The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1902-11-08
GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
items From the Annual Report OF
the Commissioner of the Gen.
eral Land Office.
PUBLIC LANDS DISPOSED or IN lsOI-2.
special Appropriation Reecommend-
ed for surveys In Alaska and
other Purposes-Isesuits Follow
ing the Proper Policing of For
estcd Government Lands.


ested Government Lands.
Washington. Nov. 3.-The annual re-
mort of Binger Hermann. commission
er of the general land office, shows
that the public land disposed of by
the government during the year ag-
gregated 19,4ss,5 ,535 acres, an increase
of 3.e25.739 acres over the previous
wear. OF the aggregate i,757,193 acres
were sold for cash, 17.6l4,792 acres
were embraced in miscellaneous en-
tries. and the remainder were Indian
lands. Commissioner Hermann rec.
ommends a large appropriation speci-
feally for surveys in Alaska; legisla-
ton regarding railroad rights of way
granted under existing laws so that
parties who have expended large sums
of money for power plants, etc, shall
be protected against subsequent set
tiers, and large appropriation to
provide for an increased number of
special agents to prevent timber
depredations and TO protect public
lands from unlawful entry. The re-
port also renews previous recommen-
dations for compulsory attendance of
witnesses in hearings before district
land offices; for repeal of existing
laws regarding timber on the unre-
served public lands, and substitution
therefor of general law providing
ample protection for the forests and
furnishing means by which settlers,
miners and others may secure sufii-
cient supply of timber for their legiti-
mate needs; legislation to protect
game and fish in forest reserves: ex-
tension of the boundaries of Yellow
stone national park, and legislation
giving the president general author
1ty to set apart as national parks pub
lie land tracts having scientific or his
toric interest, or containing springs
of medicinal properties. 1t is urged.
also, that the law as to exchange of
lands embraced in forest reserves held
by private owners for public lands
not IN reservation be changed so as
to secure an approximation in value
of the lands relinquished with those
selected in lieu thereof. On October
] last there were 81 forest reserves,
embracing 60,175,s65 acres,an increase
of almost 14o00,Oo0 acres since the
last report. During the fiscal year
there were 1868 forest fires discov-
cred. which burned over s7,79o acres.
The constantly-decreasin area burned
over is said to demonstrate the efii-
cheney of the government forestry
force. The commissioner says that
the withdrawal and proper policing
of the forested lands of the govern
ment during the year has shown the
following results;
1. The work has proved self-sup.
porting.
2. 1t has, in addition, brought in a
revenue to the government.
3. Needed timber supplies have
been placed within lawful reach of
the public.
4. Timber depredations within the
reserve limits have practically
ceased.
little over 5000,00O acres of land
were certified and patented to rail-
ways during the year under the land
grants made by congress to aid in
the construction of railroads. During
the season the interior department
allowed 1897 900 sheep to enter
eight Of the reservations for specified
periods, the grazing to be confined
TO specified areas. and 459.137 head
Of cattle and horses 10 graze- in IS of
the reservations.
Concerning reforestation the re-
port says:
Assuming that the reforestation of
the dennded areas in the forest re-
serves, where sufficient moisture pre-
walls TO make the termination of
seeds of the native trees possible,
might be expected to result in good
time, if the occurrence of devastat-
ing fires could be reduced to n mini
mum and the grazing of stock re-
strained within proper limits and re-
duced to safe basis, the forest force
has been required TO make extra ex-
erton to prevent damage by fire, and
to keep the Office fully informed rela-
tive to the effects of stock grazing
and to keep out stock not licensed
10 enter the reserve, and all the evi.
dences point 10 almost unvarying sue.
cess.
The forest trees are coming back,
not only where there is a plentiful
rainfall, and not little hope is
found in the fact that the native
trees are reproducing themselves in
the drier portions of the country
where the fires are kept out and
where grazing is restrained within
reasonable limits, and many waste
place is becoming wilderness of
verdure.n