Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-06
POINTS OUT NEED
FOR CHANGES IN
PUBLIC LAND LAWS

once again l call your attention to
the condition of the public land laws.
Recent developments have given new
urgency to the need for such changes
as will fit these laws to actual present
conditions. The honest disposal and
right use of the remaining public lands
is of fundamental Importance. The
iniquitous methods by which the mo-
nopolizing 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 recommended
tions of the public lands commission
upon this subject are wise and should
be given effect.
Small Irrigated Farms
The creation of small irrigated farms
under the reclamation act is a DOW
ertul offset to the tendency of certain
other laws to foster or permit monop-
oily of the land Under that act the
construction of great irrigation works
has been proceeding rapidly and sue
cesstully, the lands reclaimed are
eagerly taken UP, and the prospect that
the policy of national irrigation will
accomplish all that was expected of
it is bright. The act should be eX-
tended 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
communities OF freeholders, in part by
settlement on public land, in part by
FORCING the subdivision of large private
holdings before they can get water
from government irrigation works. The
law requires that no right to the llse
of water for land in private owner
ship shall be sold for a tract exceeding
100 acres to any one land owner. This
provision has excited active and pow
erful hostility, but the success of the
law itself depends vn the wise and
firm enforcement of it. We cannot af-
ford to substitute tenants for free
holders on the public domain.
Grazing Homestead Plan
The greater part of the remaining
public lands cannot be irrigated. They
are at present and will probably al
ways be of greater value for grazing
than for any other purpose. This fact
has led to the grazing homestead of
$40 acres in Nebraska, and to the pro-
posed extension of 1t to other states.
It is argued that a family cannot be
supported on 100 acres of arid grazing
land. This is obviously true: but
neither can a family be supported on
$40 acres of much of the land to which
1t is proposed to apply the grazing
homestead. To establish universally
any such arbitrary limit would be un-
wise at the present time. 1t would
probably result on the one hand in
enlarging the holdings of some of the
great land owners, and ON the other
in needless suffering and failure ON the
part of a very considerable proportion
OF the bona-fide settlers who give faith
to the implied assurance Of the gov
ernment that such an area is suffi-
cient. The best use of the public
grazing lands requires the careful ex-
animation and classification of these
lands in order to give each settler land
enough TO support his family and nc
more. While this work is being done
and until the lands are settled. the
government should take control of the
open range, under reasonable regula,
tions, suited TO local needs. followina
the general policy already I'm success
ful operation on the forest reserves
1t is probable that the present grazing
value of the open public range Ii
scarcely more than half what 1t ono,