The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-02

has been paid recently by the general
land office to the preparation of rules
and regulations applicable TO the gov
eminent of all the various forest re-
serves OF the United States, and Com
missioner Hermann has now formu-
lated these for the approval of the sec
rotary of the interior.
Attention is called to the matter of
forest fires, which annually do so much
damage through carelessness, and the
law is specially referred to which i'm
poses a penalty for wilfully setting fire
10 timber, or carelessly suffering fire 10
burn unattended near any timber, and
which Furnishes such offenseS by flne
or imprisonment The law provides
that before breaking camp, fires shall
be totally eXtinguished.
Prospecting. locating and developing
the mineral resources of forest reserves
are permitted. Lands for school houses
and churches are provided, and the
waters fer domestic, mining, milling
and irrigation purposes are also al
lowed
The construction of wagon roads is
authorized. and the right o. way across
the reserves for irrigating canals,
bitches, fumes and reservoirs is per
mitted. The pasturing of live stock
on the reserves is permitted. except as
to sheep, which, in view of Sheir in
juries to the forest cover. are prOhib
tied in regions where the rainfall IS
limited. and the present exception in
this regard is extended only to the re-
serves in the states of Oregon and
Washington, because of the continuous
moisture and abundant rainfall on the
Pacific coast. Even there, permission
must be had. which will be revoked if
pasturing extends to Bull Run reserve,
Crater lake or places where injury may
be done. Where persons have upper
fected bonatide claims within the re-
serves they may relinquish the same
and select vacant public lands else
where without charge, in cases where
previous fees had been paid.
The mineral lands of the forest re-
serves are subject to location and entry
under the mining laws in the usual
manner. Owners OF mining locations
are authorized to fell and remove from
their mining claims any timber grow
ing thereon fOr actual mining purposes
upon. their particular claim. The free
use Of timber is allowed to bonafide set
tiers, miners, residents and prospectOrs
for minerals. for frewood, fencing,
buildings, etc. This privilege is re-
stricted 10 persons resident within the
forest reserves, who have not a suf-
fcient supply of timber on their own
claims.
The sale of timber from the reserves
will be permitted in limited quantities.
for the purpose of preserving the living
and growing timber and permitting the
younger growth Of timber on the re-
serves. Dead. matured or large grOwths
of trees found upon the reserves shall
be designated and appraised so far as
the same may not be necessary for the
forest preservation and water cover,
and may be sold for not less than the
appraised value in such quantity as
shall be prescribed to each purchase,
and to be used in the state or territory
in which the reservation may be- Sixty
days notice, published in the county
where the timber is situated. is 10 be
given before sale. Payments are TO be
made TO the receiver OF the local land
Office Of the district wherein the timber
is sold. Before sale, the timber will ne
examined and appraised under the di-
rcetiOn of the department. In order to
avoid a monopoly the department may,
in sales in excess of $500. make allOt-
ments of quantity to the several bidders
and the right is reserved to reject any
or all bids. Within 30 days after an
award of timber to a bidder. payment
must be made in full, and within one
year it must ne removed. Where il may
bt ltuiAQ NECESSARY u erect Temporary
sawgnuls for use in sawmills purchased
on the grounds. permit will be neces-
sary. All timber so cut must be used
in the state or territory in which the
reservation is situated.
Supplemental instructions are given
to all special agents of the interior de-
partment to especially take cOgnizance
Of unlawful cutting of timber and dep
relations upon the public domain, in
Guiding the forest reserves, and mere
after a vigilant watch Will be directed
toward the matter of forest fires.
The law further provides that in the
case of lands more applicable for min
ing and agriculture than for forestry
purposes, upon a proper showing made.
the same may be eliminated entirely
from the forest reserve and restored TO
the public domain.
AS TO the forest reserves which have
lately been suspended by the recent act
Of congress, the geological survey is
now busily engaged in examining the
land and extending the exterior lines
Of property embracing the reserves. In
this manner large portions enormously
heretofore embraced in reserves will be
to public entry, and other pOr-
tons which were omitted from the re-
serves viii be embraced within them.
The restored area of the existing for
est reserves is 1S,993.2S0 acres. The es-
tiInated area OF the suspended forest
reserves is 1881, $50 acres. The aggre-
gate area Of the existing and suspended
reserves is 1884, $40. This is greater
than the area of any state east of the
river, and Of several west Of
L.