The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13
LEASING THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

That portion of the presidents mes
sage which suggests a change in pub
lie land matters by adopting a leas'
system is of special interest to thos'
engaged in the livestock industry
The presidents remarks in this con
nection we're in part as follows:
Once again l call your attention t.
the condition of the public land laws
Recent developments have given new
urgency to the need Of such changes
as will fit these laws to actual presen,
conditions. The honest disposal and
right use Of the remaining public lands
is of fundamental Importance. The
Ubiquitous methods by which the mon.
opolizing of the public lands is being
brought about under the present laws
are becoming more generally known.
but the existing laws do not furnish
effective remedies. The recommends.
tions OF the public lands commission
upon this subject are wise and should
be given effect.
The creation of small irrig ated
farms under the reclamation act Is a
powerful Offset to the tendency of Ger.
tain other laws to foster or permit
monopoly of the land. Under that act
the construction of great irrigation
works has been proceeding rapidly
and successfully, the lands reclaimed
are eagerly taken up, and the pros
pect that the policy of national irriga.
ton will accomplish all that was ex-
pected OF it is bright. The act should
be extended to include the state OF
Texas.
The reclamation act derives much OF
its value from the fact that it tends to
secure the greatest possible number of
homes on the land, and to create COM
munities OF freeholders In part by set
Element OF public land, in part by
forcing the subdivision OF large pri.
vate holdings before they can get wa
ter from government irrigation works.
The law requires that no right to the
use OF water for land in priv ate owner.
ship shall be sold for q tract exceed
Ing 100 acres to any one land owner.
This provision has excited active and
powerful hostility, but the success of
the law itself depends on the wise and
firm enforcement Of 1t. We cannot at.
ford to substitute tenants for free.
holders on the public domain.
The greater part Of the remaining
public lands cannot be irrigated. They
are at present aud will probably al
ways be of greater value for grazing
than for any other purpose. This fact
has led to the grazing homestead of
GAO acres in Nebraska and to the pro.
posed extension of 1t to other states.
1t Is argued that a family cannot be
on l6O acres Of arid grazing
land. This is obviously true; but nei.
Their q q family be supported on $40
acres of much Of the land to which it is
proposed to apply the grazing home
stead. To establish universally any
such arbitrary limit would be unwise
At the present time. 1t would prob.
ably result on the one hand IN enlarg.
Ing the holdings of some Of the great
land owners, and on the other in need.
less suffering aud failure on the par,
of a very considerable proportion Of
the bona fide settlers who give faith to
the implied assurance of the govern
ment that such on area Is sufficient
The best use of the public grazing
lands requires the careful examination
and classification of these lands il
order to give each settler land enough
to support his family and no more
While this work is being done, ant
until the lands are settled, the govern
ment should take control of the opet
range, under reasonable regulations
suited to local needs, following thu
general policy already in successful
operation on the forest reserves. Il
is probable that the present grazing
value of the open public range i.
scarcely more than half what it once
was or what it might easily again bt
under careful legislation.
The forest policy Of the administra
ton appears to enjoy the unbroker
support OF the people. The grea
users OF timber are themselves for
warding the movement for forest pre-
servation. All organized oppositio,
to the forest in the west ha
disappeared. Since the consolid alto,
OF all government forest work in tn
national forest service there has bee
q rapid and notable gain in the use
fulness OF the forest reserves to tn
people and in public appreciation 9
their value. The national parks with
In or adjacent to forest reserve
should be transferred to the charge O
he forest reserve service also.