Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-24
WORST FOES OF
THE HOMESEEKERs.
Thoes Who Occupy Public Lands
Far Grazing by Fencing Them Ina
AVS SEC'Y OF INTERIOR.
O Conde INNS In Severe Terms the
RiII before Congress for Leasing
Public Domain.


Washington. Nov. 22-'rhe report OF
,he secretary of the interior for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1902, has
Just been made public
It refers to the passage of the law for
the reclamation Of arid lands at the
last session Of Congress, and says:
ION the day following the passage of
the act plans were submitted by the
director OF the geological survey for
putting II into effect and these being
approved by me- survey parties were at
once put in the field to obtain all Of the
facts concerning the feasibility of varl-
Gus projects,
Great care is being exercised In Sc
lectlng projects which win be Of the
greatest benefit to the country; which
will settle upon the land the greatest
number of people, and which will re-
turn to the treasury the cost Of the
Undertaking, keeping intact the fund
for new works. No considerations OF
expedlency or sentiment can be toler-
ated, but only those of making the
! working success from business
standpOlnt.'
The report shows that there We're dis
posed of during the fiscal year public
lands aggregatng l9,4SS, 533. 80 acres, an
increase Of 3,925,739 acres as compared
with the aggregate dlsposals for the
preceding fiscal year.
The total cash receipts during the
fiscal year from various sources, in
GLIDING disposal Of public lands, 1885,
l OSS Co., aggregate So. 26l, 927.lS, an in
crease Of 81, 1888
The total area Of the public lands Is
approximately 1,S09. 539,AO acres, of
which S9S,955,476 acres are undis-
posed of,
Continuing, the report says
"The avowed policy of the govern
ment to preserve the public domain for
homes for actual settlers has no more
implacable and relentless foe than the
( class that seeks TO occupy the lands for
grazing purposes, by maintaining UNI
4, lawful fences thereon.
THE fight between this class and the
years and resulted in the passage of
: The act Of Feb, rs, 1885, which provides
for the institution Of civil proceedings
for the removal of such fences and
s criminal prosecution Of the trespassers,
and authorizes the president II neces-
sary 10 call out the civil and military
authorities to remove such unlawful
Enclosures. But Notwithstanding the
passage OF the act and the efforts Of
this department TO enforce IT, the abuse
has continued and the beneficiaHes
thereof have grown so bold and arro-
giant, that they practically defy the eff
forts of the department and the gov
eminent to exec1te the law,
There Is now pending before Con-
gress a bill entitled: "a bill to provide
for the leasing, for grazing purposes, of
the vacant public domain, and resery-
ing all rights OF homestead and mineral
entry, the rentals TO be n special fund
for irrigation,
should that bill become law, the
public domain In the 16 states and ter
ritories mentioned therein, aggregating
all of the vacant public domain west
Of the Mississippi, would be subject to
lease at 2 cents per acre for 10 years,
5 with privilege of renewal for 10 years
snore. II Is needless to say that such
10 bill IL enacted into law, would place
5the last acre of desirable public land
Bout OF the reach of the homeseekers
sand defeat the purpose of the govern
nent to preserve the public domain for
homes OF actual settlers, 1t would also
Defeat the operations OF the reclama-
ZION act and make possible the forma-
lion of land monopoly never contem-
plated by the public land system, but
Which, on the contrary. II Is one of the
purposes Of that system to prevent
The secretary intimates that there
ar numerous other objectionable fea-
lures 70 the bill.
II Discussing other work Of the depart
nent, the secretary's report says:
Il New forest reservations have been
Established during the year, the fores-
~ service extended q better and more
Borough system of patrolling the res
tryations has been perfected and the
work Of refdfestation on the various
Reservations has been entered upon
Viii satisfactory results. There are
nov "a forest reserves, embracing &c.
05675 acres. During the last fiscal
enlarged, four have been reduced, and
- additional have been established.
TIE adequate protection OF the forest
deserves and the extension thereof TO
other public timbered lands as occa-
eNn arises must OF necessity go hand
N hand with the operations looking to-
3rd the reclamation OF the arid lands
Of the west.
.FTimber on the unreserved public
Mnds cannot now be properly protected;
existing laws relating thereto and es-
pecialiy The act OF June g. 1873. known
as the timber and stone act II not re-
pealed or radically amended. win re-
sult ultimately in the complete destruc.
uon OF the timber on the unappropriat-
eu and unreserved public lands. The
aination demands the passage of rem
edial legislation
Tin the Indian service regulations
mNe been adopted providing for tho
consideratIon OF sealed bids for leases
o. indian grazing lands. and awards
mhde To the highest responsible bidder
uereby securing to the Indians a inst
E'urn Tor the use OF the leased lands
WIDER the old method Of permitting ,he
Wbes 70 Unfortunately enter into
Uhtracts FOR the use o. their lands