Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-09-24
TIMBER

There seems to still remain in this
locality q misrepresentation of the pur-
pose and meaning of the rules regulst-
ing the cutting of timber ON the public
domain. The impression that the
party who advertises and makes appli-
cation to cut timber in a certain local
ity is given exclusive right to the tim
Der land described is entirely errone-
Gus, and the commissioner Of the
general land office has SO stated. This
would be so unfair and unjust that it
seems hardly necessary to give the
matter serious thought. While the
government saw the necessity of taking
some measures to prevent the whole
sale destruction OF timber on the pub
lie domain, it was not the intention to
give any one exclusive rights after
complying with certain regulations.
This would leave matters in worse
shape than they were before. The
land department inaugurated the new
regulations to protect the many against
the few, and required q certain method
| of procedure so that settlers and others
could see just how and where timber
was being used. Several men can
make application to cut timber on
land bearing the same description.
The object of advertising is to let set
tiers know the locality in which timber
is to be cut and for what purpose it is
to be devoted. If it can be proven that
to remove the timber would work an
injury to any settler, to the extent OF
depriving him of fuel or fencing, or
that young growing timber is to be de-
stroyed, the application would no
doubt be refused. But where a remon-
STRANGE is the outgrowth of prejudice
or some fancied injury, there being
plenty of timber which does not border
on any settlers claim, a protest should
not have much effect.
The fact is that in some localities in
telligent, law-abiding men will GO
ahead and comply with the law, while
others will disregard it altogether and
run the chances of being pulled up by
agents of the government. Those who
go to the expense of making applica.
ton in proper form should see that
others do the anne
We believe it would have been better
to have left this matter with each land
district to handle. Washington is toe
far away for the department to have
proper direction and control of timber
cutting. Special agents are weak in
struments to correct evils. Below we
give the rules which must govern those
who are given permits to Gu and re
move timber:
1. To report monthly through the regis
ter and receiver at the local lane office q
statement, under oath, showing thu
amount OF each kind or kinds of timber
cut or removed during each month, giving
a description of the particular tract o.
tracts of land such timber was cut from
and how the timber, or product thereof
was disposed OF.
2. To utilize all OF each tree cut that car
be profitably utilized.
8. The party will be required to cut
remove, burn or otherwise dispose of, thu
tops, brush, tails, slabs and other refus,
from saw mills and clearings, for the pur
pose OF preventing the spread OF forest fires
4. He will be liable for damages for thu
starting or spread OF any forest fires attrib
utable to his negligence.
3. He will be required to promptly aic
in the extinguishment OF any forest fir
that may be started within the district
wherein he is permitted to cut timber.
6. The permit shall in no wise interfer
with bona 6de occupants of land within
the limits OF the district described therein
z. The party shall not be permitted t.
purchase timber from any other persons
cutting out OF the same district.
s. Nothing in the permit shall be con
strued as giving the exclusive right to GU
or remove timber from the lands described
in the permit, or as preventing the depart
ment from authorizing other parties to en-
ter upon the land for the purpose ofcuttinl
or removing timber therefrom.
.. The right will he reserved to modii,
or revoke the permit at any time.
10. The secretary may, from time I,
time, prescribe additional conditions ant
restrictions.