The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-11-29
Secretary Schurz Discourses
on Timber Lands.
Further Particulars of the
Pommerania Disaster.
Persia Threatens War With
Turkey.
WASHINGTON.
Timber Talk.

I
Washington, Nov. %. = Secretary
Schurz devotes considerable space to
the subject of timber lands. Referring
to the measures taken for the suppress
sion of timber depredations upon the
government lands he says:
''It was to be expected they would
meet with stubborn opp osition on the
part Of lumberinen and, others directly
or indirectly interestedin in these depre-
dations. Here and there the proceed
ings OF special agents of the depart
ment were complained Of as oppressive
and otherwise improper, and in every
instance careful inquiries into the facts
were instituted. such inquiries re-
suited almost uniformly in vindica.
tion Of the agents employed. When it
was found that private property had
been seized, together, with timber un-
lawfully taken from public lands, or
with lumber manufactured from them,
which was = sometimes unavoidable,
prompt restitution was promptly or
dered. Complaint has been made that
our efforts to arrest the wanton de-
struction Of forests In soms of the
mountainous territories of the north
west had inflicted great hardships upon
the settlers there, but there Is informa-
tion in possession Of this department,
showing that no such hardship resulted
from the measures taken, that the price
Of tirewood remained the same, that
the settlers were not hindered in pro-
wing for their actual necessities, and
that the measures ofl the Department
were directed only against class of
persons who made theIunlawful taking
and selling of timber from the public
lands in large quantities . arezular busi-
ness and source Of profit to themselves.
We cannot close our eyes to the fact
that anything like complete success in
suppressing unlawful practices is i'm
possible unless the efforts made by this
department for the protection of public
property meet with hearty cooperation
on the part of the legislative branch of
the government. Actual experience
enables me to say that want Of such CO.
operation has been and will be an en-
couragement to depredators to persist
In their lawless operations and to defy
the authorities. The Secretary ex-
presses his opinion of the disastrous
consequences which always follow the
destruction of forests which will inva-
riably come upon US in a comparatively
short period Of time, considering the
rApidity with which the timber growth
Of this country is Icing swept away,
unless legislation be enacted to arrest
this indiscriminate spoliation. To that
end he earnestly renews his recommend
alton for the passage Of a bill, already
introduced in Congress at his sugges-
tion, which provides that all timber
bearing lands chiefly valuable for the
timber on them, shall be withdrawn
from sale or other disposition under ex-
isting laws, and be held by the govern
ment, with view Of preventing indis-
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will no longer be sufficient to supply
our home wants, and it is high time
that the old notion that timber on
the public lands belongs to anybody and
everybody, to be taken off at pleasure,
should give way. A provident policy,
having our future wants in view, can
/ not be adopted too soon. Every year. 8