The San Francisco call., 1905-02-14
URGES REVISION
Of LAND LAWS
President Concurs in the
Recommendation of the
Public Domain Committee

WASHINGTON, Feb. ia second
partial report of the Public Lands Com
mission was sent to Congress to-day
ter of transmittal said 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 lands by actual
home makers. The Presidents letter
follows:
l submit herewith the second partial report
of the Public Lands Commission appointed by
me October %, 1903, to report upon the condi-
tion operation and effect of the public land
laws and to recommend such changes are
needed to effect the largest practical disposi-
tion 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 magnitude and
this second partial report bearing Upon some
of the larger features which require immediate
attention without waiting for the final state
ment of the commission, which, from the very
nature OF the case it has not been possible
to complete at this time. l am in full sym
pathy with the general conclusions of the
commission in substance and in essence, and
l commend its recommendations to, your
est and favorable consideration. The existing
conditions as set forth in this report seem
to require radical revision of most of the
laws affecting the public domain. If We are
ing public lands by actual home-makers
The report was signed by w. A. Rich
ards, Land Commissioner; F. A. Newell
of the Geological Survey and Clifford
Pinchot, chief of the Bureau Of Forest
ry. In a summary of its recommended
tions the report says the conclusions
are based on a broad general view of
the public land situation, not on specific
cases. Among other things the COM
mission says:
The agricultural possibilities of the Govern
ment lands are unknown Provision should
be made to ascertain them and. pending
such ascertanment to hold. under Government
control and in trust for' such use the lands
likely TO be developed by actual settlers
The right to exchange lands in forest
serves for lands outside should be withdrawn.
Provision should be made for the purchase of
needed private lands 1nside forestry reserves
or for the exchange of such lands for specified
tracts of like and value outside the
serves.
The report renews it's recommenda-
tion for the repeal of the timber and
stone act, and asks that the sale Of the
timber from unreserved public lands be
authorized. The report continues:
The desert land law is found to lead to
monopoly IN many cases The area of desert
entry should be reduced to not exceeding 16O
acres. Actual residence for not less than two
years should be required with the actual pro-
duction of valuable crop on one fourth tho
area and proof of an adequate water supply.
The commission opposes the imme-
date application of any rigid system
to all grazing lands, but recommends
that the President be authorized to set
aside grazing districts by proclamation,
these to be under the control of the
Secretary of Agriculture. The sum-
mary concludes with the statement that
the number of patents issued is in
creasing out of all proportion to the
number of new homes