Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-12-10
GENERAL LAnp OFFICE.


Tho cash receipts of the general land of.
fee for the last fiscal year were Sll O2i. !.
1886. an increase Of &.762S 1917 over the
preceding year. or this sum, approx.
! matcly. s., i61 4a3 will go to the credit Of
the fund for the reclamation or arid land,
! making the total Of this fund. up to the
%oth Of June, 1903 approximately
$16.191 S3G
A gratifying disposition has been cvinced
by those having unlawful Enclosures OF
public land to remove their fences. Nearly
two million acres so incloscd have been
thrown omen on demand In but compare.
lively few cases has II been necessary to
go into court to accomplish this purpose,
! This work will he vigorously prosecuted
nntil nll unlawful Enclosures have been re
moved.
Experience has shown that In the west
ern states themselves, rs well M In The
rest Of the country there Is widespread
/ conviction that certain Of the public land
laws and the resulting administrative prac-
leo no longer meet the present needs. The
character and uses Of the remaining pub
lie lands differ widely from those Of the
puhlle lands which congress had especially
In view when these laws were passed. The
rapidly increasing rate ~ disposal Of the
public lands is not followed by n carrc.
spending increase In home buirding There
IS = tendency 10 mass In large holdings
rnhlc lands especially timber and graz.
iur lands ana thereby to rctard settle
ment renew and emphasize my recon-
mnudation ~ last year that so far as they
nrp available for agriculture In its broad
cSf sense. and 10 whatever extent they
NAV be reclaimed under the national irrl.
CATION law, the remaining public lands
should he held rlCldly for the home
h'-il'"~ Tho attention Of tho congress Is
rspccialy directed 70 the timber and stone
law. the esert-lnnd law. nnd the comInu-
taiion clanse Of the homestead law. which
IN their operation have In many respects
ronnlcted with wise 'public-land policy.
The discussions In the congress and else.
WIN 1sftd ie
wide divergence ~ opinions between those
holding opposite vinws on those subjects:
and that tho opposing sides have strong
end convinced representatives ~ weight
both within end without the congress. the
differences being not only M 70 matters of
onininn hut as IN matters ~ tact In or.
dor that fnhnife Information may be avail
cistc Ter tho rse ~ the congress have ap.
nointed commission composed ~ w
Richards commissioner ~ Tho general land
0Tlro: clifford Pinchof chief NJ the hurpAn
~ fnrpstrv. and r. VI Newell chief nv.
drographot ~ the geological survey 10 re-.
rart ~ tho earliest practicable moment
mon the condition. operation. and effect
~ tho present land laws and on the use.
condition. disposal. and seftlemer' ~ tho
puhllc lands The commission win report
csnpciallv Whist changes in organization.
laws. regulations. and practire affecting
tho urhIic Isnas nrs needed Ia affoct tho
larroS' practicable disposition of tho pnh-
y" lands - actual settlers who -'-i" =.
permanent homes upon them. and TO secure
IN perfnanenee the fullest and most efTec-
two uge ~ the resources ~ the public
lands. and II viii make sHeh other repsrts
aud recommendations as It's study ~ these
questions mar suggest. The commission Is
r. rena-t immediately upan those points
concerning which IT. Judgment fl clear:
any point upon which n has donhf n
will takn the time necessary IN make IN.
raSfica'ion auS roe N Anai Judgment
IRRIGATION
The work Of reclamation ~ the arid