The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-08-18
ur ORDERED OREGON LANDS
RESTORED TO THE PUB
Lie DOMAIN.
Entries on Great Tracts Can be maoe
at Orce-Department for
Delay.

NASHlN( H. -, - uS- liz
interior department, acting on the re-
commentator of the bureau of fores-
try and the general land office has for
malIy authorized the restoration to
entry of 3I9,500 acres of agricultural
and grazing lands heretofore included
in the Blue Mountain forest reserve
withdrawal, and 1900 acres of similar
land included in the WalloWa with
drawal, both in eastern Oregon. These
lands should be thrown open to entry
not later than today.
1t has come to light that the release
from withdrawal of these large tracts
of land was due to personal interest
taken in the matter by President
Roosevelt Governor Chamberlain's
letter complaining that a considerable
area of agricultural and grazing land
was being unjustifiably tied up in
temporary withdrawals was sent direct
to the president. who turned it over to
the general land office with instruc
tons to restore to entry any lands in
those two Withdrawals not absolutely
needed for permanent forest reserves,
and suggesting that if all the neces
saI'y data were available. these re-
serves should be created without delay.
Surprise to the Department.
This WAS quite a surprise to Off
ciais of the department, who had in
Siructions from Secretary Hitchcock to
create no reserves, and to release no
land from withdrawal. and an official
familiar with the facts was dispatched
to the White House to inform the pres
ident of the Secretary's instructions.
The president sent Governor Cham
berlains letter to the department on
Friday morning, aud before noon that
day ii was brought back to aim with
a statement of the case as viewed at
the department. The president became
somewhat angered at having his in
structions ignored in this manner, and
he handed back Governor Chamber
lain's letter saying:
Take this back to the land office
aud when it is returned. see that it is
accompanied with a letter stating that
AL those lands not needed for reserve
purposes haye been restored to entry"
That settled it, and the letter was
sent to the president by a special mes
senger advising him that his instruc-
tions had been carried out This is
the second time President Roosevelt
has demonstrated his disapproval Of
the method of the interior department
ia handling public land affairs in Ore
gon. Last winter. after a statement by
Senator Fulton. the president ordered
the department to desiSt from the prac-
tice of humiliating Oregon entrymen
under the timber and stone act This
time he has made it plain that where
there are agricultural lands and graz
ing lands remaining in the public do
main, they shall be placed within reach
of entrymen, the same as in other
states
State Injured to Head Of Fraud.
The sole object of the department in
holding these agricultural and grazing
lands under withdrawal is to prevent
them from falling into the hands OF
Spectators This is part of Secretary
Hitchcocks war on spectators and
persons he believes are atteupting to
defraud the government. but in thus
endeavoring to head off fraud. it is
pointed out that he has been working
great injury to the state, not alone by
throwing 4 cloud of suspicion over
It's citizens ana officials. but by with
holding from settlement large areas of
desirable land that is sought by home
makers.
II Governor Chamberlain. or the Ore
son delegation, will present to the
president = statement showing that the
interior department is Withholding from,
settlement large areas of agricultural
and grazing lands i'll other forestry
Withdrawals in Oregon. and Will state
that this land is in no way desira HE
Tor reserve purposes, there is every
reason to believe there will be further
restoration to entry