Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-03-11
NEW FOREST REGULATIONS.
Supervisor Hamaker Receives a New Set
of Instructions.


Supervisor Hamaker Receives New Sc,
of Instructions.
III. G.. Hamaker, forest supervisor
for the Black Hills reserve, has receiv-
ed new set of instructions from the
commissioner of the general land Office
at Washington, regulating the removal
of timber from the reservation, and the
enforcement of the governments rules.
The instructions are substantially as
follows:
"Your attention is directed to the i'm
portance of taking immediate meas
ures to have the forest reservation un
der your care cleared of all intruders
who are thereon for unlawful purposes,
without right, and who are manifestly
trespassers."
The forest rangers are to carefully
ascertain who are the tguatters upon
the reservation and have right, and
who are sheep men, timber depredators
and intruders. In the creation of for.
est reserve all bona fide settlements
made, and all claims initiated before
the withdrawal Of the lands from the
ed, and all such settlers and claimants
title therefor. They consequently will
not be molested by the new regula-
tions. The supervisor is instructed to
exercise due care IN distinguishing be.
tween bona fide settlers, and parties
who are mere squatters, who have no
intention to properly regard the rights
accorded by the government.
1t is the desire of the commissioner
that the reservation be cleared of all
parties intruding unIawfully, and the
supervisor is instructed that in so do
ing every precaution shall be used to
prevent the slightest infringement up.
on the rights of individuals who are
lawfully occupying and using such
lands. The supervisor is further in
structed to serve prompt notice upon
all trespassers to leave the reservation
On their failure to do so within the
time specified the facts shall be report.
ed to the United States attorney, with
the request that steps be taken to com.
pei the ejectment of the parties and
where waste is threatened, as in the
case of sheep grazing, or the unauthor.
lied removal Of timber OF other ma
terial from the land, the United States
attorney shall be requested to take
steps to secure an injunction of waste
by way Of preventing further trespass.
ing.
Attention is called to certain rulings
Of United States courts which hold in
effect that unauthorized intrusion up
on public lands and the commission oi
trespass, entities the government tc
nominal damages, though no actual
damage was done, and that in such
cases the government is entitled to ex.
emplary damages if the entering on
the land and the trespassing thereon
is wilful act, or the result of reck less
Indifference to the rights of the govern
ment.
In the case of wlful and defiant vio
| lation of the timber laws or grazing
regulations, the supervise. is instruct
ed 10 work with great care in the col
lection Of evidence, and TO exercise rs
| pecial care to properly serve trespass
ers with notices Of the existing laws
Continuing, the instructions read
in this, as in all work connected
with the reservation, you and the for
est rangers under your instructions
should make il your aim to enlist public
sentiment in favor of the government
effort to protect the reserves"
The supervisor is to make t gener
ally understood that it is the purpose
of the government to control the res
ervation for the best interests of tn
public, and to allow their use by tn,
people Of the locality in the broades
manner possible under the provision
of the law But when the people avail
themselves Of the privileges granted
they must comply with the restriction
and regulations, which have been mad
for the public good.
In cases of timber depreciation, an
more especially in cases where the tres
passing parties fail to desist from thei
operations and remove from the resel
yation under notice from the supervisor
the latter is to notify the general Ian
office.
The foregoing restrictions are nc
calculated to work any hardships upo
those who actually reside in the Blac
Hills, and who have shown willing
ness to abide by them. but they are ia
tended to p aut a stop to the operation
of those who do not display willing
ness to accept them. 1t will reall
prove a benefit to the Black Hills i
the long run, for it will provide pre-
lection to the forest and preserve ther
for future generations, while at tn
same time, by using them as the go,
ernment specifies, they will provide a
that is actually required of them in tn
way Of fuel.
All communications relative to tn
removal Of timber and to the securin
of information as to the rights of ranc
men and other claimants should be az
dressed to Fl. G. Hamaker, forest supe
visor, Custer, So. Oak.