The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-03
JANUARY 8, 1903.

and defeated.
believe that each adult in this coun
try is entitled to the privilege of pur-
chasing a quarter section of timber land,
and paying the government price OF 500.
and then keeping it or selling 1t or doing
with it as he pleases, as against any other
way Of disposing of this timber. be-
lieve that the mostseconomical way for the
government to supply the demand for
lumber would be to sell the timber in
large areas to responsible corporations or
persons who could handle it, as they do
In Canada. But American opinions differ
SO greatly from that in Canada, there is
such an emphatic prediction in favor OF
equal opportunities, that this method only
tends to create friction, and there is GER
tainly enough Of it already existing in this
country. "
In the region where have been pur-
chasing timber, I have bought very
largely of individuals who have held their
land for ten or; twenty years; more or less.
and some considerable from the railway
company, and have also purchased lands
that have been taken up in more recent
years. 4 have had. large numbers of sur
.VeyOrs: and examiners over all the coun-
ties in which have been interested and
have had occasion to know the ms and
outs Of all that is going on in the town
ships where have been purchasing lands.
I know in general the history of the
movements in Minnesota and Wisconsin,
and some from Iowa, the Dakotas, ETC., Of
the people who went to this region and
took up timber claims and I will appeal
to them to-day to know if it is not strict
ly true that in every case they went
there on their own motion Or that of some
one who was not any more than they
interested in: purchasing lands. In some
cases, men who were land examiners Of
.fered Il to furnish land : descriptions
and locations for some certainffees
for for which sls the entrymen paid them n
expenses and can make the statement
that not single one Of these took up
claims in the interests of either myself
or any land purchaser or that I or any
one purchasing land had any part in
bringing them there or any anxiety to
have them come. And so far as the local
people In California are concerned Wher-
ever I purchased pine, it Immediately
conveyed the impression that the lands
round about would become valuable and
they went upon their lands for their own
benefit and not in any one single instance
for the benefit or advantage of myself or
any one In my interests. It is true that
they took 1t up with a view of getting the
difference in value between that which is
paid to the government and what they
could sell it for. They have a perfect
right to do this. It was the intention Of
the law, that they should have this priv
ilege. 1t is only right that the law
should give them such privilege. The re-
peal of the law is not in my judgment
necessary or desirable.
The former method of selling timber
lands at public auction was cancelled by
| legislative act on the same ground that
afterwards repealed the pre- emption law
| the same one that now operates to. re-
peal the timber and stone act and the
| communication clause of the homestead
| law. ~
| The prejudice against capital and large
holdings is becoming sufficient to over
| come prejudice in favor of the man Of
small means. Lumber can only be pro-
duced satisfactorily. and at reasonable
cost by means Of large capital. We ma!
be very sorry that men of small means
are not able to handle it and we may BIZ
sorry that there are men of large means
who can do it, but the people want the
lumber just the same. and they need, it
and it should be furnished in. the mos
economical and reasonable way. .~,r
I have been engaged in this craft fol
a great many years, about all my bust
ness life. I began when I had nothing
and by hard work and establishing /;
4 credit have been able to handle good
i sized lumber and timber business. hav
owned about as large areas of tinbe
land as any other person. never pro
cured a quarter section by any fraudu
lent transaction. Was never a part
to it.
In northeastern California the heavies
charges have been made as to fraudulen
transactions. excepting, perhaps. the Ian
office in North Dakota, where the home
stead law was most complained of, an
in the Marysville office, California. wher
land gobbling was charged against tn
mining laws, under which eight men O
small means took up near 100, 900 acres q
, | al,,4 ~
> government anything for it. any NOR
than small fees. And it was some miner
in California who made the loudest or
against the frauds Of the timber an
, stone locaters. Why not repeal the min
| ing laws?
1t is not to be expected in the admin
istration of any law whatever that viola
ton of it could not be accomplished i
some way. and. notwithstanding the gres
claims made by men seeking popular ia
vor by crying out against fraud concern
ing this timber act, I believe that ther
: is less real. actual violation than migl
: be naturally expected. And the excer
/ tional violations are entirely insufficie1
to warrant the, condemnation of the lay
! 1t is claimed among the charges pr.
> ferred. that people from other states al
taken in large numbers, by large corpor;
lions or wealthy men, and used as sto
pigeons whereby the land was to be take
up In the interests of these speculate
and not for the benefit of the parti
making the. locations. I will appeal
=, the various persons in Minnesota, Wi
- consin, Iowa and Dakota, not imme
9 numbers Of them, but comparatively
- small number, compared to the numbe
. of entries made by the people on Il
y, coast, to know if any one can tell of
4 single person who went there in the i
+ terest of any capitalist, or at his sole
~ tat.on. or through any of his agents.
"a would venture to say that not a sing
ono can be found.
~ L ought to know the history of the |
Ia cations made in the counties and tow
) ships where I have been opera ting a.
re I can say that i know these charges a
J. substantially exaggerations and misrep1
D, sensations. And I am Furthermore sat
j. fed that if this law is repealed and t
is tiE Der thrown into the hands of the
lr terror department, while that depa
i'd ment is well administered, it will new,
ne theless be a source of greater compla.
D. and greater dissatisfaction than ext
&c Gay under the present system
1g IT. B. Walker
Is, ----- ------------
Id
DAILY DIVERSION