The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-01-29
TO STOP THEFT
OF VALUABLE TIMBER
Secretary HOuStOn'S Firm
Response to Chandler
Resolutions

The determined stand recently
taken by the school land department
to put a stop to the wholesale devas-
tation OF timber on school lands as
was naturally TO be expected qlhs
stirred up storsa Of protests eman-
ating from the quarters where timber
depredations have been the most no
torious. AS has been explained by
Secretary Houston 1t is not intended
by the board to work any harsh or
restrictive measures on school land
lessees where timber is needed to
make im1 1nts on the lease. or
whore the cleared ground is broken
ont and placed under cultivation; but
at the same time there will be no
temporizing with that class Of offend
ers who despoil the school lands OF
timber with no other purpose than
immediate commercial profit
Last Saturday the Commercial club
of Chandler. acting under an inn
pulse hello a called meeting and
passed resolutions denouncing the
ruling OF the school land board as
arbitrary, harsh and unjust, and an
impediment to the progress and de
velopment OF the country A copy Of
the resolutions was sent to che school
land Office to which Secretary Hous.
ton replies as follows:
Guthrie, OK, jan %. 1902.
Hon. J. b. Underwood. Secretary pro
TEN, OF the Chandler CONNER
cial Club, Chandler, Ok.
Dear sir--In behalf Of Governor
Ferguson, chairman of the board for
leasing school land, permit me to ac-
knowledge receipt Of your communi.
cation OF tho 25th inst. enclosing
preamble and resolutions adopted ny
the Commercial club Of Chandler.
J fear that your club and to some
extent the people Of Lincoln county
are iaboring under a misapprepen-
sion as to the desire OF the board for
leasing school land in the matter Of
timber cutting
In the first place permit me to in
form you that for sometime numer-
ous complaints have been received
by the dlfferenb members OF the
board and by the secretary from all
parts Of the territory and from many
OF ogr best citizens stating that tim.
Der wa being cut unfortunately
and In many instances the best tim
ber being cleared :-am land, and that
this was being sold as cord wood as
posts. and to saw mills, and walnut
and cedar logs We're being sold and
shipped, and in many cases the land
thus denuded was not being put uu-
der cultivation You can readily see
that this complaint could only apply
in paru to Lincoln county
II therefore became imperative for
the board as being charged with the
care Of these lands under the trust .
imposed by congress and it's respon
sibility to the future state OF Okla.
homa 10 see that these lands should
not be denuded Of timber and TO con
troll any clearing that was oeIng done.
hand you herewith a blank copy
OF lease which is he form under
which all lessees in your county hold
you Will note that one OF the stipula-
tions in this contract is The said
party OF the second part covenants
with said party Of ,he first part. that
he win not cut or remove, or permit
to be cut or removed, any timber
from said land"
It IS quite apparent, therefore, that
il required no new rule Of the board
to prohibit timber cutting, as this
contract and agreemens exists with
every lessee In the territory It was
he question OF the proper enforce j
nent OF this agreement however
which has caused the poard TO call ,
he paelal attention Of the lessees Of 1
.chool land thereto. No careful land
ORD would omit such a contract in
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