OCR Text |
Show Leasing of Governmtnt Lands. The chief change, howevar, which ought to be made, and which I have already recommended in previous messages and communications to congress, con-gress, Is that by which government coal land and phosphate and other mineral lands containing n .netal-llfermjs .netal-llfermjs minerals, shall be leased by the government, with restrictions as to size and time, resembling those which now obtain throughout the country between tbe ownfs In fee and the leesee who work the mines, and In leases like those which have been most successful In Australia, New Zealand, and Nova Scotia. The showing made by Investigations Into tbe successful working of the leasing system reaves no doubt as to Its wisdom wis-dom and practical utility. Requirements Require-ments as to tbe working of the mine during the term may be so framed as to prevent any holding of lnrs:e mining properties merely for speculation, specula-tion, while the royalties may be made sufficiently low, not unduly to Increase In-crease the cost of the coal mined, and it the same time sufficient to furnish a reasonable Income for tbe use of tbe rmbllc In tbe community where the mining goes on. In Alaska, there Is no reason why a substantial Income should not thus be raised for such public works as may be deemed necessary or useful. |