The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-26
SURVEYS OF PUBLIC LANDS.
MANY COVERING A LARGE ACRE.
AGE ACCEPTED IN THIS STATE.
One-HaR of the Public Land in
Washfngton Not Held Under some
Form of Reservations Has Vow


acceptance of surveys by the general land
Office will be sg1tifisd 20 know that during
the last nscel year surveys were accepted
IN the state OF Washington covering 1os II
acres. and In Idaho SS..1S acres This
shows what an immense amount Of work
IN this direction the land Office is doing
eaen year and is an earnest of the fact
tnat surveys are being accepted as fast as
the limited clerical force is able TO handle
them.
commissioner Hermann called upon The
president the other day and urged that the
force in his department be greatly in
creased, pointing out the fact that the
needs Of the settlers in the public land
states were such as To warrant this addi-
uonal expense and also showing that 1t
would be really a saving to the govern
ment 10 have these matters attended 70
promptly. The sooner SURVEYS are az
copied. the sooner will the settlers prove
up on their lands. which brings money
into the government Golfers
me appropriation for surveys of public
lands Tor the last fiscal year was SIS GO
which included $500 for resurveys. and
$4,000 for examination OF the surveys in
the Held Tie amount apportioned for new
surveys In the state OF Washington was
sas,UD and for the state of Idaho $50. 90.
An additional apportionment OF $259o was
given 10 Idaho in June last.
The state of Washington has now
reached point in it's history where almost
exactly one-half of the total area has been
appropriated either by individuals or cor
poratfons. The total area of the state is
AZ, iie 800 acres. OF this area II Sos. 53e acres
are still vacant public land. subject 10 set
tlement and TO filing and entry If sur
feyed. little over 10000 acres less. name
iy, T,s3s. leo acres have already been APP
propriated. This includes all lands en-
braced in selections. filings and entries.
perfected and unprotected and also the
area of lands granted for school purposes.
The remainder of the states area. $3.50 "a
acres. comprises all lands reserved for sat-
isfaction of railroad grants. for military
ana naval purposes. reservoir sites, In
dams, timber. and those embraced in I'M
confirmed private land grants-in other
words. all lands reserved for any purpose
whatsoever which may be eventually re-
stored to the public domain.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Company
received from the government during the
last year patents. or certificates with the
effect of patents, to lands along its line Of
road aggregating Sc. 373 acres. OF these
f.s.66S were in the state of Washington and
1918 acres in the state OF Idaho.
one or the principal features Of the re-
port OF Secretary Bliss. of the interior de-
partment, Is In regard to the existing nine
having an estimated area Of is. 49,, $50 acres,
which. from time to time, have been set
aside by presidential proclamations pur-
suant to the authority conferred by sec
ton of the act of March 3, 1891. The thr-
teen forest reserves created by proclama-
ton OF President Cleveland February o.
1881, We're, with the exception of two In
the state OF California, suspended by the
present congress during its special session
untii March ], 1895. The suspended reser-
vations contain an estimated area of 49,
SOD acres. The preservation of the pub
lie forests. says Secretary Bliss, Is a mat
ter or vital Interest to the entire nation
The enactment of adequate laws for their
protection and the proper enforcement
thereof, coupled with the inauguration of
a comprehensive forest system, can only
effect such results. The act authorizing
the president to create reservations con-
tanned no provision for their protection or
care. The Importance of supplying such
deficiency was repeatedly brought to the
attention of congress. and as a result the
act of June 1. 1897 was passed. authorizing
the secretary OF the interior to prescribe,
such rules and regulations and establish
such service as would insure the objects
Tor which the reservations were created
The rules and regulations were prepared
by Commissioner Hermann and approved
by the secretary and made public July 1
last. Regarding the condition of the re-
serves since that time, Secretary Bliss
says:
III was my Intention originally 70 estah-
isn fores. bureau of. this department
but the inadequacy of the approprjation
Tor the work precluded my CARRYING into
enect sucn plan. / have. however, taken
such action as the circumstances hermit
ted. and since July l. 1897, have appointed
special forest agents and supervisors to
controi the reserves and to enforce the reg
uiallons. Special Forest Agent Pinchet is
making an examination of the entire forest
system, MT ormsby Is In charge of the
forests in oregon and Washington. and
Mr. Alien has been assigned the reserves
In Southern California These gentlemen
are Well qualified for the work intrusted
10 them, Mr., Allen being one of the orig
inators or the plan of setting aside tracts
of timber land In this country - forest re-
serves. They have had competent assist
ants and have already materially aided in
the prevention of forest fires and depreda-
tons upon the public timber on the re-
serves.
Better results could no doubt have
been obtained had the appropriation at the
command OF the department been suffi-
Gent 10 have warranted the employment
or a greater number of assistants The
work performed by this small corps viii
ne nucleus out of which. no ioubt will
grow forestry system and eventually a
forest bureau. one that If efficiently con-
ducfed, viii be practically self-sustatniny
and revenue producer. by conserving the
and providing fer their proper utilization.
The force of agents. supervisors and as
slStants IL h needless to say Is insufff-
Gent Tor the proper supervision OF the for
est reserve and material Increase there
or VIII have TO he made nv congress in or
Ger that the department may satisfactorily
fuilll the requirements of the law. II Is in
the Interests OF economy and a Else policy
to increase the fierce TO make IL effective
A trained corps of from fifty 10 sixty forest
agents. supervisors. patrolmen and assist
ants. judiciously distributed. can Ne made
the means Of preserving millions Of dol
lars worth of public timber annually from
spollasion by trespassers aud destruction
by fire. at a relatively slight ceSt TO the
government. aside from the importance Of
the forest reservations 10 future genera
tlous.
- most heartily concur in the recon-
mendation az the commissioner of the gem
erai land office that hberai appropriations
be made By congress for the forestry sery-
ice"
The work az the special forest agent.
Mr. Clifford Pinchot as well as that Of the
geological survey. which is engaged in
making surveys Of the various forest re-
serves set aside ny Mr.. CieYelands las;
proclamation. has not yet been completed
Their report VIII probably be made 20 con-
gress some time next month.
The devastation OF public timber by for
est fires has been a matter 10 which the
attention ~ congress has frequently been
called and the imperative need OF Laws 20
prevent such devastation has been urged
These repeated recommendations finally
resulted in securing action in ne desired
direction. and An act % prevent forest frss
on The public domain was approved during
the session % she last congress The seq
Rotary az the Interior now says that expert
encs thus far has demonstrated the WIS
dem and practical excellence Of That law.