New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-04
r. regions the percentages are larger.

fully adequate to the growth Of all the forests which the
be protected from desoation by fire. No limitation
Of the nse Of the forests need be made The amount
but small proportion to the amount when tne
rss w the bT ana annual S s W a Pn
replace that taken by man. The protection OF the
ncsd Of 'oe ee ara ro 81 ,ne tosae be
saved from fire The Winter has witnessed TWO hres IL
ali that used by the citizens Of that state from its
the day and at iens re fTeS ber
than than that taken by the people of the Terri
tory since It's occupation. Similar fires have been
Everyv throughout the Rocky Mountain region the
explorer away from the beaten paths OF civilization
meets with great Of dead f0rest pines with naked
and charred trunks, attestng to the former pres
ence of this great destroyer The younger forests are
everywhere beset with fallen timber, attesting TO the
rgor OF the ames and IN seasons OF great drought the
mountaineer sees the heavens filled with clouds OF
smoke.
In the main these fires set by Indians Driven
from the lowlands by advancing civilization; they re-
sort TO the higher until they forced back by
the deep SHOWS of Winter. Want caused by the re-
striced area TO which they resort for food the de-
sire for Injuries which they strangers In their
primitive condition. and especially the desire for personal
adornmeni together With supply Of more effective a,
years. during the rapid settlement OF tins county since
Greatly e dseGES Sl gGs a4s t Of for
the wealth aud currency OF the savage on their hun
ing excursions they systematically set fire to the forests
for the purpose of driving the game. This is fact well
known TO all mountaineers. Only the white hunters OF
the region properly understand why these fires set,
II being usually attributed TO wanton desire on the
part Of the Indians to destroy that Which of o value to
tailed by the removal OF the Indians.
PAsTURAGE LANDS.
There still remain to be discussed the pasturage
lands which lie between the timber region and the
irrigable lands. OF these Major Powell says:
There certain conditions under which these pastur
age lands be employed worthy OF consideration.
The grass is scaDty that the herds
man must have largo for the support Of
stn In section Of land
alone is OF value to him. The pasturage 1t affords is
entirely inadequate to the wants OF herd that the
est needs for his support Four square miles may be
considered the minimum amount necessary for pas
turage farm. and still greater amount is ne
cessary for the larger part OF the lands That
value must be Of least 1850 acres. and in many dis
they he much larger. For the determination
OF the proper unit for pasiurage farms the writer has
conferred with many persons living IN the Rocky Noun
tain region who have had experience His own obserya-
tons haze been extensive, and for many years.
while conducting surveys and making long jour
neys through the arid region TINS question mas
been uppermOst IN bis mind He fears that TINS
estimate WI d-appont many OF ms western rlehds,
who will think ho has placed the minmuc TOO low bur
making the most thorough examination of the sub
sc possible, lac believes the amount 10 bc sufficient for
the best pnsturagc lands especially snch as are adjacent
the minor streams of the general drainage, ana When
these have been taken Dy actnil setef ne slZr on e
pasturage farms may be Increased as experience proves
Regular division lines for pasturage farms not
practicable Many brook which runs nut short ais
will afJrd sufficient water for number OF pas
tracts a. square miles townships. all the water suf
cent for number of pasuragc farms may fall entirely
within division II the lands are thus surveyed only
the divisions having VIII be taken and the farmer
obtaining title such division or farm could pract-
cy occupy all the country adjacent by owning the water
necessary lis For this divisional surveys
should conform 10 the topography and be so made "a u
These lands viii maintain but a scanty popu-
laiion. The homes must necessarily be widely
must be large That the inhabitants of these
.T artr
etc. the benefits OF cooperation IN the construction
of roads bridges and other local improvements, 1t Is
essential that the residences should lie grouped 10 the
greatest possible extent This may be practically accom-
gtaphc features In such manner 10 give the greatest
possible number or water irOnt-.
The great which stock must roam to obtain
subsistence usually prevents the praccabiiy OF ienc-
ing the lands II viii rot pay TO fence the pasturage
fields hence IN many cases the lands must be OCCUPIED
by herd- roaming For poor men. coOpera-
Tor "ccuancy Of the ground and for the division
The increase herds. such communal regulations
have already devised In many parts OF the country
COLONIES SUGGESTED.
Major Powell then gives n brief review Of the land
system Of the United States. showing that it is not
adapted to encourage the settlement of lands in the
ard regions. He continues:
Certain important facts relating to the pasturage
farms may be aivantageousy rcstatcd The farm unit
should not De less than 1880 acres. The pasturage
farm. need small bodies Of rrigable land. The
division OF these lands should he controlled
by Topographic features To give water fronts
Residences the pasturage lands should he
grouped The pasturage farms cannot be fenced !:
they must be occupied The homestead and
prcGmption methods inadequate 10 meet these con-
dillon- general law should be enacted 10 provide for
the organization OF pn,turago districts In which
the residents should have the ught TO make
their own regulations for the division Of the
lands. the use Of water for irrigation and for
watering the stock aud for the pa,turase Of the
pnsturage farm of the district should be owned by
Individual that l. these lands could be settled and im-
proved by the colony plan better than by any other
Il should not understood that the coOnysystem APP
plies only to such persons rs migrate rom the East IN
organize. In fact large bodies OF these lands
would be taken by people who are already ~ the couil
about seeking water and grass; ply making no
permanent residences ana no valuable inprg'Ve-
inents. such plan would give Immediate FeIeI TO
all these people, This district or colony system
the 5asis OF all the mining district organizations OF me
west Under 10 the local rules and regulations Tor the
managed better than thev coulu possibly Dc inner
specific statutes Of the United States The association
FROM having undue control Of natural privilege. and
equitable division OF mineral lands and all
this IN secured obedience 10 statutes OF the united
states providing general regulations. Customs are form
ing and regulations are beng made BY comon consent
among the people In Districts already, but these
provide for the requirement Of titles OF land
No incentive given tine Improvement OF the country,
ana no legal security TO pastnrage rights.
IT, then, the irrtgablc lands be taken In duan-
titles to suit purchasers. ana the colony system u
Industry II the timber lands opened TO timber en-
tcrprscs. aud the pasurage lands offered 10 settlement
under n colony Ilan ike that indicated above, a
land system would be provided for tho arid
region adapted the wants or hl persons
drsiiing 10 become actual settlers thereon. Thous-
ands Of men who own herds, aud live a semi
noinadic fc thousands of persons VINO now roam from
mountain range mountain prospecting for gold,
silver and other minerals. thousands OF men who re-
pair TO that country and return disappointed RON me
fact that they practically debarred from the public
lands and thousands Of persons In the Eastern States
without employment or dscontented win the rewards
I.I., rnrIdz adj Iy Ind Rocky
Mountain region
MIDNIGHT WEA IHER REPORT.