The state herald., 1897-07-09
FOREST RESERVES.
THE RULES CONCERNING THEM
Tho Government VIII Allow Prospecting
Upon Them and Reasonable Use of
Timber. D

Washington, July 1.-Much atten
tion has been paid recently by the gen
eral land office to the preparation o
rules and regulations applicable to tn
government of all the various fores
reserves Of the United States, AM
Commissioner Hermann has now for
mulated these for the approval of tn,
secretary Of the interior.
Attention Is called to the matter o
forest fires, which annually do 81
much damage through carelessness
and the law Is specially referred t
which imposes penalty for wilfull.
setting fire to timber or carelessly suf
fering fire to burn unattended neal
any timber, and which punishes sucl
oifease by fine or Imprisonment. Th;
law provides that before breaking
camp fires shall be totally eXtin
| guished.
Prospecting. locating and develop
Ing the mineral resources Of forest re
serves are permitted. Lands fol
school houses and churches are pro
yided and the waters for domestic
mining, milling and irrigation pur
poses are also allowed.
The construction OF wSgon roads IL
authorized and the right of 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 their 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 continu
Gus moisture and abundant rainfall OF
the Cascade mountains Of the Pacific
coast. Even there, permission must be
had, which will be revoked If pastur.
ing extends to Bull Run reserve, to
Crater lake or places where injury
may be done.
Where persons have unprotected
bona flde claims within the reserves
they may relinquish the same and Sc.
lect vacant public lands elsewhere
without charge In cases where preyi-
Gus fees have been paid.
The mineral lands Of the forest re-
serves are subject to location and en-.
try under the mining laws in the
usual manner. Owners of mining 10.
cations are authorized to fell and re.
move from their mining claims any
timber growing thereon for actual
mining purposes upon their particular
claim. The free use Of timber Is nj.
lowed to bona flde settlers, miners
residents and prospeCors for minerals
for fire wood, fencing, buildings, etc
This privilege is restricted to persons
resident within the forest reserves
who have not sufficient supply of tim.
ber on their own claims.
The sale of timber from the reserves
will be permitted in limited quantities
and this Is done for the purpose of pre-
serving the living and growing timber
and permitting the younger growth OF
timber on the reserves. Dead, matured
or large growths of trees found upon
the reserves shall be designated and
appraised, so far as the same may no,
be necessary for the forest preserva.
ton and water cover and may be sold
for not less than the appraised value
In such quantity us shall be prescribed
TO each purchaser and to be used In
the state or territory IN which the res
ervation may be. SIXTY days notice
published In the county where the tim
Der Is situated Is to be given before
sale. Payments are to be made to the
receiver of local land office OF the dis.
trict wherein the timber is sold. Be
fore sale. the timber will be examined
and appraised under the direction OF
the department. In order to avoid a
monopoly the government may, In
sales In excess OF $500, make allotments
Of quantity to the several bidders and
the right is reserved 10 refuse any or
all bids. Within thirty days after IN
award OF timber to II bidder, payment
must be made In full. and within one
year 1t must be removed. Where II
may be found necessary TO erect TEN.
porary saw mills for use In saving
timber purchased on the grounds, a
permit will be necessary. All timber
SO cut must he used In the state or ter.
ritory In which the reservation Is stu.
nted.
Supplemental instructions are given
to all special agents OF the Interior De.
partment to especially take cognizancc
OF unlawful cutting OF timber and de.
prcdntions upon the public domain, In.
cluding the forest reserves, and herenf.
ter vigilant watch will be directed to.
ward the matter OF forest fires.
The law further provides that In the
thFt VI hhott aFfb'apsN Aok
Ing and agriculture than for forestry
purposes. upon proper showing made,
the same may be eliminated entirely
from the forest reserve and restored to
public domain.
As to forest reserves which have late.
ly been suspended by the recent act Of
Congress. the geological survey Is now
busily engaged In examining them
and OF extending the exterior lines
properly embracing such reserves. In
this manner large portions erroneous.
ly heretofore embraced In reserves will
be restored to public entry and other
portions which were omitted from the
reserves will bc embraced within them
The estimated area OF the existing
forest reserves Ii is003. $50 acres. The
estimated area OF the suspended forest
reserves is 1881 800 ncrcs. The ag
grcgatc area OF the existing and sus
pended reserves is 3i.oii.Gi0 acres
This IL greater than the area OF any
state east OF the Mississippi river and
OF several west Of It.