New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-24

pasturage lands Of the United States they snail pe
permitted to do so and that they may lay out vii
lace as near as nav be TO the centre OF the tract OF
land entered, and live therein without prejudice 10
their rights as h0mesteadeTs provided they cuIi-
yate and use the lands they have entered. If this
recommendation should be made and adopted IL Is
believed that it would greatly stimulate nome
stead settlements.
TIMBER LANDS.
In the remote Western States and Territories the
question of ownership of timber lands and timber
has long been q vexed ore. 1t is believed that the
Commission will recommend radical change IN
the policy regarding lands of this cass-so radical
indeed, that it will be likely to evoke considerable
opposition in some quarters. Among the recon-
mendations of the Commission in regard to TIM
Der lands will probably he found the following:
First-That all timber lands Except those having
mineras) which are chiefly valuable for tlmper VI
commercial value shall be withdrawn from sale.
SecOnd-That all timber over certain size, say
eight inches III diameter growing on Jhe even hulu
bered sections of public land, may be sold Ior cs
in lots OF not less than forty acres OF more an ofo
acres each.
Thid-That such timber lands be divided into
three grades. and sold at prices corresponding 10
the value Of the timber growing in each grade. ,
Fowrth-Persons purchasing timber as above snail
remove it within specified period say hive years.
OF forfeit both the timber and purchase money.
Finh-That soon as timber is sold IT shall DC
come subject 10 taxation like other property; .n
Sigth-Ihat the Government shall retain the title
to the soil.
Sereath-That citizens Of the United States may
be permitted to cut and remove from any pn0llc
lands. other than those classified as timber lands'
such timber they may require for agricuitniMai, M
building, mining or other purposes, Dut not loI ''e
purpose of selling. -,
1t is believed that the above, and perhaps other
recommendations of a similar character, VIII pe
made with view to the preservation and repro
ductiOn Of the forests OF the West 1T Is altogether
probable, too that some additional provisions may
DC suggested to prevent depTedatlOns upon tlmpei
lands not subject 10 entry or sale as aDONO.
MINERAL LANDS
The present multfarious and conflicting laws and
regulations respecting the disposal of mineral lands
in the West, and the endlesss litigation to which
they have led, make this subject the most difficult
of any with which the Commission has had to DEAL
From what is known of the views of individual
members Of the Commission. especially those
of Director King and Major Powell, it is
believed that the recommendation relating to the
disposal OF mineral lands will favor a radical
change. In general terms it is known that the
gentlemen named believe that, if mining Is to be
coptinued and conducted as legitimate business
existing laws and customs must be radically
changed 1t is believed, therefore. that among the
recommendations of the Commission regarding the
disposal of mineral lands will be found the follow
ing:
First--That the time during which prospoctor or
discoverer shall be able to hold his claim by pos
sessOry title shall be fixed and limited by law.
SecOnd-Ihat all local organizations and regula-
tons respecting mining titles shall he abolished
and the sole jurisdiction Of all questions relating
thereto be reserved by the United States.
Third-That the lode location" which permits
a dscoverer to follow a lode any distance IN any
direction, whether within the boundaries of his
surface location or not, be repealed
Fourtk-That hereafter every mining claim shall
comprise a certain number of feet in breadth and
length on the surface and that subterranean prop
erty rights shall not extend beyond the surface
boundaries thus fixed. IL is quite probable that
the Commission may refrain for the present from
making any recommendations as to the area which
each location may comprise.
Ti6h-That q system of official survey and min
eral inspection he adopted to prevent blackmail
and robbery and TO obvIate the necessity OF legal
contests before claims are patented.
The report of the Commission will probably con-
tain q number of recommendations besides those
outlined above; but those mentioned are believed
to be of the greatest Importance and general inter-
est TO the public.