The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1905-12-08

CLIFFORD P1NCHOT
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
| maleficient provisions.
The second instalment Of the Com
missions report follows:
The agricultural possibilities of the re-
naming public lands are as yet almost un-
known Lands which a generation or even
a decade ago were supposed to be vaIueless
are now producing large crops, either with
or without irrigation. This has been
brought about in part by the introduction
methods of farming and in part by denser
population and improved systems OF trans
portation. 1t is obvious that the first es-
| sential for putting the remaining public
lands to their best use is to ascertain what
classification of them, and to determine
their probable future and development py
agriculture.
Until it can be definitely ascertained that
any given area Of the public lands is and
in all probability forever will remain un-
suited TO agricultural development. the ti-
| tie to that land should remain In the Gen.
| eral Government in trust for the future
settler.
For example: The passage of the recla-
nation act June II, 1902 made certain
the disposition to actual settlers of large
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 in he future
Development of the country through their
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
an Importance hitherto but dimly forseen.
In view of these facts it 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
of the public lands under which home max
ing will not keep step with disposal To
that end your Commission recommends
tsee p 12) a method Of range control under
which present resources may be used to the
full without endangering future settle
ment.
After the agricultural possibilities of the
public lands have been ascertained with
reasonable certainty. provision should be
GENTLY large to support a family, and no
larger, and to permit settlement such
accomplish this end without a careful clas-
siication of the public lands must neces-
sarly fail Attempts of this kind are be-
ton Of this character is now pending.
modelled on the Nebraska 64oacre home
stead law. which was passed as an expert
ment to meet certain restricted local con-
dition- This act (33 Stat, DAD permits
the entry of 64O-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
Your commission is of opinion. after care
full consideration, that general provisions
o fthis kind should not be extended until
after thorough study Of the public lands