The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-05-22
OPPOSES LEASES
Hermann's Policy as to the Range
Lands
Public Domain Should Be Kept Avail.
able fer Homebuilders Until They
Take II All.

Public Domain Should Be Kept Avail.
able fl Homebuilders Until They
Take II All.
Commissioner Hermann, Of the Gen
eral Land Office has submitted TO Con-
gress in letter his ideas on the question
OF leasing the public grazing lands. In
his letter, he points out the many evils
that would result from a general leasing
system, and strongly defends the settler
as against corporations and large land
owners and land companies Commits
sioner Hermann's letter is rs follows;
1.-THE leasing by the Government Of
its public grazing lands would, in my
opinion, be great detriment 10 the
state wherein such lands are located,
would seriously interfere with the settle
ment, colonization and improvement Of
the great West, would tend 10 decrease,
rather than increase the population and
wealth Of that region, and the benefits
thereirom would accrue 10 few individ-
uals
The bulk Of such lands would be
leased by cattle.owDers. and 20 be Of
any great use 10 them, II would be nee.
essary 10 secure large tracts, and thus
withdraw from settlement and entry
lands that would be eligible for that pur
pose. In the semi-arid region, espec.
tally near 10 the streams, there are mum.
erous small bodies Of arabic land, and
while large portion Of l60.acre tract
may not be suitable for the production
Of agricultural crops there are frequent
instances where q sufficient portion can
be made remuneratiye 10 the settler, and
enable him 10 secure therefrom an in
dependent livelihood.
again necessary adjunct 20 the
Grazing Of cattle Is a supply Of water,
and the most eligible lands for securing
this supply will be first leased. and thus
in time the lands surrounding the
streams and lakes OF the West be occu.
pied by lessees, and the remaining lands,
cut off from water, be Of no use to
others. OF course, access TO the streams !
might be secured by Legislative enact.
ment, but this would bo Of little advan.
tage 10 the back lands, on account Of
their distance from such water supply |
"Tbe policy Of tile government as in
Gated in Legislation for the last forty or
fifty years would be subverted by leasing
the grazing lands Of the United States.
This policy has been 30 provide homes
for the overflow Of population from the
crowded East aud from the cities, and
10 enable any citizen with the expendi-
ture Of small amount, 10 secure enough
public land for q home. For this purpose
laws have been devised until now, under
the public land code, no person can &C.
luire title from the government TO more
than 800 acres Of agricultural lands,
and entries Of such lands are limited,
except under special PROVISIONS TO two
classes, viz, homestead and desert lands
he former designed, as its name implies,
10 provide a home for any one who
chooses 10 avail himself Of the privilege,
md the latter 10 secure the reclamation
II the arid lands. The operation OF
10Th OF these laws would be seriously
II not entirely destroyed, by
he enactment OF legislation for the leas.
ng Of grazing lands, as both Of said laws
ire applicable 10 that class Of lands. =
"rhe disposition OF the first comers to
appropriate the lands along the margin
4 u stream In the arid and semiarid
Vest has been noticed In the case of
lesert land claimants, where entries Of !
20 acres have been made, extending for 4
wo miles ON both sides OF such stream. 1
This disposition has compelled the en-. \
orcemont Of a strict observance Of the I
NV which required such entries 10 he In
ompact form. q
"Nast quantities Of public lands have ]
cen practically given away 10 corpora. Il
on, and the former method OF auction I,
alea has made the public domain O
asis for enormous private speculation A
Is time that the right Of each indiyid- /,
al to secure home ON the public
omain, II possible, be protected, aud
iis should be- the first consideration in
Isposing OF the public lands. The leas
X OF such lands will be- withdrawal y
ON market of probably all the lands !"
1atlal,ta - homo. .,l a.. i....a....... |
revision OF tho homestead laws thus be- "
'ndered nugatory.
"The revenues derived from tho lea,. "
x Of grazing lands would proba bly, not -"
~ loI the cost Of collecting the same,
nj instead OF bcing rcmuneratiye
ould doubtless bc charge, on the 81.
oyornncnt. Lands belonging 90 the
atos are lease, in some instances, but =,
, hgurcs are hand 10 show at what rate :, -
ch lands are leased. The law as To :,
ew Mexico, however, provides that :"
ascs OF certain territorial lands shall he -'
'proved by the Secretary Of ,l,e Inter.
:, aud number oi such have come
lder my observation, The almost uni.
rm rate Is hye cents per acre per
mum, or at the rate OF SSsO Tor one
ar.er section OF land, aud ior this in
Inihcan, sum il is proposed Ia derive
Of a tract ol land 60 which
may desire TO secure title.
There is NO condition so calculated
inspire love of country aud LOYALTY to
\ orso conducive 10 public order as
nership OF homes. Tho irvehol,ler feels