Holbrook argus., 1902-11-29
SAVING THE FORESTS
EFFECTUAL CHECK ON THE OFFER.
 ATIONS OF THIEVES
Millions of Acres of Land Withdrawn From Entry for the Purpos. of Establishing Vast Forest Reserves


 northwestern and Pacific coast states that Secretary Hitchcock has been
 forced to take radical action to pre- vent all the timber land in those sec- tions from!passing into the hands of the big lumber companies and individ- ual operators. Not only was the de- struction of the timber threatened, but the successful operation of the Hans- borough irrigation act was also in great danger of notification.
 This situation has been brought about by the continuance on the stat ute books of the timber and stone act, and the act allowing the use of timber on public lands by mineral claimants. Under the first named act any person can go into public land office and acquire tract of 16O acres of the finest timber land by paying $2.50 an acre l4OO) and :the usual fees and commits sions, and by making affidavit that he or she is entering the land in good faith for his or her own: Individual use because it is more valuable for timber than for agricultural purposes.
 The object of the passage of the law was all right, but the special agents of the interior department have discover. ed that vast tracts have been entered, men and women acting as agents for the big lumber companies and individ- ual operators. The first outcome of the investigations made by the interior de- partment was a suit brought in Mon- tana against United States Senator Clark for the recovery of title to many thousands of acres of land which had been gained by these alleged fraudu lent entries. The suit is still pending.
 The investigations were continued in states further west-Idaho, Washing ton, Oregon and California. As fast as suspicious circumstances developed the secretary suspended action on entries and directed that the entrymen be called upon to show cause why their entries should not be cancelled. The latest order of that kind was issued last month regarding lands in Oregon, and more drastic measures were taken in California. An order was issued for the withdrawal of millions of acres of land in the northern part of that state, with a view to establishing several forest reserves. This was the only way the secretary could discover to checkmate the schemes of those who were trying to get these valuable lands for little money.
 Under the mining laws, location would be made and the timber on the tract embraced in the mineral location would be cut ostensibly for use in the mines, but really it was sold. Whether used for the mines-or sold, the effect was the same-the land was denuded of timber and that much ben eft lost to the government.
 The acquisition of public timber land by private parties would in the secre- tary's opinion, have but one ending and it was thought best to take effec- tive measures before the destruction of tie timber was accomplished. The secretary found that if indiscriminate destruction of timber was continued the conservation of the water supply in the west would be threatened. In maintaining irrigation works to be constructed under the Hansborough law, more or less steady supply of water is absolutely necessary and it is a recognized fact that the supply is ; conserved in the vast forests in the { higher lands. With the destruction of 7,