The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-29
Mr.. Walker Writes Again In Defense
and Explanation of the

gin OF values between the $3.50 and the
$40 or $50 so far as that holds good with
any of the lands entered, then I have
no objection to the statement, any fur
Their than to say that the lands entered
are not worth $40 to $50 in the market,
ana Will not be unless large amounts of
money are expended to make the timber
valuable. If by the term "specula tor
he means the men who in large par'>> If
chase these lands from the entryman.
then the statement does not hold good
because they do, not purchase the land
for $3.50 per acre. So
If these lands have been worth $50 o,
SlOo per acre why is it that the Central
Pacific and Northern Pacific have been
ranSacking the earth for many years
past to find purchasers for their heavily
tlmbered lands, for prices ranging most
ly from 81 to 81 per acre?
these entrymen are in one sense "spec
ulators." The intention Of the law is
to give them the privilege Of specializing
or making a profit from their timber en-
tries. A misunderstanding of this fact is
really the foundation of a large part OF
the complaints filed against the opera
ton Of the law -r,s :, .:'.,s
Let us see how it is viewed by the su-
preme court Of the United States, which
say in No. IA, page 1884, "All the act of
June 8, 1878, denounces is a prior agree
ment by which the patentee acts for an
other in the purchase. That NJ might
rlghtfully go or send into the vicinity
and make known generally or to-: indi-
:V1quals willingness to buy timber land
at ~ price In excess of that which 1T
would cost to obtain it from the govern
ment and that a person knowing OF that
maght rlghtfully go to the land office
and purchase a timberFlot: from the gov
eminent and transfer it to M without
violating the act of June g. 1873" This is
a. clean-cut expression of the meaning
and intention of this timber and stone
act as congress designed and intended
in passing the act. ~ $500 s.-,:t - ;sr
That claimants take up lands and aft
erWards dispose. of them is not con-
demned by this decision. nor is it in any
manner outside of the intention of the
law when it was passed. Yet most all
the charges of fraud are based upon the
presumption that selling the land by the
entrymen is pr1ma facia evidence of
If the commissioner of the general land
office Ewouldsgo himself as a timberabuver
into some part of the mountain country Of
the west where there are timber tracts
or surveyed land, that have been lying un.
disturbed and, subject to purchase and
entry for many years, no one taking them,
at least large portions not taken, and if
lie would then. put some surveyors and
examiners into the woods, estimating the
timber, he will see how it is himself,
about people, coming from all directions
and taking up timber claims. will guar
antee' II he should afterwards conclude
that the pieces of land which he had pur-
chased or entered in other ways, would,
make profitable investment when addi-
tfonal pieces are added to:make UP q mill
ing proposition, tina sae would agree with5
the supreme. court and with his own con-
science, that IT. was morally as we'll as
legally legitimate business transaction
for him to make purchases of these lands.
SO taken up and paid for under the timber
and stone actaby the entrymen. I am
satisfied that if he will study carefully
the reports of his agents that lie will see
that this is an allowable explanat ton of
most of the cases where collision is
charged IS :. -
The man who made the reports in Cali
forn1a on which these demands for the re-
peal Of the timber act were in large part
started, admitted few days~ago that his
charges that great frauds had been com
mltted IN my interest at SusanVille and
Redd1ng were founded solely and entirely
upon the" fact. that large numbers Of en-
tries were made by people from Minnesota
and Wisconsin and as am a Minnesotan.
he had no doubt Of their coming to Cali
other reason than this general SUPPOSE.
tion His statement had not a shadow of
foundation to rest on-out a, wilful
and malicious Misrepresentation, as are
most Of the statements Of this kind. I i
If this law is to be repealed, in conse-
quence of the land being worth more than
81. SO, and on account Of fraud In making
entries, this would certainly apply with
greater force to the old homestead. law.
iC 70 {o,,
for making fraudulent proofs than
there is in the timber and
stone act. And when this act is
then the lands will be talk
an under the homestead law, where the
government will receive no compensation
,or the land and where the inducements
for fraudulent practices will be tenfold
greater than they are under the timber
and stone act. There are a great MANY
more inducements or advantages to~pe
gained by evading the conditions of the
aW under the homestead law than the
timber and stone act. = Under the home
stead act. fve-years' residence is re-
luired to complete the title, unless the
Communication price is paid. Under the
timber and stone ace, neither residence
Tor cultivation is required. - - o. -
There is no particular reason or adj
vantage TO be gained by giving false
,estlmday, under the timber and stone
act. And if the repeal is to be made on
he ground Of the limited area of timber
eft. the same thing will apply to the
agricultural lands being taken under the
homestead act and equally so the timber
ands which will also be taken by home
'teaders. If greater areas of forest re-
serves are to be made, it should be done
1lrectly and not by making matters worse,
These letters have been written, not to
protest against saving the timber lands.
)ut because Of the unjustiiable charges
made against the 1umbermen, and the
arge class of people who are taking claims
lnder the timber and stone act. It has
come to be so customary and natural
or certain class Of people, and quite a
arge one, too, to assume and presume
hat the lumbermen as well as the So
called capitalists, generally, are fraudu-
emily plunder1ng the public that have
become weary of these unjustifable repe-
;itions and this fact constitutes the prfn-
,ipal reason for my writing these letters.
From long acquaintance with the lum-
and the men who are entering
ands under the land laws established by
congress for their benefit. feel certain
md sure that they compare more than
:ayorably with the people who are so
talking about the fraudulent
Of the lumbermen and the
timber entrymen.
If the repeal Of all laws could prevent
he people at large from having any ac-
cess to the timber lands and put them
only on the Canadian basis of selling to
hose who could command means to pur-
chase large areas and build milling plants
hat cost large fortunes, the dissatfsfac-
o1oi int oi,,e.f