Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-04-06
PUBLIC LAND COMMISSION.
Some Of the Proposed Changes in the
Land Lave.


The partial report of the public
lands commission made public this
week. discusses briefly some of the
largest practical disposition of pub.
lie lands statutes. In attaining the
largest practical disposition of pob-
lie lands to actual settlers and secur-
ing the most effective use of these
lands, the commission appreciated
the fact that extremely difficult and
far-reaching problems are involved.
The public lands embrace In area
very nearly one-third OF the entire
extent of the United States. Exclud.
ing Alaska there are 90 states and
three territories containing public
land. The commission has found that
often In one state the conditions are
so devious that a mar who argues
for certain points Is usually found to
base his argument on the conditions
which exist in his locality: If not linn.
tied by geographical environments
the view point is almost always that
of special industry, and the arglI-
ments r based upon a knowledge of
conditions which affect that industry.
A strong faction Is in favor of the
continuance of present land laws.
Others go to the other extreme and
assert that nearly all of the public
land laws should be repealed or mod.
flied. and that the lands being
disposed of are held in such a way
that they will never furnish homes to
people who might otherwise enjoy
their use. The commission Is agreed
from information obtained by thorough
conferences in the west and the hear.
ings in Washington, that the present
land laws do not At the conditions of
the remaining public lands. Most of
the laws and department practices
which have grown up under them
were formed TO suit the lands OF the
humid region. The public lands that
now remain are chiefly arid in char
acter. Hence these laws and prac.
tees are no longer well suited for the
most economical and effective dispos.
al OF lands to actual settlers. Changes
are suggested at this time bearing up
on the control of and disposal OF the
forest lands, as these are among the
most valuable OF the lands remaining
in public ownership. Next in import.
ance TO thes g Is the desert land law.
The timber and stone act has been
carefully considered. There has been
an unusual increase in the number Of
entries under this act, which cannot
be accounted for BY an increase In
the demands OF commerce or by an
unusual settlement. A very large
proportion of the 10000 entries made
under this act in the last year we're
upon timbered land. The commission
believes that congress did not intend
that this law should be used for the
acquisition of large tracts Of valuable
timber land by individuals or corpor-
ations, but il has been used for such
purposes. The conclusion OF the COM
mission Is that the law Is defective
because even when properly admins
tered IL NAY be used for purposes
for which It was never intended, n
its repeal is recommended. II Ia
further recommended that means
should be provided by which the ma.
tured timber upon the ~unreseryed
public lands NAV be sold, not only
for the use OF individuals. but also
to supply the demands of commerce.
In considering the Communication
clause of the homestead act. the com.
mission finds much evidence tending
to show that, in the prairie states
where II has been most used, the
commutation clause has been OF ad.
vantage to the settler without caus.
ing serious loss 10 the government.
The abuse OF the law has been In con
nection with entries upon timber
lands. The commission is not pre-.