Items of Interest April 18, 1914 Issue

Items of Interest

"The time is likely to come when the deposited phosphates in our western lands will be regarded as of almost priceless worth. Few appreciate how very extensive these deposits are. They run for hundreds of miles through Wyoming, Utah, Montana, and Idaho, and in other states similar deposits of lesser extent are known to exist. We have millions of acres of phosphate lands which are estimated to contain several billion tons of phosphate rock; undoubtedly the world's largest known reserve." These are the words of the secretary of the interior. A bill has been introduced in Congress which is intended to make available for immediate development the phosphate deposits of the West. It is a bill to authorize exploration for and disposition of oil, gas, potassium, phosphate, and coal owned by the United States and not otherwise reserved. Not only does the bill provide for the leasing and development of these public lands, but it also guards in the most stringent fashion against monopolization.

After July 1 next, no alcoholic liquors will be served on any warship of the United States, nor can they be obtained in any naval station ashore. Secretary Daniels of the navy department has made public the order to banish alcoholic drink from the United States navy. This order was issued upon the recommendation of Surgeon-General Braisted. Its concluding words are: "Commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order." In a statement Secretary Daniels said: "I am in hearty agreement with the views expressed by the surgeon-general in his paper accompanying the recommendation. There should not be on shipboard, with reference to intoxicants, one rule for officers and another and a different rule for the enlisted personnel."

The United States court has filed an opinion at Trenton, N. J., dismissing the suit of the United States government against the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Coal Company for alleged violations of the commodities clause of the Hepburn law and the Sherman antitrust law. The court holds that there is no United States law or decision prohibiting the same set of individuals form holding stock in two distinet corporations, even though they may be engaged in kindred business. The case in all probability will go direct to the Supreme Court of the United States.

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