The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-03

Cheerful tidings of "all quiet sO lnr como
up from PascagOula, though the deadlock
there between the county Nhcrin and the
United States Marshal for the possession of
the rcplcvcd logs still holds fast. CT CAR
TER thinks that the crisis Is over. and that,
with the marines from New Orleans uearthe
scene Of hostilitics at Grlln's Mill. the lum-
bcrmcn will yield without bloodshod.
This Mississippi case is only one Of many
in which millions OF dollars worth Of logs
have been carried of from Government
lands. owing to the corruption or the incapac-
ity OF the Washington authorities and their
undcrlngs. When. through the weakness.
rcckcssncss or crime of its guardians, other
Government property Il dcstroycd--as when
public building is burned or a valuable
ship is wrcckcd-thc people arc startled in
to thoughtfulncss by the glaring disaster;
but this loss of timber, being a silent. steady
stripping of value from the Governments
largest item of tangible prupcrty-tho pub
lie lands-roccivcs little attention. Few
people suspect the extent OF the loss, and no
Investigation of its causes Is made by
Congress.
Nevertheless, official testimony shows that
in Minnesota alone upward OF sixty million
feet Of white pine logs have been cut and re-
moved from the vacant public lands, which,
at the average of five dollars per thousand
1cct, would give total value Of more than
three hundred thousand dollars When. ut
length public Indignation was arouscd-for
the dcprcdatOrs could easily undersell their
rivals having their raw material free-the
facts were SO clear that. out of twenty-nine
civil suits recently brought at st. Paul
against the trcSpasscrs. the Government got
verdicts In nineteen; while the other ten are
still pending, and will, no doubt, 60 the same
way. The twenty-five criminal suits have
resulted in some convictions or pleas OF
guilty and in continuance of the re-
maindcr. Many other suit, are in prcpara-
tion while not n few depredators have has
tened to make voluntary resolutions. These
cases concerned existing logs in the booms.
The character Of the millOwncrs and others
engaged in this business shows that plum
dcring public lands had como 10 be an ex-
tcnsive and almost respectable custom. In
Arizona, Also vast amounts Of timber are
taken from the public lands 10 make char
coal for furnaces. As for the Govern
mcnt timber Of the Gulf States, the deprc-
dations upon il are enormous, and have been
going on for many years.
These results suggest how the nominal
guardians of the public property have been,
in these modern days. discharging their
trusts. Commissioner WILLIAMSON of the
Land Ollcc thinks that Congress might do
well TO authorize the summary seizure OF
timber stolen from the public lands, SO as tn
avoid the roundabout process Of the courts
and also that Congress. taught by pu-t cX-
| pcrience should specially provide for the
care and custody OF timber lands not adapt
cd TO agriculture, and for the gradual sale
Of the timber rs well rs for renewing the
growths and rappraising and selling such
lands as it may be best TO sell. That some
legislation on the subjet is needed seems 10
hc clear, as hitherto the public timber lands
lave been simply scenes Of promiscuous
/ pllagc.