The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-12-10
PUBLIC LANDS.
Necessity for Revision Of the Laws Is
Pointed Out.

The cash receipts of the General Land
Office for the last fiscal year were
$l1 OA, 1885, an increase of S4762, 6.47
over the preceding year. OF this sum,
approximately, $S46l, ,493 will 60 to the
credit of the fund for the reclamation
OF arle land, making the total Of this
fund, up to the 30th of June, 1903. ap-
proximately SIC, ,1sl. .SS6
A gratifying disposition has been
evinced by those having unlawful incIos-
uIes Of public land TO remove their fences
Nearly 100000 acres so inclosed have been
thrown open on demand. In but COM
paretlveiy few cases has 1t been neres-
say to go into court to accomplish tns
purpose This work will be vigorously
prosecuted until all unlawful Enclosures
have been removed
Experience has shown that in the West
ern States themselves, as well as in the
rest OF the country, there is widespread
conviction that certain of the public and
laws and the resulting administrative
pr9 ctice no longer meet the present roeds,
The character and uses of the remaining
public lands differ widely from those OF
the public lands which the Congress had
especially in view when these laws were
passed The rapidly increasing rate Of
disposal of the public lands Is not toll
iOhGu ny u corresponding lHClSd5t III
home building There is a tendency to
mass in large holdings public lands, cs-
pecially timber and grazing lands ami
thereby to retard settlement, l renew and
emphasize my recommendation uf last
year that so far as they are available fer
agriculture in its broadest sense, anI to
whatever extent they may be reclaimed
urder the national irrigation .aw, the re-
naming public lands should be held
rigidly for the home-builder. The atten-
tion Of the Congress is especially directed
to the timber and stone law, the desert
land law, and the commutation clause
of the homestead law, which In their oper-
alton have In many respects confilcted
with wise public-land policy. The Discus
sions in the Congress and elsewhere have
made It evident that there Is a wide dl-
vergence Of opinions between those hole
ing opposite views on these subjects; crd
that the opposing sides have strong and
convinced representatives of weight beth
within and without the Congress- the diff
ferences being not only as to matters OF
opinion, but as to matters of fact.
Reclamation of Arid Lands.
The work of reclamation of the arid
lands of the West is progressing steadily
and satisfactorily under the terms of the
law setting aside the proceeds from the
disposal of public lands. The corps of
engineers known as the reclamation
service, which is conducting the surveys
and examinations, has been thoroughly
organized. especial pains being taken to
secure under the civil service rules
body of skilled, experienced and efficient
men. Surveys and examinations are
progressing throughout the arid states and
territories, plans for reclaimlng works be-
ing prepared and passed upon by boards
of engineers before approved by the Sec
retary of the Interior In Arizona and
Nevada, in localities where such work is
pre-eminently needed, construction has al
ready been begun. In other parts of the
arid West various projects are well ad
vanced towards the drawing up of con-
tracts, these being delayed In part by
necessities of reaching agreements or UNI
derstanding as regards rights of way or
ACQUISITION of real estate. Most of the
works contemplated for construction are
of National Importance, involving inter
state questions or the securing of stable,
self supporting communities in the midst
of vast tracts of vacant land. The Nation
as a whole is Of course the gamer by the
creation of these homes, adding as they
do to the wealth and stability of the
country, and furnishing a home market
for the products of the East and South.
The reclamation law, while perhaps not
Ideal, appears at present to answer the
larger needs for which It Is designed.
Further legislation is not recommended
until the necessities of change are more
apparent.