The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-12-22
ONE ENTRY IN THE DEEP OREGON FOREST.

Here the entryman swore that the claim wa
dense that camera showed onl
Secretary Of the Interior should be au-
thorlzed, In his discretion, to accept the
REIMBURSEMENT to the United States of any
era Of Of land un wnn Seas reserve s
lawfully initiated or by a patent, and to
grant to the owner In lieu thereof q tract
Of appropriated, vacant. surveyed, non-
mineral public land in the same State or
and value as determined by an examina.
ton, report, and specific description BY
public surveys Of both tracts TO be made
on the ground by officials of the Govern
lions cannot be- affected. lands privately
owed within forest reserves should be paid
TO rim cases where the public interest re-
Quires that such lands should pass Into
public ownership, The. Secretary Of the In
terror should be authorized to take the nee
essary proceedings as rapidly as the neces-
sary funds are provided.
Timber and Stone Act.
The recommendations made for the re-
peal Of the timber aud stone act In the
sized. Additional facts, showing the de-
structlve effect Of this law have strength
ened the belief Of your Commission that ON
the whole Its operation Is decidedly harm
full. This law has been made the vehicle
ment has lost and ID still losing yearly vast
sums Of money through the sale of valu.
able timber lands to spectators. AMI hence
indirectly to large corporations, at a price
passage Of the act, June 3 ISIS. to June
SO, 1904, 55,372 claims for 7.596,07S acres
Of timber land were patented under its
provisions aud on last date 1,6a4 claims
for 1.10S.SsO acres were pending; Many
are made Immediately upon completion Of
title, often on the same day. to infiviauals
and companies. In this way monopoly OF
the timber supplies Of the public-land
States is being created BY as aa cS
tices Of the courts 1t Is difficult to prove
this COLLISION, except In cases OF open
fraud and 1t 10 therefore practically I'M
possible to secure conviction. Furthermore,
under bona tde compliance me With TIE actual
equally bad. The law. itself Is seriously de-
It has been urged In behalf Of this act
that It enables poor men TO enjoy the
tracts Of timber which they can afterwards
sell with advantage. 4 careful st9dy
seems to show, ON the contrary, that the
original entrymen rarely realize more than
na e ye %ages n f0e time s ss
The corporations which ultimately secure
title usually absorb BY far the greater part
In aQ0lttOn 10 the 0lfecC lOSS 20 tue
Government from the sale Of the lands far
below their real value, timber lands which
should have been preserved for the use OF
the people are withdrawn from such use
and the development Of the country Is re.
tarded until the corporations which own
the timber see fit to cut 1t. The bona fide
settler who comes into country, the tim
Der resources Of which have thus been ab
sorbed, may be very seriously hampsred BY
his inability to secure timber except from
a foreign corporation. All Of the ttmbel
land has often passed beyond his reach
and the development of his farm may b
retarded and his expenses greatly increased
because he can no longer obtain the nee
essary supplies Of fuel. rails, posts. ans
lumber.
As in the case Of other laws, Instances
Of the beneficial operation OF this act ma!
be cited but when It Is considered fron
the point Of view Of the general interest o
the public It becomes obvious that thia law
should be repealed.
Sale of Timber on the Public Lands
Necessity for the enactment Of Law
serve public land IL becoming more evi
dent, and the recommendations made h
the preceding report Of this Commissiol
are reiterated. For the best use Of In
public lands 1t IL absolutely essential t
hold public timber for sale when needed
and in quantities necessiatsd by the con on
tinuous growth Of prevailing industries
Provision should be made for iimite'
free-use right BY miners and aetuai sen
tiers.