possible would be those of sueh long standing that the nat ural processes of time and change would forestall action. Inasmuch as mining in Alabama on a large scale is of comparatively recent development, it is inferred that the bulk of the claims are recoverable. Ger tainly it will be possible to halt further im- proper taking of mineral from the federal reserve deposits, or to make appropriate agreements whereby the governments title is recognized and safeguarded.
 
 looked that the government itself has not been sufficiently diligent in protecting the public domain from plunderings What has been occurring in Alabama has without doubt been occurring wherever the government has in similar manner failed to guard its pos sessions of exploitive value. Millions of tons in Alabama mean hundreds of millions of tons throughout our territory. If coal has suffered from depreciation, whether inadver- tent or deliberate, then other minerals have suffered in like manner and degree. It now appears of imperative public moment to turn even thus tardily to more effective protection of public reserves and resources of whatever nature. It is history in Alabama, for ex- ample, that timber has been wrongfully ta. ken from certain of the school lands, to the great profit of the spoilers. Unfortunately this was often accomplished through the con- nivance of those officially entrusted with the preservation of these reserves.
 Cleaning wisdom from experience, the re. course of most lasting value is to make as surance doubly sure that encroachment on the public property shall stop short off, and that there shall in the future be no easy op. portunity for further depredations. The names of the offending concerns in Alabama are for the moment withheld. The principle however, is unalterable. The public right must be protected and the rapacity of private operatives must be sternly and abruptly checked. Atonement must also be rigidly exacted for the mineral already improperly taken. Where the operation has been crimi nal, there should be no hesitation in bringing the offenders to impartial justice.