Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-10
LATE EASTERN NEWS.
1eI,ort OF Secretary Of the Interior.

again calls attention to the fact that
the waste and destruction of the big
redwood trees of California have
continued to be SO great as to cause
apprehension that in the course Of
wears these magnificent species may
entirely disappear, unless sol1e meas
ures be taken to preserve at least
a portion of them. He renews his
recommendation of last year that
the President he authorized TO with
draw fiom sale or other disposition
an area at least equal 20 Il township
in the Coast range in northern Cali
fornia and an equal area in the
southern part OF California upon
which these interesting trees grow.
He remarks that u bill has been in
troduced III Congress to accomplish
this object and has not yet been act
ed on and adds: 1t seems important
that if any measure for the preserva
ton of these species of trees is to be
.:ken ut all it should be done rs soon
as possible. | therefore recommend
the subject to the attention of Con-
grcsS.
The Secretary also rencws his
last years recommendation for the
enactment of Senator Edmunds' bill
to provide for the settlement of pri-
vate land claims in all territory de-
rived from Mexico except California.
He says with reference to tho public
land commission bill now pending
in Congress: The importance of the
passage OF this or some similar bill
by Congress cannot be over estima-
ted. Existing laws for surveys and
disposal of public domain were en-
acted mainly while Government was
disposing of public lands east of the
Missouri river. The climate, soil
and products of the land west of the
Tooth meridian are so entirely differ
ent from those east of it rs to re-
quire legislation especially applying
thereto. Early action upon this bill
is urgently demanded by public in
terests as settlement in our Western
Territories progresses. l beg that
the attention of Congress be invited
to this important subject
The main features of legislation
urged by Secretary Schurz for the
protection of Government lands and
the preservation of the forests Of the
country are as follows:
First--That the Government should
be authorized to sell timber from
lands principally valuable for timber
growing on them, that is to say, not
agricultural or mineral, at reason
able, perhaps even at mere nominal
rates to supply all domestic needs
and all wants of local business en-
terprises rs we'll as of commerce, the
latter SO far as compatible with pub
lie interest.
Secondly That these sales of
timber be SO regulated as to preserve
the necessary proportion of the for
est on public lands from waste and
;ndiscriminate destruction. Such IL
policy can, in his opinion, be carried
out without great cost with simple
machinery and in perfect ustice to
the wants of settlers and business
enterprises of the country. 1t is
virtually the policy proposed by the
public land commission in their re-
port and bill submitted to Congress
at its last session He again urges
the enactment of n law prescribing
severe penalties for willful negli-
gence or careless setting of fires upon
public lands and providing for the
recovery of damages to be sustained.
In his report Secretary Schurz
recommends liberal appropria
ton for the extension of the geologi-
cal survey all over the United States.
He recommends that four new Gov
eminent buildings of adequate size
be erected on tho three blocks sur
rounding Lafayette square, opposite
the Executive Mansion for the Inte-
rior Department, The lepcrt also
contains synopsis of reports furn-
ished under special instructions OF
the department by Governors of va
rious Territories setting forth their
material resources and their respcc-
tive attractions for immigrants.
Judge Black on Railroad Rates.
New York, Dec. Judge Black,
responding to the New York Cham
Der of Commerce for an opinion rs
to the injury iluctuating and dis
eliminating rates of railroad trans
portation charges, sends two
column reply, in which he makes the
following points: Railroad men be-
lieve, or pretend to believe, that
railroads are the property of the
companies authorized to run them
which is cardinal error, and the
parent of much false argument. \
public highway cannot be private
property, and railroad laid out and
built by authority of the State, for
purposes Of commerce, is as much
public highway as turnpike road.
canal or navigable river. Tax rolls
or freight, in any case, is not the