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Show 1ILEBILL J. C. Howard Reports Indications Indi-cations Are Congress Will Pass Measure. John C. Howard, president of tlio l'tah Oil Refilling company returned last night from Washington, D. C, where, us a counselor for tho National Petroleum institute, ho has been conferring with government authorities on thu mineral land leasing bill before congress. Mr. Howard said that the bill is now in conference, with every indication that it will bo reported favorably and that upon approval by congress it will be signed by the president. The bill provides pro-vides for the leasing of mineral lands containing coal, soda, phosphate, oil and gas. The passage of tbe bill will mean great development for Utah and adjoining states, Mr. Howard said, in that it will open for development much mineral land in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, and some coal hinds in Idaho. Eastern capi-fahsts, capi-fahsts, Air. Howard said last night, have been slow to invest in mineral land undertakings un-dertakings in the west because of the absence of titles to the -property. The passage of tbe bill, he added, will eliminate elimi-nate this difficulty and will mean much progress. Senators William H. King and Iteed Smoot, My. Howard said, have been active ac-tive in then' support of the measure. Both of the Utah congressmen are playing play-ing active parts on tho floor of the senate, sen-ate, according to Mr. Howard, Senator King being the "watchdog" oi the Democratic Demo-cratic side of the. house add Senator rimoot of the .Republican side, both watching the legislative calendar closely. While in W ashi ngl.on Mr. Howard also conferred with officers of the department of the interior in regard to methods of reducing carbon from gas, and the development de-velopment of this carbon and other byproducts by-products of gas for commercial purposes. Mr. Howard stated 'that, with associates, associ-ates, he plans to soon start construction on a $1,000,000 plant in Wyoming for the reduction of carbon from gas, This carbon, car-bon, he said, is used as the base for printers' ink n nd is now being utilized in the manufacture of automobile I ires. Mr. Howard started a similar plant at Cowley, ' Wyo., two years ago. with an investment of more than $1 ,0it.i,ijOO. This plant has proved the practicability of tbe processes de eloped by the government experts and the oil men, Mr. Howard said. |