Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1899-06-21

occupy a cottage among Prescott's whispering pines.
 No where Iu ArlZJna Is 10 be found natUrai conditions SD favorable to forest growth. The loose granite soil Is peculiarly adapted to forest and the piue nuts easily find cover ing aud beautiful young forest IS now struggling to hide the ravishes of the w0oimen who have indus triously piled the a1 for many years. But whji.. this work Of natu has been gong on the work of devssta- ton has outstrippei its slow pro cesses. The majestic pines, so much admired iu the immediate vicinity oi Prescott, have uo' been protected from the WO0dman's aX. "NOOdman, spare that tree has been echoed and re-ech ped toy public sentiment, and yet tue work of destruction of forest has steadily progressed until it has reacLed point alarming. During the past three years between 20OOO and 5000 mining timbers nave been cut aud moved out of this district. Miners, farmers aud meT- chants alike have become aroused to ,he eyil results that are sure to fol- low They b-giu tO inquire as 10 the legality ot these timber operations, and whether anything could be done to save the little timber now remain iug. The matter was lad before the interior department, aud through its agent. :. J. HOlsinger, a thorough examination was made.
 The land is undoubtedly mineral, and the mineral law enacted by con- gress June 3l, 1878, permitting the cutting of timber upon public lands IS most liberal one. By this law the timber is given free to the citi- zens of the territory Tor domestic and mining purposes. Certain con- iitious are prescribed but these con- ditions are Tor the benefit of the very people using the timber, as well IS all other citizens Briefly the con itious are that the timber can ouly be cut and used bv citizens of the United Stat-s and bona fde resi- .leu,s 1f the t,TutOry. They must cut ul trees under eight nches, must use al of each tree cut and must dispose of the brush in such a manner as to prevent forest fires. It IS well known that the greatest enemy to forests Is fire What 1t would take a generation to consume a fire may wipe up in a few days
 There are other reasonable re- uuiremeuts such as the keeping of a took which shall show when, how much aud by whom the timber was cut aud an obligation must be eX- acted of purchaser of such timber that 1t Wlll bs used for domestic and mining purposes within the terri tory.
 It IS claimed by persons who are in a position 10 know that every one of these conditions have beeu ig- nored and be rules and regulations of the interior department violated in every instance where stulls have been cut.
 Neither pOetical sentiment or in dividual or united protest could stay the hand of these woodmea, very few of which have any interest in this community. They have not even respected private property and instances are not wanting where they are alleged to have cut timber upon patented lands. Rights of homesteads aud min ing claims have been ignored and the timber stripped from prop erty where 1t IS sorely needed.
 Even the Prescott forest reserve, generously set aside by the govern ment for the use of this city, has been invaded by timber trespassers and 600 timbers have been cut and tons and brush left strewn among the young timber. Fire always fol lows the wooiman's ax, and already the completion of the work of de- struction has begun. Several forest fires have already been reported and many acres of blackened hilisides now mark where a few weeks ago grew a luxuriAnt young forest.
 These mining timbers have been cut regardless of consequences or economy. The best timber is re- moved and often one cut containing valuable timber is left because 1t is too large to handle. The tops are always left notwithstanding the fact that they contain valuable fuel and fl left are a menace to surrounding growth.
 Thousands of cords of wood are now strewn over four townships ID the vicinity of Prescott which, l. utilized as the law requires, would furnish this city for years with an abundant supply of fuel. As it IS contractors furnishing wood can not gather up these tops at an additional expense when they have the same rights upon the public lands as the stull men who have robbed the tree of its principal value, consequently they cut green timber and the stull timber tops are not only complete loss to the people but a serious dam age to the public lands.
 "The mills of the Gods grind slow, but exceeding fne." Uncle Sam has mil of his own, patent applied for, much after the same fashion. While the timber business went merrily or and load after load of fine timbers were being hauled past the very mines nature intended they should develop and through the streets of Prescott, much to the chagrin of her citizens the wheels of Uncle's mill turned slowly round. Finally United States Attorney Robert E. Morrison received an order both from the department of the interior and the department of justice 10 commence civil and crim- inal proceedings, and in his charac- teristic way, y,immediately commenced vigorous proceedings which has struck terror to the hearts of tim Der trespassers.
 Four civil cases involving mining timbers, valued at Sll,500, were filed today. The suits are brought against Wm. Nelson, J. Nj. Harper and J. L. Harvey and are to con- fscate ll.5O0 stulls alleged to have been unlawfully cut from public lands.
 The grand idry also recently