Salt Lake Telegram | 1926-01-22 | Page 11 | Our School Lands

L- L I Our School Lands I 9 GOVERNOR DERNS DERN'S initiative to get get et a z definite un understanding g with the national government on oil Utah's sch school ol sections in the sections of the state is not only commendable but of great importance to the people of Utah Gove Governor nor Dern is insisting that the states state's title to the school sections be acknowledged as of date of the enabling act and nd vand not when the land i is s s surveyed It is impossible for Utah to exactly identify its school sections until a survey is made but Governor Derns Dern's contention is that when the he survey is made and the sections are definitely located o then title to the land should pass I to o the state Tile national government has taken the attitude that if any mineral or or oil land is isi i j discovered on the states state's school sections then the land reverts back to the government i In other words school sections given the state under the enabling act are taken back backby backby backby by the government t if tl ey are discovered tobe to tobe tobe be valuable mineral or oil lands With ther the r Southeastern section of Utah a potential oil field it is of great importance to Utah that definite title be granted the state for its I r J school chool sections at the time surveys arc are made Then if these sections prove to be oil lands the state will derive a great financial l 1 r revenue revenue from them There certainly should a statute of limitations as to when the 4 w government can bring contests ag against the state slate for state school lands The state now never Chas l has as an absolute title to its school lands in inthe inthe the public domain It It behooves Utah's Utah s 's members mem mem- m members mers m- m bers ers in congress to exert every effort to protect protect pro pro- teet the states state's title to its school sections inthe in inthe the public domain and correct the present i condition Prompt steps should be taken toA to A i s r immediately y survey urvey all the ed pu public lic T domain p. p aIll wI within hm th the state and definitely givey give y the state title to its school lands III in accordi accord- accord i t i with the enabling abling I act