Charlevoix county herald., 1905-12-16

dense That camera showed on
Secretary Of the Interior should be au-
horized, In his discretion, to accept the
REIMBURSEMENT to the United States of any
tract OF land within a forest reserve COW
cred by an unprotected bona hde claim
lawfully Initiated or by patent, and to
grant to the owner In lieu thereof a tract
Of uDappropriated, vacant, surveyed, nom
mineral public land In the same State or
and value as determined by an examina-
lion, report, and specific description by
public surveys Of both tracts to be made
IN the ground by officials Of the Govern
lions cannot be affected, lands privately
owed within forest reserves should be paid
% rim cases where the public interest re-
luires that such lands should pass into
public ownership. The Secretary Of the In
.erior should be authorized TO take the nee
sssary proceedings as rapidly as the neces-
AIRY funds are provided.
Timber and Stone Act.
The recommendations made for the re-
peal Of the timber and stone act in the
previous reports are renewed and empha-
tructive effect Of this law have strength
med the belief Of your Commission that on
he whole Its operation Is decidedly harm
ul. This law has been made the vehicle
nent has lost and Is still losing yearly vast
ums Of money through the sale of valu-
bile timber lands to spectators, and hence
ar below their actual value. From the
.assage of the act, June 3, 1873 to June
O, 1904, 55,372 claims for 7,596,07S acres
PROVISIONS, and on last date 7.e44 claims
or 1,1OS, $50 acres were pending Many
transfers. Of land patented under this law
re made Immediately upon completion Of
nd companies. In this way a monopoly OF
he timber supplies of the public-land
Nates Is being created by systematic col
Ices Of the courts it is difficult to prove
his COLLISION, except In cases of open
raud and 1t is therefore practically i'm
ossible to secure conviction. Furthermore,
nder bona fide compliance with the actual
,rovisions Of the law the effect Is almost
Qually bad. The law itself Is seriously de-
ective.
hat It enables poor men to enjoy the
ounty OF the Government by obtaining
racts Of timber which they can afterwards
ell with advantage. A careful study
riginal entrymen rarely realize more than
rdinary wages for the time spent In max.
ny the entry and completing the transfer.
he corporations which ultimately secure
tile usually absorb by far the greater part
the profit.
In addition to the direct loss to the
Government from the sale of the lands faE
Glow their real value, timber lands which
hould have been preserved for the use OF
he people are Withdrawn from such use
md the development OF the country is re
he timber see At to cut 1t. The bona fids
iettler who comes into a country, the tim
,er resources OF which have thus been alb
,orbed, may be very seriously hampered b.
IFS inability to secure timber except from
4 foreign corporation. All Of the timber
and has often passed beyond his reach
nd the development Of his farm may b,
etarded and his expenses greatly Increased
because he can no longer obtain the nee
ssary supplies Of fuel, rails, posts, an'
umber.
AS in the case OF other laws, instances
4 the beneficial operation of this act ma,
e cited, but when II is considered from
! he point of view Of the general interest o
I be public Il becomes obvious that this Law
hould be repealed.
I baIe of Timber on the Public Lands
Necessity for the enactment Of Law
! uthorizng the sale OF timber on nonre
I erve public land Is becoming more EVIL
ent, and the recommendations made II
he preceding report OF this Commission
re reiterated. For the best use OF tn,
ublic lands Il is absolutely essential Il
old public timber for sale when needed
nd In quantities necessiated by the con
lnuous growth OF prevailing Industries
'rovision should be made for limited
ree-use right by miners and actual set
iers.