Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-03-21
n establishing these reserves.

OF government has there been such a
reckless exercise of power unwisely
conferred. Vast areas have been with.
drawn from settlement under the vari-
Gus laws provided by congress. Men
have been denied the right Of procur-
| inE government land for homes with.
ont any reason whatever so far as the
lands are necessary to conserve water.
and it would seem that the govern
ment domain instead of being exploit
ed by some theorists and a department
that | must say can be but little ad-
yised of the actual facts in the case.
should be held jeolously for the settler
or for the use of those engaged in
sainful occupations. whether in agri-
culture. mining stock raising or other
wise
You possibly Will not he surprised
when | tell yon that in the western
states and territories there is today
withdrawn from public settlement
more than 100000 square miles OF ter
ritory. an area equal in extent to the
5reat state of Colorado. as large as
Alabama and Araknsas combined
greater than the entire area of the
New England states.
''As matter of fact we know in the
last ten years that there has been
very rapid settlement of lands suitable
ior hay and grain at attitudes exceed.
lng 5000 feet, and those of us who are
familiar with conditions surrounding
agriculture at these attitudes know
hat ordinarily II is more profitable
han at lower attitudes, and is abso-
lutely essential for the successful op-
Grafton of the cattle industry. and this
brings us to another point of differ
encc.
What r'ay we expect in the admin
,stration of the forest reserves so far
as the right of pasturage is concerned?
i think we may presume that the
SAME practice Will be had as obtains
n the sale OF Indian reservations at
he present day, where 1t seems to be
rad that these lands should be sold
It public auction or sealed bids to the
highest bidder thereby driving out
very poor man who has not got the
money to compete with his rich neigh
bor. and so | say of this matter the
probability is that eventually the right
If pasturage will be determined by
bids. and the large operator with plen-
y of money will be in position to
'rowd out the small man
Again, what is to become OF the
mining industry?
We have very delightful holding
~ the department that the timber off
me claim cannot be used in mining
mother unless they are contiguous
md form group, so that a man own
ng a thousand-acre placer covered
with timber, ii he should be so for
tunate as to own a lode mine, cannot
ise the timber that he removes from
he placer in the operation OF the lode
And then you must know that the in
terminablo red tape that is found in
the department will practically make
ii Impossible TO have your matters
adjusted in time or under terms that
will make 1t advisable to enter on any
# these enterprises of which ! speak
But there is another and greater
consideration TO my mind against this
indiscriminate withdrawal, and that is
this;
When you make 1t impossible to
get title to large areas in any of the
several counties by so far you make
| II impossible to increase your taxable
wealth except as 1t may please the
| government, and on such terms as
hey may dictate, and the result is
that the lands already entered will
have 10 bear their additional burden
of taxation.
81 will grant you that these large
| forest reserves thoroughly established
with a delightfully."- convenient game
law will make splendid hunting pre-
serves for lot of goggle-eyed and
| bandy-egged dudes from the east, and
will afford a delightful retreat for a
ot of sad-eyed and absent-minded
| professors and bugologists.
Il have the greatest respect for the
| learned gentlemen who are so certain
| hat We can get water from trees for
| he irrigation of our arid lands, but |
| 10 not join with them in the sad re-
frain that inside of 80 years there
! Won ne any WhteF III tOIorauO un-
less we stop all industry and stand
guard around the boundaries of these
| forest reserves.
The fact is, my dear Mr. Fellows
that with the natural growth the de
| lorestation WILDE completely and con
| tinuously compensated.
81 am very sorry that am unable
in letter to give further reasons for
my opposition to the establishment
indiscriminately. OF forest reserves in
Colorado"
l
rCi EcRnDLic NENuc