The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-14
LAND LAWS NEED
REVISION BADLY
Attention of Congress Invited by
President Roosevelt.
PATENTS BEING ISSUED
BUT FEW HOMES ESTABLISHED
AS A RESULT.
IkI ASHINGTON. Feb ia second
w partial report of the public lands

TAI ASHINGTON. Feb. ia second
w partial report of the public lands
commission was sent TO congress
today by President Roosevelt who, in
his letter of tranSmittal. SAYS the re-
port seems ito require radical revi-
sion 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 home makers"
The presidents letter follows:
II submit herewith the second par
tai report of the public lands commits
sion, appointed by me Oct. % 1909. to
report upon the condition. operating
and effect of the present land laws ana
to recommend such changes as are
needed to affect the largest practical
disposition of the public lands to actua
settlers who will build homes upoT
them and to secure in peTmanence ths
fullest and most effective use of the re-
sources of the public lands
Does Not Admit of Delay.
The subject is one Of such magnf-
tude and Importance that 1 have con-
cluded 10 submit this second partial
report 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. il has
hot been possible to complete at this
time. l am in full sympathy With the
general conclusion of the commission in
substance and in essence. and I COM
mend its recommendations to your ear
nest and favorable consideration. The
existing conditions as set forth in this
report seem TO require a radical revi-
sion of most of the laws affecting the
public domain, if we are to secure thu
best possible use of the remaining pub
lie lands by actual home makers.
The report is signed by w. A Rich
ards, land commissioner: F. II. Newell
of the geological survey. and Clifford
Pinchot. chief Of the bureau of forest
~ In a summary of its recommend
tons, the report says the conclusions
are based on broad general view of
tie public land situation. not on speci-
nc cases Among other things. the
commission says:
The present laws are not suited TO
meet the conditions of the growing
Public domain.
The agricultural possibilities are UNI
known. Provision should be made TO
ascertain them. and pending such as
certainment, to hold. under govern
n.ent control and in trust for such use
the lands likely TO be developed by &C
tual settlers.
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 %
The report renevs its recommends
/ ton for the repeal of the timber and
stone acts and asks that the sale of
timber from unreServed public-Iands
should be authorized.
The Communication clause of the
homestead act is found on examining
10 work badly. Three years actual resi-
Gence should be required before COM
mutation.
''Tha desert land law is found to lead
To monopoly in many cases. The area
of the desert entry should be reduced
t. not eXces ding $50 acres. Actual resi-
deuCe for not less than two years
should be required, with the actual
production of valuable crop of one
fourth the area and proof of an ade-
Cuate water supply"
The commission opposes the imme-
date application of any rigid system to
all grazing lands, but recommends tina
the president should be authorized to
set aside grazing districts by prOcla-
nation, said districts to be under the
control of the secretary of agricUltU'-
The summary concludes with this
statement:
The fundamental fact that char
acteTized the situation under the pres
ent land law is this-that the number
of patents issued is increasing out of
all proportion to the number of new
homes