Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-09-24
RULES AND
REGULATIONS
Senator Paris Gibson Writes a Letter
From Washington Explaining the
Laws on Forest Reserves.
GRAZING OF STOCK PROHIBITED
Until the Reserve Has Been Visited
by a Government Inspector All
Stock Must be Kept on.

The following letter from Senator
Paris Gibson appeared in the Great
Falls Tribune last week. and as II will
no doubt be interesting to those con-
cerned in the setting aside of lands
in the Little Belts, 1t is deemed
worthy of publication:
As many OF the people who are liv-
ing within the boundaries of the Lit
tie Belt mountains forest reserve may
wish TO know some of the prominent
requirements of the government relat-
ing 10 forest reserves, | will quote a
few statements that will probably
/ be of interest:
The object Of a forest reserve is
to maintain forests on lands where
they are needed. for two principle
reasons: First, to furnish timber, a
valuable and much needed product
from lands which are untitled to pro-
duce a more valuable crop, such as
corn or wheat; second. to regulate
the flow of water.
Farmers on patented land are, of
course, in full possession of their
lands just as much al il the farmer
were outside of the reserve.
IF land was settled upon prior to
the location of the reservoir, but is
u~nsurveyed land. and a former claim
is not filed in the United States land
office, the settler may so file OF the
land when il Is surveyed. but must
do so within three months after the
survey plats covering his land are
filed in the local land office.
ANY person who purchases a farm
which is not patented, a mere claim
subsequent to the creation OF the re.
serve. gains no rights whatever.
Anyone settling on agricultural
lands after the creation OF the reserve
commits trespCss. and gains no rights
by his settlement.
prospecting and mining in forest
reserves is not prohibited or inter
fered with, and locations and entry
OF claims is allowed under the gener-
al mining laws of the United States,
and the particular state or territory.
THE permit to construct, enlarge
and repair roads and trails In re-
serves is granted only by the secre-
tary of the interior. and never by
rangers or other forest officers.
Anyone wishing to construct a
road or trail should make application
to the secretary Of the interior.
Permits must be obtained for con-
structing railways. telegraph and tele-
phone lines.
School houses or churches may be
erected On reserved lands. but the
amount Of land used for any one
school or church cite must no exceed
two acres. The matter Is simply a
privilege, and the title to the land re-
mains In the government.
THE secretary can grant the priv
ilege of establishing hotels. road
ranches. stores and other business en-
terprises in forest reserves.
Application for permit to erect a
saw mill on land within q forest re-
serve is made in the same form as
for other privileges.
"All law-abiding people are permit
ted to travel in forest reserves for
purposes of prospecting. surveying,
to go to and from their own lands or
claims. and for pleasure or recreation,
but in every case the person or per.
sons so travelling. camping, etc. must
obey the rules established by the de-
partment for the forest reserves, and
particularly will they be expected to
refrain from doing anything that may
result In injury TO the forest.
THE secretary of the interior can
forbid any and all kinds of grazing
thereon.
Whenever the grazing appears to
do no marked damage to the forest OF
the reserve. grazing is allowed by the
department. but until the department
has decided that it will do NJ harm
and that a certain number Of either
sheep and goats. or cattle and horses
may Craze in a reserve or part of a
reserve, the grazing of stock is pro
hibited.