Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-12-06

ties desire TO continue chopping wood. and
be free from liability to prosecution. they
can only do SO by entering land
under fbe Homestead or Presumption acts.
The following circular explains why the
! protection of the timber lands was taken
from the superintendent Of the General
Land Office and also tie object of Mr.. VIM.
Nowlan's late visit to this section. 1t also
tells What his duties are and the nature of
the reports lie is required to make the De-
partment Of the Interior:
| CIRCULAR.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
General Land Office,
WASHINGTON, e. e.. May 2, 1877.
To Registers and Receirers Z. s. Land
office:
COMMUNICATIVE Secretary Of the In
terror has concluded to change the method
formerly adopted for protecting the timber
on the public lands, by which you were
made agents for that purpose within thu
limits Of your respective land districts, rs
per circular OF December "a. 1855. Pursr-
mt to directions from him OF the 9Th ult..
the instructions Of that circular arc hereby
revoked.
Hereafter, rs it may be found advisable.
tom time TO time. for the end in View.
clerks or employees will be detailed from
tbs Office. to act under instructions of the
Commissioner in ascertaining when, where
and by whom depre'lations have been COM
mit,ed upon the public lands. and to report
20 him the facts in each case.
If. upon an examination Of the reports
so obtained. the Commissioner finds that
The facts elected in any case warrant the
commencement Of legal proceedings to
punish the trespasscrs. or to collect dam
rges for the waste already committed. or
both. he will report the same to the Secrc-
tary of the Interior. with his opinion there
on. in order that such further proceedings
may be had in the premises as the case
may require.
The clerks or employees detailed rs
will not be permitted to make any
for depresla,ions committed
On the public lands. If any propositions
ire submitted to them with that object.
hey will be required to report tie same to
his Office. with full statement Of the
acts in the case. showing the nature and
extent of said depretlatiOns. wien and by ,
whom committed. the amount and valilt ,
If the timber when cut. and the value OF I
he land in its present and former cOnd- :
ion. all of which. together with the Opin- /,
On of the Commissioner. will be submitted E
o the head of the department for further
consideration.
If. in any case. the emergencies should q
eem to require more prompt action than
J contemplated in the rules above indi-
atcd. in Ordert to arrest the offender. or TO :,
ec,lre the Government for the damages =
Uttered. it will be the duty of the clerk or =
nplOyc detailed to act in the matter. to =
lake direct application to the United States -
district Attorney for the district in which :: !:
he waste was committed. to institute the
roper legal proceedings for that purpose. = =
his course. however. must be taken only n
cases where the evidence is clear and in =.
sputable. =;
The foregoing is communicated for your
formation. You will observe t,,crefrom
Iat you are not hereafter to act as agents
II tie protection Of the public timber. al
Tough your cooperation is expected w
lenever you may be called on to render y
to officials charged with the duty a.
Very respectfully, ~
j. 4. WILLIAMSON, '''
Commissioner. VI
-. :. !, ca:
We cliO the following from tie LuGeneu- 20