The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1905-02-18
MANY PATENTS
BUT FEW HOMES.
Radical Revision of the Land
Laws Needed.
President Roosevelt Sends Letter to
Congress Regarding the
Public Domain.

Public Domain.
A second partial report of the Public
Lands Committee was sent to Congress
Monday by President Roosevelt, with
the following letter:
81 submit herewith the second par.
tial report of the Public Lands Commits
sion appointed by me October %. 1908,
to report upon the condition, operation
and effect of the present land laws,
and to recommend such changes as are
needed to effect the largest practical
disposition of the public lands to actual
settlers who will build homes upon
them and to secure in permanence the
fullest and most effective use of there
sources of the public lands.
1.-THE subject is one of such magni-
tude and importance that 1 have con-
cluded to submit this second partial re-
port bearing upon some of the larger
features which require immediate at
tention without waiting for the final
statement of the Commission, which.
from the very nature of the case, it has
not been possible to complete at this
time. l am in full sympathy with the
general conclusions of the Commission
in substance and in essence, and l COM
mend its recommendations to your
earnest and favorable consideration.
The ax;ot;pn conditions N @ cot forth IN
this report seem to require a radical re-
vision of most of the laws affecting the
public domain, if we are to secure the
best possible use of the remaining pub
lie lands by actual homemakers."
In a summary of it's recommendations
the report says the conclusions are
based on a broad general view of the
public land situation, not on specific
cases. Among other things the Com
mission says:
Laws Need Amendment.
"The present laws are not suited to
meet the conditions of the growing
public demand.
"The agricultural possibilities are un.
known. Provision should be made to
ascertain them, and pending such as
certainment to hold, under Government
control and in trust for such use, the
lands likely to be developed by actual
settlers, q
"The right to exchange lands in for.
est reserves for lands outside should be
withdrawn.
Provision should be made for the
purchase of needed private lands inside
forest reserves or for the exchange of
such lands for specified tracts of like
area and value outside the reserves"
Repeal Timber and Stone Acts.
The report renews its recommended
ton for the repeal of the Timber and
Stone Acts, and asks that the sale of
timber from unreserved public lands
should be authorized,
"The Communication clause of the
Homestead Act is found on examina-
ton to work badly. Three years actual
residence should be required by com.
mutation.
"The Desert Land Law IL found to
result in land monopoly In many cases.
The area Of q desert entry should be
reduced to not exceeding leo acres.
Actual residence for not less than two
years should be required, with the
actual production Of a valuable crop on
one.fourth the area and proof Of an
adequate water supply"
Grazing on Public Lands.
The Commission opposes the i'm.
mediate application of any rigid system
to all grazing lands. but recommends
that the President be authorized to set
aside grazing districts by proclamatio n,
said districts to be under the control of
the Secretary Of Agriculture. The sum.
mary concludes with this statements
1.-THE fundamental fact that charac.
terizes the situation under the present
land law is this: That the number of
patents issued is increasing out Of all
proportion to the number Of new
homes."
Will Team GOldfiald Ores 17h Milas