The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-29

u lands uni;sp9sea of rs -, shout ar asa-
tsst acres af r3e efa@e ~ thn @scaf wear ana
shows th2t the t0tai rccesp,s iuviug the
ye1r from nu6lic laa3s amounted 90 over
s-~tf1ff@ Tha unQSMSfea tarS grants to
railroads amount 70 nearly 81 asaalao acres
After reviewing iu detail TIRE work 81
ire land Office dur3ng the past twelve
months, the secretary takes up the oues-
ton q disposition If the arid lan.T and the
preservation of the forests. He urges that
tAese two questions are closely alliei. for
the quantity of arid lands FAR exceeds the
present water supply. even II e were AZ
0flEze1 Ter irT.Eaten- The increase ~
tne water supply mus; depend upon the
growth and preservation or the forests
Attention s called ID the failure of The
Carey b.I 70 accomplish The results ex-
pected. The secretary attributes this 20
the fact that the BIN intended that money
for the irriEat IN should be raised upon tle
arid lands granted from the United states
fhis has been impossible an account af ire
fact that sufficient control over the lands
was not given 80 the states 20 make them
available rs security for money expended
IN their reclamation. The secretary stlE-
gests the advisahiliFy ~ plteating these
lands 20 TIE states, after il - fully de-
ferrined that the selections made BY them
under the Carey act are ARID lands lie
calls attention ID the fact that the reser-
vo-r sites selected hy the geoioE cal sur
Ney remain without proper legislation pro-
vidiEg for their use. while the water they
were expected 10 store is being diverted to
less practicable and economical sites. lie
suggests the utilization ~ these sites n
connection with the lands granted 10 the
states under the Carey act.
Under the subject OF forests. the secre-
tary calls attention TO the fact that I5.-
eo00o acres are now included within
forest reserves. the object being 70 thus
preserve the forests for future use. and
through their preservation 10 control the
supply OF water. so that il may be stored
and utilized for irrigation. The present
force Of the general land office IS. il is
said, inadequate 70 protect these rcserVa-
tons. Unless some plan IS devised by
congress for protection of the forests.
either by the army or by foresters living
upon the reservation. it is manifest that
the object sought 10 be accomplished VIII
fail
The secretary criticises the law author
iziug the issue of permits Tor the cutting
OF timber from the public domain. and
urges that the timber cut therefrom
should he sold for sufficient sum 10
make IT possible 10 preserve the standing
forest and see that the cutting is done
in way not destructive TO IL
The review OF the pension office consists
chiefly Of statistical information furnished
by the bureau.
one of the interesting features Of the
report is the discussion of the relations
between the government and the Pacihc
hond-aided roads and the possibility OF
collecting the amount due the government
from these roads. The report urges that
two things are to he considered: First
The collection OF the debt due TO the gov
eminent. and second, the creation Of a
great through line from the Missouri 10
the Pacific. which was the original pur-
pose OF the government leading 90 the
issue of subsidy bonds. The report shows
in detail the amount of the subsidy
bonds. the amount of the interest which
the government has paid on them, and
the amount of the first mortgage bonds.
The secretary SAYS the government IS al
ready out Slll 4@6,01 Upon these roads.
and that the FIRST mortgage bonds amount
cd 10 only $64sl3,N0, that the property is
worth vastly more than the first mort
gage bonds. and that the government IN
terest can bc protected. ii necessary, ~
taking Up these bonds. lie says all Of
these bonds are now maturing and draw
6 per cent? that they could easily be ra-
placed with per cent. bonds IL the gov
eminent guaranteed them, and as the
government holds 4 second lien and must
protect the property against the first Hen.
the government should see to IL, II any
new set of bonds Is issued. that the first
interest than the government bonds would
draw. The secretary says the net earn
ings of each one of these lines during the
past ten yeass has made an average OF
nearly per cent. on the sum of the first
mortgage bonds and of the government
subsidy bonds and suggests the possi-
blty of a new issue Of bonds guaraH-
tfed by the government drawing per
cent. equal i'm amount 10 the FIRST mort
gage. bonds and the subsidy bonds. with
the interest on the same. As the road
could easily earn the interest on these
bonds and leave a handsome surplus.
capitalists should be found who would
buy the property. subject 10 the bonds
and pay a fair sum into the treasury
each year toward their liquidation. The
secretary discusses the scheme of the gov
eminent directors ard also OF the re0r-
ganizatlon committee Of the Union Pa
ciac. and finally urges that, the govern
ment being IN the attitude OF second mort
gage security holders, il Is absolutely
necessary. in order TO protect It's claim
that negotiations be had between the gov
eminent, the other parties In interest and
such capitalists as are likely TO take hclt
of the enterprise. This work cannot sue
ccssfuliv be performed hy congress. and
the responsibility for II should be placed
al once by congress u,on commission
or upon some duly authorized representa-
tives OF the government, whose duty II
should be 10 take the subject up IN busi-
ness way and work out the best plan for
dlsposing of the governments interest
with the least possible loss.