The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-14
PUBLIC LAND MATTERS.
President Transmits Report With Ac
 cOmpanying Letters.

Washington, Feb 13.-A second par tial report of the Public Lands Com mission was sent to Congress today by President Roosevelt, who in his letter of transmittal says the report seems ito require a radical revision of most of the laws affecting the public domain, if we are to secure the best possible use of the remaining public land by actual home seekers. The Presidents letter follows:
 T submit herewith the second par tiaI report of the Public Lands Com mission appointed by me october 22, 1908, to report upon the condition, op- eration and effect of the present land laws and to recommend such changes as are needed to effect the largest practical disposition of the public lands to actual settlers, who will build homes upon them and to secure in permanence the fullest and most effective use of the resources of the public lands.
 The subject is one of such mag nitude ana importance that l have con cluded to submit this second partial re- port 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 it has been impossible to complete at this time. l am in full sympathy with the general conclusions of the Commission in substance and in essence and l com mend its recommendations to your earnest and favorable consideration '. The existing conditions as set forth in this report seem to require a radical revision of most of the laws affecting the public domain, if We are to secure the best possible use of the remaining public lands by actual home-makers The report Is sIgned by w. A. Rich ards, Land Commissioner; F. H. New ell of the Geological Survey, and Gif- l ford Pinchott, Chief of the Bureau of Forestry In a summary of its recom- mendations the report says the con clusions are based on a broad general view of the public land situation, not on specific cases. Among other things the Commission says:
 '"The present laws are not suited to
 meet the conditions of growing public domain The agricultural possibilities are unknown. Provision should be made to ascertain them. and pending such ascertainment to hold under gov ernment control and in trust for such use the lands likely to be develop q by actual settlers. The right to ex- change lands in forest reserves for lands outside should be withdrawn. ETONiSlOu SilOulu Dc HldQC TUT pul ClldoG of needed private lands inside reserves
 or for the exchange of such lands for
 specified tracts of like area and values outside the reserves"
 The report renews its recommende-
 tion for the repeal of the timber and stone acts and asks that the sale of
 timber from unreserved public lands
 should be authorized.
 "The communication clause of the
 homestead act is found on examina-
 tion to work badly. Three years Ar-
 tual residence should be required be-
 fore communication.
 "The desert land law is found to lead to land monopoly in many cas s e The area of a desert entry should be reduced to not exceeding 160 acres. Actual residence fer not less than two years should he required with the ac- tual production of a valuable crop on One-fuurth the area and proof Of an adequate water supply"
 The Commission opposes the fInmn- diate application of any rigid syst ID to all grazing lands but recomme lds that the President should be au-hor- ized to set aside grazing districts by