The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-04

souareiy down on Sparks, but 1t does
not cure the latter; the only thing that
will help him, or rather help the
country, will be to bounce the Com
missioner from his office.
Ever since General Sparks was COM
missioned he has manifested an insane
desire to prosecute and annoy the peo-
NE o. the Territories, and an equally
insane affection for the few timber
trees scattered about the mountains of
this region. He has issued some of the
most ridiculous and nonsens:csi
orders and circulars regarding
the cutting OF trees, and has
put mine owners and mill men to great
trouble and expense. His latest ex-
plot in this matter is q circular bearing
dale of May 7tb, and which went into
effect on June 1st. 1t is based on the
Congressional act of June Sd. 1878
authorizing the citizens Of Colorado.
Nevada and the Territories to fell and
remove timber on the public domain for
mining and domestic purposes" and
among the rules and regulations" pre-
scribed by him are the following:
The land from which timber is felled
or removed under the provisions of the
act. must be known TO be strictly and
distinctly mineral in character, and
more valuable for mining than for tim
Der or any other purpose or use.
No person who Is not a resident citi-
zen or boda ioe resident of the State,
Territory or mineral district, shall be
permitted IN fell or remove timber from
lands thereon.
IItuUsr l-iIed or removed shall be
strictly limited 20 building agricultural,
mining o. domestic purposes. All GU
ting of such timber for sale or com
merce is forbidden. But for
building, agricultural, mining and
other domestic purposes. each person
authorized by the act may cut
or remove for his or her own use, by
himself or herself, or by his, her or
their own personal agent or agents
only.
No person will be permitted to fell or
remove any growing trees OF any Kind
whatsoever less than eight inches in di-
ameter.
Persons telling or removing timber
from public mineral lands OF the United
States must utilize all of each tree cut
that can be profitably used, and must
cut up and remove the tops and brush
or dispose of the same in such a
manner as to prevent the spread OF
forest fires.
Now and then one runs across an
official paper that is so childish as to be
po.itively ridiculous, and this by Com
missioner Sparks is such q one. But
the idiocy of it might be passed over If
it were not for the malice and mean
ness which prompted and framed the
circular. The Congressional act refer
red to, was intended to give 70 the peo-
pie of the States and Territories men
toned the right TO fell and use the tim
Der for mining, agricultural and domes-
tic purposes, and Sparks Predeces-
sor so interpreted the law; but
the present Commissioner evidently
holds that the act was designed TO pre-
vent the taking of the timber for any
purpose whatever. The result Of the
of the recent order will be
to close every mill in the Territories.
and compel miners. builders and far
mers to go to California and Oregon for
their lumber. The Utah mill owners
who have seen the circular have con-
cluded to let their mills lie idle this
season, unless an intelligent modifict.
ton Of the order can be obtained.
western Senators and Rep
resentatives are interesting themselves
in the matter. and in all probability a
bill will be introduced soon to take il
out of the power of some Official jacken-
apes like Sparks to make SO senseless
and annoying an order.