The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-12-15
Forest Wealth in the North
= west.
II is Being Trafdcked in at the Expense OF
Uncle Sam Workings of the Forest Re-
serve Lieu Land Law.


aside, Congress has at times succeeded
in innocently doing things of incalcula-
BILE injury to the country. Such has
been the effect of a law passed few
years ago creating what is known as
Forest Reserve Land Scrip. Few peO-
pie throughout the country, especially
the east, know anything of this law,
yet its workings have been perhaps the
most iniquitous of any land law ever
administered by any government in
any age. 1t has resulted in millions
and tens of millions of dollars worth of
the most magnificent merchantable
timbered lands in the world passing
from the government into the hands of
lumber syndicates and spectators, for
which little and in some cases absolute
" no value has been received by the
government.
On its face the forest lieu land law
was beneficent measure, and SO the
majority of Congressman thought when
they enacted it. 1t provided that where
the government created forest re-
serve and settlers already had their
homes in that reserve, they could ex-
change their lands for any other public
land which they might select, the idea
being that the forest reservation, by
stopping further settlement, would
condemn them to isolation. Then the
law was made to apply broadly to all
people or corporations who might hold
or have filed Oh any land in forest re-
serves, created or to be created. The
land grant railroads in some instances,
ana large land dealers and spectators,
held enormous tracts of land, good and
bad, in the forest reserves.
Where poor it was Immediately ex-
changed for good timber lands; where
good. the owners, or the companies to
whom they sold it, proceeded to divest
it of every foot of timber, and then
turned it in to the government ard To-
Gated in lieu of it, acre for acre, tracts
in the painless forests of Washington,
Oregon, Northern California and Ida
no forests mentioned by the Secretary
of the Interior as worth $50 and even
500 an acre.
The people of the West-those who
are not interested in timber steals of
various sorts-are outraged at the mag
nitude of the timbermen's operations;
not at the great legitimate numbering
industry of the West but at the evasion
Of the timber laws, the absolute down.
right fraud, stealing and perjury, which
is occurring in every timbered section;
and most of all at the reckless methods
of numbering by which entire water
sheds are denuded and destroyed, thus
drying up the water resources for irri-
CATION upon which the fertile western
valleys depend for their very life
The difficulty which the irrigator and
the forest preserver will meet is this:
neither are organized. The great mass
OF the people would favor the abroga-
ton Of this abominable law, and the
recent National Irrigation Congress at
FL PasO passed strong resolution to
that effect: nevertheless what is every
bodys business is nobody's in particu-
lar, and the forest lieu land scrip law is
likely to continue on the statute books
unless an overwhelming public senti-
ment sweeps it away. And, indeed, so
We'll are the timbermen organized that
any effort at legislation will immediate
ly arouse a great western outroar. 1t
VIII be but the protest of men who are
making enormous fortunes through the
squandering of the nations greatest re-
source. An instance of this is seen in |
the following imitation type-written
letter, which is being sent broadcast |
among all timber land dealers.
''Dear Sir
| AIN advised that Immediately upon the |
assent bling Of Congress in December, either |
the M0ndel bill restricting the purchasing
power of Forest Reserve Scrip will be placed /
upon its passage, or a new bill still more
disastrous will be introduced providing |
that all patented lands within Forest Reser-
yatons which have not been relinquished |
and lieu selections made against them, are |
to be condemned, and owners will be forced !
to sell to the Government at the government |
price, presumably S1.25 per acre. If this |
latter bill is enacted into law, Forest Re-
serve Scrip will be a thing of the past.
1t occurs to me that alfScrip dealers should |
unite and resist these measures vigorously. |
bile counsel should be retained to defeat |
these measures. ! would be glad to have |
You offer suggestions, naming suitable coun-
sci. Y ou may depend upon me to cooperate
in any movement which seems best. | am
ready to contribute my proportion of the
necessary funds to push this matter vigor-
olsly, Prompt action is necessary
May have your immediate reply?
4ours very truly"
This letter says that Forest Reserve
Scrip" will be a thing of the past. 1t
should be thing of the past, and this
Congress about to convene should
promptly make it a thing of the past.
The owners of these lands included in
forest reserves should be forced to sell
them to the government at, not neces-
sarily s1.25 per acre, but at the apprais-
ed value, as is advocated by the Nation
al Irrigation Congress and by The
National Irrigation Association. Many
of these lands have already been de-
nuded of their last stick of timber and