Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-15
MONOPOLY OF PUBLIC LANDS.

u. Irish, OF San francisco. The Dill, IL
enacted into law, would make subject
to lease all the vacant public lands in
Arizona, California, Colorado Idaho,
Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Wy
oming, an area embracing about 525
millions of acres. The leases are to
run for term Of years, with the priv
ilege of renewal for term of ten years
or more. The annual rental is to be
two cents an acre. In order to blind
and befog the public there is provl-
sion that the revenue derived from the
lease Is to constitute reclamation
fund for the construction of irrigation
works on the arid and semi-arid lands.
This clause is introduced under the
guise of promoting the very desirable
system of irrigation that is absolutely
necessary in such regions.
Preference in securing lease rights
is given three classes of persons as fol-
lows:
First, owners of cultivated agricul-
tlral lands for leasable lands abuuting
on their freehold to the extent of ten
acres of leasehold to one acre of free
hold; second, stock growers who are
also freeholders, the extent of ten
acres of freehold, bona fide holders of
state leaseholds also have the privilege
provided such state leasehold is not
held by any one person in tracts ex-
ceeding $40 acres in one body. The
privilege extends only to land in coun-
ties where stock habitually ranges;
third, stock growers, whether freehold
ers or not, who were in actual use and
occupancy of public lands during the
year ending in January /, 1901, such
lands to be leased them in proportion
to their respective interests and use
thereof.
The bill appears innocent at first
glance but when analysed it presents a
stupendous scheme on the part of
stockmen and their hackers, to absorb
all the public lands that are available
and prevent the home seeker from ac-
quiring a foothold in any part of the
region where herds of cattle may be
maintained. There is a specially OBJ
noxious provision in which persons in
possession of state leasehold to the
extent of GAO acres, may lease from the
government {, 400 acres of public lands.
There is another clause equally as OBJ
jectionable that permits those who
whether free holders or not, were in
actual possession and occupancy of
public lands during the year ending in
January l, 1901, to have such lands
leased to them in proportion to their
respective interests and use thereof.
This is designed for the benefit of the
cattle barons who, whether by hook or
creek secured possession of tract OF
land on which their great herds of cat.
tie grazed, will now under this act have
first privilege to acquire a lease and
hold it at their option for ten years OF
more.
The scheme as it unfolds ITSELF is
startling. If carried out it would pre-
vent the settlement of the new country
by barring out homeseekers who, if
they had chance would open out 100
acres OF cultivated farms. Acre for
acre, western cultivated farms will
send five head of cattle to market, to
one from the immense grazing tracts.
Fortunately for the homeseekers
and for the country, Secretary Hitch
cock, of the interior department, is an
honest man as well as sympathizer
with the men who want farms and de-
sire to be bona fide settlers. He has
sent communication to the senate
committee in which he fully exposes
the scheme that would in his language
throw the entire public domain open
to leasers except mineral lands and
lands that have been homesteaded. .
This outrageous fayoritism to stock.
men is still further illustrated by the
Becretary who declares that under this
bill the cattle barons could secure a
complete monopoly upon the public
lands not only to the exclusion OF
homeseekers. but also to the exclusion
of the settlers already on the lands
whose titles have not been perfected
This could be accomplished" he says
under the provision giving prefer
ences to leasers. 1t is provided that
freeholders shall be allowed the first
preference to the lease of public lands
at the rate of ten acres of lease lands
to one Of freehold. But this does not
apply to the thousands of homestead,
ers who have not perfected their titles.
They are compelled" the secretary
says. ito sit idle and see all OF the