The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-07

Judge Parker has direct charge of the
administration of the law, under the sec
rotary, and his division is the clearing
house for public land business between the
secretary and the commissioner OF the
land office He is thoroughly familiar
with every phase of the controversy
which has arisen over the timber and
stone act, and, THEREFORE, speaks with au-
thority on that subject. '~sv. r
..There are several reasons why. the
timber and stone act should be repealed.
any one Of which should be sufficient,
said Judge Parker to-day. =, ON the
other: hand, do not know. OF one reason
for continuing it on the statute DOCKS.
Amount of Land Is Limited.
I'm the first place, the law should be
repealed because the amount OF timber
land now urGppropriated in the entire
| country is comparatively small, and 1t Is
| all needed to conserve the water supply
| for the irrigation works which will be
erected in the near future for the recla-
nation Of arid and semt-arid lands. II
private parties are allowed to take up the
| timbered lands now, within a few years
| the timber will be cut off or else held by
small and large holders Unfortunately.
Where the timber is removed the conser-
| walton of the water supply will be pre-
| vented Where the land is not cut over,
and is in the hands Of individuals or, cor
| porations, the government will be oDhgeo
| to pay enormous prices for it in order to
/ preserve the timber from destruction and
! insure a supply for such irrigating bitches
/ as can then be constructed. If the law
Is not repealed this land will eventually
become a wilderness. The sale OF, the
!, timber at this time will, of course, be o.
temporary benefit to the purchaser of the
y timber land, but it will prevent the de-
Il yelopment of vast tracts. of arid and semi
Il 11,bio poveinnant is
>. pairing to develop. SO you see the con
: tinuation of this law will result disas
;. trously in two ways. It will lay bare
vast tract Of country now heavily tim
bered, and will prevent the settlement Q
another section of the country whic
would otherwise thrive with the aid
water conserved by the forests.
Land Worth $1oo Sold for $3.50.
t Another objection to the present la,
is that fixing the price Of timber land q
e $3.50 an acre There is absolutely n
t justification for this because some Of 8
y is worth $40, $50 or even 500 an acre, &C
n cording to teh amount Of timber on 1t an
the location with reference to the marke
:: OF course timber land which is relnot
:. from the railroads or streams IS not
Z valuable as that near these utilities, an
: the present worth is not SO great.
), temptation TO Fraud.
Il Coming to the objection to the presel
d law which has attracted most attentic
( lately; that Of temptation tc fraud in 81
d tering these lands, I will say that tn;
* alone, in my judgment, is sufficient
10 cause its repeal. AS has been pointed OF
8, in the annual reports of the secretar
); there is little doubt that many entri
8, have been made by agents OF corporation
H. seeking to get control Of these lands, +
or present and future benefit. do not mes
4 to say that all the entries made under Il
IS act are fraudulent butsa large percental
" az them have been made in violation
81. the law, in that they were not made