The Springfield herald., 1897-07-09
FOREST RESERVES.
THE RULES CONCERNING THEM
The Government Will Allow Prospecting
Cpon Them and Reasonable Use of
Timber.

Timber.
Washington. July 1.-Much atten-
tion has been paid recently by the gem
eral land office to the preparation or
rules and regulations applicable to the
government of all the various forest
reserves of the United States, and
Commissioner Hermann has now for
mulated these for the approval Of the
secretary 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 imposes penalty for wilfully
setting fire to timber or carelesSly suf-
fering fire to burn unattended near
any timber. and which Furnishes such
otfe..sa by fine or imprisonment. The
law provides that before breaking
camp fires shall be totally eNtin-
guished.
Prospecting. locating and develop
ing the mineral resources of forest re-
serves are permitted. Lands for
school houses and churches are pro-
vided and the waters for domestic.
mining, milling and irrigation pur-
poses are also allowed.
The construction of wagon roads is
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 he revoked IL pastur
ing extends to Bull Run reserve, to
Crater lake or places where injury
may be done.
Where persons have unprotected
bona fide claims within the reserves
they may relinquish the same and Sc
lect vacant public lands elsewhere,
without charge in cases where previ-
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 To-
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 al
lowed to bona .fide settlers, miners,
residents and prospectors 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 MS the same may not
be necessary for the forest preserya-
tion 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
ber 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 n
monopoly the government may, In
sales in excess of $500, make allotments
of quantity to the several bidders and
the right is reserved to refuse nny or
nil bids. Within thirty days after an
award of timber to bidder, payment
must be made in full, and within one
year 1t must be removed. Where 1t
may be found necessary to erect tenn
porary saw mills for use in saving
timber purchased on the grounds, n
permit will be necessary. All timber
so cut must be used in the state or ter
ritory In which the reservation is situ-
ated.
Supplemental instructions are given
to all special agents of the Interior De-
partment to especially take cognizance
Of unlawful cutting of timber and de-
predations upon the public domain, in
Guiding the forest reserves, and hereaf-
ter vigilant watch will be directed to-
ward 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 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 embra ced In reserves will
be restored to public entry and other
portions which We're omitted from the
reserves will be embraced within them.
The estimated area of the existing
forest reserves is 1898, $50 acres. The
estimated area of the suspended forest
reserves is 1881 800 acres. The ag-
gregate area Of the existing and sus-
pended reserves is 34,944, $40 acres.
This is greater than the area of any
| state east of the Mississippi river and
of several west of it.. .f.