Rocky Mountain husbandman., 1880-06-17
.,othp Moun<zm
Susbandn'a"
R. N. SUTHERLIN, Editor.
W. H. sUTHERLIN, Assistant Editor
THURSDAY, JUNE II, 1880.

mission which has SO strongly threateaed
the great West with ruin, and we trust he
may thwart them on every turn. His
speech, on the 2Sth ult., against the $780,
900 appropriation bill for the prosecution of
the scientific geological surveys, was a pow
erful effort, and showed material difference
between one thoroughly conversant with
practical mining and one whose knowledge
is only theoretical. In concluding his re-
marks, he dwelt as follows on the gigantic
scheme inaugurated to take the public do
main from the homesteader and pre-emptor,
the poor man who is not likely to get a more
costly home, and give it to a few who haYe
their millions. Major Maginnis said:
III confess that my people and myself do
NOT feel very kindly to the legislative action
which has resulted in the organization of
this survey, and Of the land commission,
which was organized, inspired and directed
very largely by gentlemen of this survey,
and by the Academy Of Sciences which
made its recommendations to Congress- The
first work of that commission has been a
report in favor of changes in our land and
mining laws, against which solid and uni
versal protest comes up from the Pacific
States and Territories. Members OF that
commission went into the Territories osten-
sibly to acquire correct information They
must have wofully misapplied their time.
They come in here with bill. introduced
with all the sanction of the approval OF the
Department, and all the weight of special
message from the President What will
that bill do if Congress is mad or foolish
enough to adopt it? It will disarrange all
our mining laws and put an end to deep
mining and prospecting in this country 1t
will abolish placer mining laws and customs
and dispose Of our placers-those great
sources Of wealth--as common lands Un-
der the plea that the country west of the
one hundredth meridian is desert and arid,
the great mass of irrigable lands can be
taken up by companies and spectators.
The land that is our sacred trust as homes
for the people can be taken up and held by
monopolists. Large companies, organized
in New York and elsewhere, can purchase
our grazing lands by counties and kingdoms,
and Craze their herds to the utter exclusion
Of our farmers and small stock raisers. The
people who take the irrgable lands can
hold them indefinitely before making final
proof and expenditure, and forever shut out
the homesteader and pre-emptor.
..Mr. Chairman, in your desk this past
winter we had an Irish member of the Brit
ish Parliament Mr.. ParnelD We did him
the extraordinary honor of inviting him to
address this House on the evils which large
land-holdings and nonresident proprietor
ship had brought upon fertile and beauti-
full land. | warn gentlemen here that if the
changes in our land laws which these scien-
sifie gentlemen advise are adopted, your
new Territories will be monopolized by nom
resident proprietors. These changes are
urged on by some gentlemen from mistaken
views, but in my judgment they are born Of
the desires of great cattle kings and OF
wealthy stock companies who wish to en-
gage in raising sheep and cattle, and to oc-
cupy the land to the exclusion of the peo-
pie. Otherwise, why this pressing influence
brought to bear ON Congress? Why this
clamor from great commercial centers to get
at our lands in large bodies, to occupy them
as stock preserves, as the highlands of Scot
land are occupied as game preserves-to
make new Ireland out of our Western
Territories, where the homesteader and pre-
emptor cannot 60.
'sI have from the first opposed this whole
scheme, which, in the name of science. has
made scientific advance on this House. [
will give them the credit of saying that new
er has any scheme been so scientifically lob
bied am in favor of the proper use OF
this survey and all surveys. Why should |
not be? But am opposed to this organ
lied attempt, which feel everywhere, to
turn the opinions of the country in regard
to our minds and lands in wrong drec-
ten, and shall oppose every attempt to rob
labor of the right to mine in our mountains
and gulches, and to rob the settler of a right
10 a home on our public lands" Applause. ]
The long looked for rains which prevail