The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-11-16
A Letter from tlsc & eneral Land Office
in Regard TO Burned Timber.

From the East Saginaw Enterprise.
The Register of the Land Office in this
district, Hon. w. r. Bates, having been
repeatedly written to by settlers, occupants
Of Government lands, and who have been
sufferers by the recent fires, asking if they
could make use Of the injured timber to
assist them in their distress The general
impression is that all burned timber must
be cut Immediately if it is to be made into
lumber, as the borers will soon begin to
destroy them. The Register wrote to
the Land Office for information on the
matter, and the following VIII show the
result:
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
WAsHISGTON, D. c. Oct. 3, 1871.
Register and Reccircr, East .Sagnar,
Michigan:
GESTLENES:-I have received the Regis
ter's letter of the 10th inst, in regard to
homestead settlers in your Land District
having suffered by the fires which lately
burned along the shores of Saginaw BAY,
in which he says: In many instances
timber stood upon these homesteads which
have been burned over by the fires, and un.
less the timber is cut this winter, it becomes
comparatively valueless. If cut this win.
ter, these settlers will be enabled to live
through the winter upon advances made
upon the timber; if not allowed to do So
they will be compelled to suffer very great
ly."
1t will devolve upon you to deal as tim
Der agents with the cases to which thu
Registers letter refers.
In regard to the rights of settlers, undel
the homestead and presumption laws, yor
,,ofr t.1 hot how III
TO use the timber, on the tract covered by
their settlements, to the extent nccessar,
for domestic purposes, such as building
fencing, fuel, etc, although not entitled tt
cut the timber for sale or speculation, un
til, as regards the pre-emptor, he has prov
ed up and paid for the land and as regard:
the homestead settler, until five years after
the date of entry he has made the necessary
proof of settlement and cultivation, and OBJ
tanned final certificate.
In common with the people of the whole
country we sympathize with the sufferers
BY the late fires, and greatly desire to aiC
them, but it is not in our power to donat,
the public timber for that object, beyond
what the parties may be entitled to as set
tiers under the law. In some cases, how
ever, there may be timber rendered worth
less TO the Government IN consequence o
the fires, which may be regarded as deac
or waste timber but which bona tde set
tiers on the land may be able to dispose of
so as to tighten the calamity under whicl
they suffer, to aid in restoring their improve
ments destroyed by the fires, and in pro
curing the means of continuing their settle
mcnts and cultivation of the land.
In dealing with such cases it may be i
your power, in exercising a sound discrc
ton, to aid the settler while keeping With
the limits of your official duty. In dom
so it would not in my opinion be ineumben
on you to proceed against or treat as tres
passer the honest settler who might max
use of such timber to the end of perfectin
his homestead or prevention title to tn
land, involving no loss to the Government
~ WILLIS DRUMNoND,
Commissioner.