Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-12

. Ipast two years, ] an advised, VIII ~
, stats Of California in order to aetel
, mine on a sound states forest poney
The result is a comprehensive Ioiys
him which will be considered Dy u
California legislature at ITS P5eIen s-
session. A copy Of this proposed la'
NAV be found in the November mum
her Of a magazine entitled Forestfl
AMI Irrigation, published monthly II
washington, d. C., under the ausPiee'
lof the American Forestry assoelaIlOh
III have examined its provisions cale
| fully and Il is subject to the SAM
objections urged by me against tne
measure passed by the legislature =. =.
this state at its last session, ana tna'
is the question Of expense to the s'ate
for the protection Of private interests
There is one and only one Justinea-
tiou for the holding Of immense Dou'
ies of land in reserves, Whether TEN
porary or permanent, and that ID 70
protect the magnificent timber DeiIs
from being seized by seripholIders anu
landgrabbers from all over the coen
try. whose purpose is to mold theih lOl
speculative purposes only, without any
idea of using them for developing the
wealth of the state. Congressional ae-
tion should be taken at once 10 pre-
vent this. for with congress rests the
sole power of granting immediate re-
lief bv amending the lieu land laws
But a still better course for our repre-
sentatives in congress to pursue Woulu
be 10 endeavor to secure the passage
of law granting all Of these lands
To the state for school purposes. II
this last alternative could be adopted,
then il should be the policy OF the
state TO make ample appropriation and
mass stringent laws for the protection
Of forests against fires. So long, how
ever. as all our timbered lands are
either within reserves or in private
ownership, / can see no good reason !
why the people of the state should oe
heavily taxed to protect them. Ihere a
is no objection to the creation OF q n
commission and the appointment OF {
wardens and rangers with ample pow a
er to protect the forests of the state e
II the corporations and individuals p
who own them will pay the expenses. Il
Portage Railway and Canal Right Of cl
Way on Columbia, al
An act was passed at the last ses' in
lion appointing a board of Portage p,
consisting Of the gov /
,rnor, secretary of state and state on
roasurer, and appropristing Sle5,OOO, mi
II so much thereof as might be neces' do
airy, for acquiring the rights Of way,
,uilding and equipping a portage rail- tic
Fay between the highest and lowest be
,oints Of the navigable waters of the tio
river between The Dalles and zer
'ello in Oregon. The act in question Ida
Expressly provided that "no expendi- !
nre should be incurred Hereunder in apr
xeess Of the sum appropriated. set
Immediately upon the taking effect soei
I the act the board employed Mr.. A. the
J. Hammond as its engineer with in ers
.ructions to survey a route for a port tere
ge road between the points named, of
repare plans, maps and specifications, auth
nd as expeditiously as possible to re- tbei,
Drt TO the board. with estimates as to cient
ISL OF construction keeping IN view distI
le above limitation as TO expense to alon,
, incurred. Maps Of definite location an !
ere presented py the engineer sep and
mber 20, 1908. In the meantime the An
,ard, in conjunction with the attor- sacri
y genetai' kept up Ns hegotiatlons plett
r rights Of way, and practically ar Il n
nged terms with all the owners ex. tbo
~ p..II- u -, AM III anu 'Io " ~ q; W appr
reement seemed possible along the noct,
e mapped out by the engineer. The fore
liter Of procuring these rights of 49,,
y was finally placed in the hands an" .hn''
ea,1s,., -. e' aiS uo',ons all e
linst both the o. r. 4 N. Co. and ,u''
Ne. over
Estimates Of cost Of construction. OK. IN
sive of cost Of rights of way, were ovon 80
Il by the engineer November 8, 1903. se.'
wing conclusively that large ex. lor
se in excess Of the appropriation nIie iI
nd have TO be incurred in order 10 NOie,
~ out the terms OF this act. When go go
tiers had progressed thus far, and OSrS ~,
10 proceedings we're still pending TO
denim and acquire said rights Of TOT
7, the legislature convened in spe. lucas
session December 81, 1903. at .ssua
ch time an act was passed creating 'ue''
'ard or commissioners Of canals and upon
$, with authority TO procure rights VIVA
way for improving the Columbia pany
r between the foot OF The Dales conn
Dis and the head Of Cello falls for net
United States, and appropriatino ing
1000 therefor, This act interposeS said
mporary delay in the portage con. quen
'tion. In the location Of the canal Statu
of way the board had no voice. No a
was matter completely within 10 a
jurisdiction OF the government an. eoile'
ars and when the board was fur. OF It
ri with the descriptions OF the only
5 OF way necessary 10 bo aeouirs5 was
anal purposes, II was aSrertaine9 atten
Tor great part Of the distance ter,
dlng that 10 acquire which con, gentl
'ation proceedings had alre.J, oring
begun, It oyerlapped the right ~ state
mapped out for the portage ,n5 leours
- United States required a grant quest
the state OF right OF wav n, ent O
purposes unencumborei in anv is pl
new survey for the portage h., eertai
an absolute necessity. This v,s state,
Immediately attempted heeaus. ~ ate a
act that the state 5 engineer had 10 co
~ reported 10 the board tbat tIa by Il
which be had loeata1 - as VI