The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-20
LAND LEGISLATION.
What Was Attempted During Recent
Session and What Accomplished.


What Was Attempted During Recent
Session and What Accomplished.
Washington Star.
Representative Lacey. of Iowa, chairman
OF the House committee on public lands, in
reviewing the work of the session regard
ing public land legislation for the Star. con-
cludes that the work accomplished is un-
usually large in volume and highly salts
factory as to policy and public good.
Taken altogether" Mr.. Lacey declared.
there was more accomplished in the way
OF public land legislation at the short ses-
sion of the Fifty-seventh Congress than has
been accomplished at any time previous in
the same length of time.
There were some disappointments in this
connection. however. as one of the disas-
trous results Of the Democratic fllibuster in
the House during the closing days of Con-
gress was the failure Of legislation which
had been agreed upon for the opening up
for settlement OF 2,150OOO acres of agricul-
tural lands in several of the largest Indian
reservations Of the country. The early part
of the session had been devoted by those
interested in this legislation to getting a
satisfactory basis for the legislation. This
had just been reached when the filibuster
was inaugurated
Members OF the appropriations commit
tee, headed by Mr.. Cannon, opposed the
proposition contained in the first bills in
troduced, that the Indian lands should be
pougnt by the government and then thrown
open to settlement. There was no opposi-
ton. however. from this quarter to the
proposition to have the government act as
trustee for the sale of the lands to the set
tiers by the Indians. BY this plan the gov
eminent was 10 purchase the lands in trust.
and as they were sold to settlers pay the
purchase price to the Indians. Under this
plan 10000 acres was to be thrown open
In Oklahoma, $4,000 acres of the Rosebud
reservation in South Dakota 100000 acres
OF the Crow reservation in Montana, and
2ooOo0 acres of the Devils Lake reserva-
ton In North Dakota. The only measure
OF this class which was allowed to get
through was bill throwing open to settle
ment 100000 acres of the Red Lake reserva-
ton. 1t is estimated that If all the meas
ures had become laws. homes would have
been furnished for something like $4,000
families on the very best of agricultural
land in the country"
Chairman Lacey Is optimistic that this
legislation will go through early at the first
session OF the next Congress and predicts
that there will be stampede on the part
OF settlers to secure homes on the fertile
lands OF these various Indian reservations.
lone OF the most important accomplish
ments of the session just closed in the way
of public land legislation" he continued,
was the opening up of the gilsonite min
eral lands of the Uncompahgre Indian
reservation in Utah. There has been a
heated controversy about opening up this
mineral deposit for the last ten years.
This reservation contains the entire world
supply of gilsonite, SO far as known. Gil
sonite is a high form of asphalt or pitch.
There is also on this reservation large de-
roofing varnish. Both minerals are in a
very pure state, and il Is believed the gill
sonite can be profitably used for street paw
ing. If this is proved true the deposits will
world
THE question of how best to throw these
mineral lands open to the public was one
which engrossed the attention of the law
makers for some time. The conclusion
reached was that the old discoveries, or
location made prior to 1891 should be held
were made this land was under executive
ORDER and the general belief at that time
was that the mineral lands Of such reser-
vatons were subject to location the same
| as other mineral lands. In order to proven,
these lands falling into the hands of a
monopoly the law which provides for their
opening reserves every other section OF
land to the government. This is somewhat
disappointing to many prospectors who
| have located claims In the last few years
| as they will not be allowed to acquire title
| to the locations they have made should
such locations happen to be on the section
| reserved by the government.
There was some important Legislation
during the session in preserving the won.
| The House passed a bill for the second
time making the petrifed forest of Arizona
a national park. This petrifed forest con.
which, on account of the lack of authority
are being rapidly destroyed and carried
away by. curio hunters. Dynamite has
| been freely used on some of the most val
liable of the specimens
1.-The wonderful wind cave of South Da
kota was made national park. This re
| markable cave Is an extinct geyser. era
| m OroQoY q OF ~ 9
national park. The works of the cliff ant
cave jewellers of New Mexico were alss
made the subject of legislative considera
ton. but no final action was reached il
the effort to preserve them under specia
governmental jurisdiction.
| Under the leadership of Presiden
Roosevelt an effort was made to pass bill
creating Ravens Of refuge for game in tn,
forest reserves of the country. A bill wa
introduced both in the House and Senate
the bill introduced there failed. The Sen
| ate succeeded in getting its bill through
but the measure came to the House to,
late in the session to secure action, al
though the House committee took favor
able action on the measure.
"A new homestead law for Alaska wa
passed. This law increased the size of tn
| homestead that can be taken up in Alask;
! from eighty to 800 acres. Under the Alask;
homestead act of 1898. the size of the home
stead was fixed at eighty acres. and not
| single entry has been made under that law
The reason for this was explained to b
| that no one in search of home would e
| to Alaska and be restricted TO eighty acre
Of land when they gould obtain 100 acre
in any of the states where public land wa
/ to be had
"A bill allowing special surveys to b
| made of coal lands in Alaska was passe
by the House. but met defeat in the Sen
ate. being objected to by Senator Hetfe
as his last official act as senator. Their
| are from 10000 to $1,000 acres of coal land
| in Alaska which could be worked II spe
1 he Cd %
the location of the lands. This. however
would interfere with the coal trade of som
Of the Northwestern States to that coun
try. and this is given the reason for tn