Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-08-14
THE FORESTRY RESERVE.
The Director of the United States Geo
logical Survey Pursuing Hrs
Investigation in Custer.
Mr.. Walcott Gives a Clear and Con-
else Explanation Of the
New Law.

gard TO his mission to this section, and
seemed ready to explain the law passed
by the last congress for the better pro-
lection Of our forests from fire, waste
and theft. Mr.. w. was induced to talk
more freely upon this subject, from ~
fact that the law is not well understood
by our people,. The forestry seserve
proclamation issued by President Cleve-
land was very sweeping, and would
seem to imply that no one had any
rights in this country that the govern
ment was bound to respect. 1t
would appear from the proclamation
that nothing but trees were privileged
to live and grow in this part Of Uncle
Sans domain. Mr.. w. came down from
Deadwood, and while there he was
called upon by representative Of the
Pioneer Times. Quite an extended
interview was had, which, on account
of the deep interest taken in the subject,
We reprint for the benefit of our readers.
Mr.. Walcott has charge ofall the work
being done in his department through.
out the United States possessions,
which Is by no means a small thing.
The are two parties Of surveyors at
work in the suspended Black Hills dis
trict at present, enc under Mr.. Dunning-
ton, who is making an investigation Of
the country and will revise the old
Typographical maps, plot all the wooded,
forest areas agricultural lands, and run
the township exterior lines wnere not
already run under the direction of the
general land office. Under the law all
the township corners established by
this survey have iron monuments each
one being set with a brass cap, upon
which is stamped the elevation of the
sea level and the usual township corner
markings. This investigation is being
made strictly in reference to the forestry
reserve and therefore the work is being
done with the utmost care. Another
party under the direction of Mr.. Heron
is making careful and thorough survey
Of the northern portion Of the Hills,
taking elevations and observations with
view Of establishing complete contour
map as basis OF a geological inyestiga-
ton to be made next season. His in
yestigation covers an area of 400 square
miles. These parties will doubtless bo
in the field until cold weather sets in
and it is to plan this work that Director
Walcott is here. He expects to remain
about week and intends to 60 out and
view the situation personally.
Mr.. Walcott says great many people
have a mistaken impression of the
forestry reserve matter. "A man wrote
to me short time ago." he remarke ed,
"and asked if he had any rights at ALL"
"The fact is," said Mr.. Walcott, "the
public have the same privileges they
had before President Cleveland's pro.
clamation establishing the reserve was
issued. They are at liberty to make
mineral locations as before, on the min
eral lands and to prospect and pursue
mining and milling operations, and to
use the timber for mining purposes, for
fuel or domestic purposes. under reason
able regulations, by procuring psrmis-
sion from the secretary Of the interior
which entails no hardship. He is more
secure than before because the govern.
ment throws a safeguard around bis
property by preventing as far as pos
sible destructive forest fires.
"Your readers are doubtless familiar
with the conditions Of President Clsve-
lands proclamation which established
forestry reserves in eleven states and
territories. The new law passed by
congress this spring, was approved on
June 4. 1t provides that the forestry
reservation embraced within the proc
lamation by President Cleveland be
restored to the public domain, the fame
as though said orders and proclamation
had not been issued, until March let,
1898, when they shall again become
forest reservations, with the exceptions
Of such portions as were not otherwise
disposed Of. The act also provided for
making surveys Of the reserves, under
the supervision of the director of the
geological survey under instructions to
be issued by the secretary of the. in
terror. By this law South Dakota,
Wyoming. Montana, Idaho, Washington
and Utah were excepted from the pro-
visions of the Cleveland proclamation
and are held in allegiance, pending the
investigations being made. report on
which will be made next spring. The
survey in this section is now going for
ward under the secretary's instructions
that provide that topographic and land
subdivisional surveys shall be made
oyer the entire area of forest reserves.
The typographical survey is based on
triangulation and spirit level lines and
Typographical sketches, on scale of two
miles to the inch. This will gave q
good . typographical map as il being
made Of any part of the country on the
same scale. The subdivisional land
surveys ara made under the same gen.
eral system - that of the general land
Office. No division smaller than town.
ships will be made except Of areas Of
agricultural lands and clearly defined
mineral lands. The object Of the topo-
graphical map 10 to obtain . base map
for the representation Of the district
embracing the forests and Of the agri-
cultural and mineral lands Is . base for
geological maps which will be made BY
the gsologists Of the sufv<y. These
mapes are necessarily vsry valuable and
cost the government large sum. They
can be had bx the public upon applica-
ton to the secretary OF the il.erior By
inclosing avs cents for each NH, which