Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-12-22

y. s. Forester and Member OF the Public Lands
Commission. a
Representatives, the opinion Of tIS
majority of the members Of that com
mittee being, apparently that thu
timber grabbing should be allowed to
continue. The structures of the Presi-
dents Public Lands Commission,
quoted below, on the coils of the law
are sufficient condemnation of
malefcient provisions.
The second instalment OF the Coi1-Y
missions report follows.
The agricultural possibilities OF the re-
naming public lands are as yet almost uRv
known. Lands which generation or eyeR
decade ago. were supposed to be yalueles
are now producing large crops, eltM54s-wi
or without irrigation. This has bee
brought about In part by the INTRODUCED,
of new grains and other plants and ny
methods of farming and In part by den
population and improved systems of tr,
portation. 1t is obvious that the first
sential for putting the. remaining n
lands to their best use is to ascertain
that best use is by a preliminary stud9SSrnLv
classification Of them, and to determined
their probable future and development BY
agriculture
Until it can be definitely ascertained that
any given area of the public. lanes Is and
in all probability forever will remain I'M
suited TO agricultural development, the IT,
tie TO that land should remain n the Cen
eral Government Ia trust for the future
settler.
For example The passage Of the reca
nation act June II, 1902 made certal
| the disposition to actual settlers OF lars
| areas of land which up to that time BID
been considered as valueless. Other area
which are too high and barren to hi.
notable value even for grazing are n
known to have Importance in1
| development Of the country II
capacity to produce forest grd
| making Of wells will give an a.
| to vast tracts of range lands for
| the water supply Is now scanty. In shoiI
because of possible. development, throul
| irrigation, through the introduction OF nel
through forest preservatiop: and Ct
an En Importance tan hitherto dm iSnd for
In view o. these facts IL is OF the
domain for actual home buihNers to the
most limit of future possibilities and
(, mortgage the future by any DISPOSE
Of the public lands under which home -nl
that end your Commission recommend
(see p. 12) method of range control undet
which present resources may be used to tn.
full without endangering future settle7I
After the Agricultural POSSIBILITY
public lands have been ascertail
reasonable certainty, provision shdl
made for dividing them into areas
ciently large to support a family,
larger, and to permit settlement
areas. 1t is obvious that any attic
accomplish this end without caref
sifcation Of the public lands must
sarily fail. Attempts Of this kind
Ing made from time to time, and
tion of this character Is now peA
modelled on the Nebraska 640-acre
stead law, which was passed as an e
ment to meet certain restricted Local
dition. This act (33 Stat, BAD pc
the entry of 640-acre bomesteads In
sand hill region of that SState<
practice the opei dti0ny
suit In putting any c21
| settlers or the land
! Your commission
| ful consideration, that
/ o fthis kind should M
after thorough study
| Continued.