Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-02

to securing full and complete information
upon the subject, of titles, previous land j s.
posals. and legislation thereon, including
the extent and location of the lanis he
longing to the government With the da ia
thus obtained some practicable system may
be devised for the disposal of such lands
Oil FieIds-Lieu Selections.
There has been no abatement in the ex-
plorations for OILS IN California and pros
pectors have been active in other localities,
notably Wyoming, and Colorado. The sus-
pensions heretoforef made of townships al
legged to contain valuable deposits Of oil
from disposition under the agricultural laws
and examination Of the lands by special
agent have allayed to an extent the ex-
citement heretofore existing caused by the
supposed appropriation of these lands by
the lieu scrippers. These suspensions have
been continued during the year and must
continue until relief Is obtained by legisla-
ton, the mining laws and regulations be-
Ing inadequate TO protect the bona fide
prospectors who are spending their time
and money in exploring for OIL ;-sa9
Forest Reserves.
During the year one..of the existing for
est reserves has been enlarged. the areas
of three have been reduced and three addi-
tional reserves have been established
There are,, accordingly now forty one for
est reserves created by presidential procla-
nations, embracing an estimated area of
4e.410, 800 acres. AS to- the policy to be
pursued regarding future forest rcserva-
tons, the commissioner recommends that
no more reserves be created until Congress
shall repeal or modify the law which allows
lieu land selections for holdings within the
reserves. -.s.ta
Further recommendations urged by Com
missioner Herman are the repeal or modifi-
cation of the act for the protection of
homestead settlers, who enter the military
y,l - A.
time of war; legislation to provide for COM
polling the attendance of witnesses to tes-
tify in hearings ordered by the office on
reports of special agents involving the va
lidity or bona fides Of entries of public
land; repeal of several laws relating to
timber on unreserved public lands and the
enactment instead OF a general law to at
ford supply of timber for settlers and
other parties in need, and at the same time
preserve the forests for the use Of future
generations; appropriation for the preven-
ton of depredations upon public timber
and the protection of the public lands from
unlawful entry or appropriation be in
creased to not less than $1s5OOO for the
coming fiscal year; also an appropriation
of not less than $4,000 for the protection
OF timber on undeserved lands against fires
federal legislation for the protection of fish
and game in forest reserves
Legislation Is also recommended for the
relief of bona fide settlers within forest re-
serves who settled prior to the establish
ment thereof, but who failed from ignor-
ance or from unavoidable accident to place
their claims of record within the statutory
period. Also that some legislation be had
authorizing the rejection of any and all
selections under said act for lands returned
as agricultural lands should 1t be discover
ed, before the approval of the selection by
this office, that the land involved is chiefly
valuable for mineral.
The passage is, urged of an act which
shall provide that all public lands which are
more valuable for forest uses than for other
purposes shall be withdrawn from settle
ment, entry sale, and other disposition. and
be held for the protection and utilization
of the timber thereon in accordance with
the provisions of forest reservation laws;
the enactment of a general law authorizing
the establishment. Of national parks for
the preservation of prehistoric ruins, petri-
fled forests, caves and for other purposes:
that the provisions of the forest fire act
approved May 5, 1900, be extended to meet
the various causes of fires and overcome
the danger from every source the enact
ment of law that shall empower forest
officers, special agents and other officers
having authority in relation to the protec-
ton of public lands and the timber thereon
to make arrests, without process in hand
for the violation of the laws or rules and
regulations relating TO the forest reserves
or other forestedslands Of the United States.
Recommendation Is Eenewed for the extern
sion of the Yellowstone. National Park