The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-07
= THE TIMBER QUESTION.

-trHr TIMBER QUESTION. !,
The recent order of the Commissioner 81
the General Land Office prohibiting the IN
discriminate cutting OF timber for mining
purposes has occasioned consloeIADo
alarm among those engaged in producing
and smelling ores. and has gwen rise 20 q
i, great deal OF bitter comment in the mining
districts. There is no doubt, however, tnat
the Objectionable features OF the order VIII
be revoked, just as soon as the Depa.'-
ment investigates the matter. 1t Is 20 DC
presumed that if the timber cut ostenslply
for mi ling had not been used for other pur-
poses, the Honorable Commissions would
not rave promulgated such an lron-clao Oh.
der, notwithstanding that the privileges Oh
mining and smelling operators are CONNIE"
to mineral reservations for their timber.
| There is still plenty of timber on the nm
| eral reservations to meet the legitimate de-
| mands for mining and smelling for a con-
| siderable length OF time. and il contractors
who furnish wood for such purposes only
confined their operations to those reserVa-
| tions, as there is good reason to think they
| do not, there would be no complaints OF
| open or constructive violation OF timber
privileges.
Contractors for furnishing wood for min
ing and smelling, in their eagerness to make
all the money they can do not differ ma
terially from those contracting for supplies
or any other services. Such contracts
sometimes involve the furnishing OF millions
OF cords of fire wood at stipulated prices.
This holds out a great inducemen+ for them
to cut the wood at points nearest to the
places OF delivery, hence they rarelystop to
consider whether they get it from mineral
reservations, or other public lands, and
sometimes even the lands of private owners
are invaded and the timber cut off by them.
In districts where there is sufficient timber
on mineral reservations to meet the require
ments OF mining and smelling the rule pre-
venting it's destruction on other lands ought
to be rigidly enforced, without fear or
favor.
Every disinterested citizen must deplore
the great waste and wanton destruction OF
forests on the public domain. Timber, If
only used for such legitimate purposes as
building railroads, making fences, and in
the erection of houses and other necessary
improvements for actual settlers on the
public domain, would necessarily consume
the forests in a few generations. What
then would be the consequence it the Gov
eminent continues to countenance the
wholesale robbery OF it's timber lands, as it
seems to have done for the last W Or
three decades? Why, in less than ten years
every valuable tree belonging to the public
would be cut down, converted into square
timber, boards and firewood, and sold as
merchandise by corporations and others,
thereby enriching them at the expense of
the public.
The people cannot afford to allow specu-
lators to prey upon their common prop
erty. They have no more right to take
timber from the public domain, for specu-
lative purposes, than they have to break
into a mans private house and carry away
his property, and, therefore it is that the
authorities have been aroused to a proper
realization of the responsibilities devolving
upon them as trustees for the whole nation,
and at once enforce thelaws rigidly against
those who, without any authority, are de-
spelling the public domain and robbing the
people OF their heritage. What excuse, if
any, cal there be for permitting such van
dalisln? What benefits do the consumers
of lumber derive from it? These questions
answer themselves, for first, there is no law
justifying public OF private plumber, and
second, consumers are required to pay just
as much, if not more, for their own lumber,
to spectators, made out of their own
trees as for any other. Lumber in the
East, manufactured from timber cut on
property and paid for, sells for
sometimes less than one-half the price paid
for the same material at many points con-
to the public domain.
This question is of such a serious charac-
ter as to demand that it should be seriously
considered. The present and future gener-
ations own the timber, and their rights [
must be protected. The administration OF
Cleveland has manifested during it's
first few months OF authority a proper re-
gard for the rights of the whole people in
the public domain. 1t has battered down
the fences audaciously erected by foreign
cattle kings, who insolently %arrogated to
the exclusive right to millions
OF acres OF the finest grazing lands on the s
public prairies. This has thrown open i'm
mense farming and grazing tracts to actual
and private American cattle ~raisers. ,
It las notified, in unmistakable terms, !
those spectators engaged in despoiling the {
public forests for their own enrichment, not I
only that they must desist in their unlaw- ,
practices, but that they will be dealt !
with according to law. These are the evils
chat the Administration has determined to e
correct, and not ITO impede mining opera =
AS the enemies OF Grover Cleveland =
alleged There is no doubt but il
he Importance of the great industry of Q
mining and reducing gold silver, copper g
md lead will receive the consideration it !
10 ricfhy merits, and that, if the laws are -
my impeachment to it's prosperity, Congress b
sill be advised to repeal oAmend them so y
hat their Objectionable features may be "
egally removed. q
The tenement house population OF New t
is being >accinated by order of the o
aw. AS the winter closes in upon US, and 9
mallpox has made it's appearance in at .
one section Of the Territory, parents -,
h0r,1l 1oo1y IN Tho ,,..~-