The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1905-12-15

4
u. s. Forester and Member OF the Public Lands
Commission.
Representatives, the opinion of the
majority of the members of that COM
mittee being, apparently, that the
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 a sufficient condemnation of its
malefcient provisions.
| The second instalment of the Com
missions report follows:
| The agricultural possibilities OF the re-
maining public lands are as yet almost un-
known, Lands which q generation or even
decade ago were supposed to be yalueless
are now producing large crops, either with
or without irrigation. This has been
brought about In part by the Introduction
OF new grains and other plants and new
methods of farming and in part by denser
population and improved systems Of trans
portation. II is obvious that the first es-
sentlal for putting the remaining public
lands to thelr best use Is 10 ascertain what
that best use Is by preliminary study and
classification Of them, and TO determine
their probable future and Development By
agriculture.
Until 1t can be definitely ascertained that
any given area OF the public lands Is and
in all probability forever VIII remain un-
tie to that land should remain n the Gem
eral Government In trust for the future
settler.
For example: The passage Of the recla-
nation act June ~, 1902 made certain
the disposition to actual settlers OF large
areas of land which up to that time had
been considered as valueless. Other areas,
which are too high and barren TO have
notable value even for grazing, are now
known to have Importance Ia he future
development OF the country through their
capacity to produce forest growth. The
making Of wells will give an added value
to vast tracts Of range lands for which
the water supply is now scanty. In short,
because OF possible development, through
irrigation, through the introduction OF new
plants and new methods OF farming,
through forest preservation, and grazIng
control, the remaining public lands have
an Importance hitherto but dimly forseen.
In view OF these facts 1t Is Of the first
Importance TO save the remaining public
domain for actual home builders to the ut-
most limit Of future possibilities and not
0 mortgage the future by any disposition
Ing will not keep step with disposal. TO
that end your Commission recommends
tsee p. 12) method Of range control under
which present resources may be used TO the
ment.
After the agricultural possibilities or the
public lands have been ascertained with
reasonable certainty, provision should be
made for dividing them Into areas suffi-
ciently large to support q family, and no
larger, and 70 permit settlement on such
areas It Is obvious that any attempt 70
accomplish this end without q careful clas.
Biheation Of the public lands must neces-
sarily fail. Attempts OF this kind are be-
Ing made from time to time, and legislas
tlon OF this character IL now pending,
modelled on the Nebraska 640-acre home
stead law, which was passed as an expert
ment to meet q certain restricted local con.
dltion. This act [y3 Stat, 547l permits
the entry Of 640.acre homesteads IN the
sand-hIll region Of that State. Whether In
practice the operation OF this law will re-
suit In putting any considerable number OF
settlers on the land Is not yet determined.
Your commission Is OF opinion, after care
Iul conslderation, that general provisions
lfter thorough study Of s4z Sssbllc lands