New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-06
OUR PUBLIC LAND LAWS.

Once again call your attention to the condt-
ton of the public land laws. Recent develop
ments have given new urgency to the need for
such changes will fit these laws to actual
present conditions. The honest disposal and
right use of the remaining public lands is of
fundamental Importance. The ubiquitous meth
DDS by which the monopolizing of the public
lands is being brought about under the present
laws are becoming more generally known, but
the existing laws do not furnish effective RENE
dies The recommendations of the Public Lands
Commission upon this subject are wise and
should be given effect.
The creation of small irrigated farms under
the Reclamation act is q powerful Offset TO the
tendency of certain other laws TO foster or per-
NIT monopoly of the land. Under that act the
construction Of great irrigation works has been
proceeding rapidly and successfully. the lands
reclaimed are eagerly taken up, and the pros
pect that the policy of national irrigation will
accomplish all that expected of it is bright.
The act should be extended to include the State
Of Texas.
The Reclamation act derives much of its value
from the fact that it tends to secure the great
est possible number Of homes on the land, and
TO create communities of freeholders, in part by
settlement on public land, in part by forcing
the subdivision Of large private holdings before
thew can get water from government irrigation
works The law requires that no right to the
use Of water for land in private ownership shall
be sold for tract exceeding 100 acres to any
one land owner. This provision has excited &C
tive and powerful hostility, but the success Of
the law itself depends on the wise and firm
forcement of It. We cannot afford to substt-
tute tenants for freeholders the public do
main.
cannot be irrigated. They are at present and
ykl nrobably always be of greater value for
grazing than for any other purpose. This fact
has led to the grazing homestead OF $40 acres in
Nebraska and to the proposed extension of it to
other States. It is argued that family cannot
be supported ON $50 acres of arid grazing land
This is obviously true: but neither can family
he supported on $40 acres of much of the land
to which it Is proposed to apply the grazing
homestead. To establish universally any such
arbitrary limit would be unwise at the present
time 1t would probably result on the hand
in enlarging the holdings of some of the great
land owners, and on the other in needless suf-
fering and failure on the part of very consd-
cradle proportion of the bona fide settlers who
give faith to the implied assurance of the gov
eminent that such an area is sufficient. The
hest use of the public grazing lands requires the
careful examination and classification of these
lands in order to give each settler land enough
Ia sunport his family and more. While this
work Is being done, and until the lands are set
fled the government should take control of the
omen range under reasonable regulations suited
to local needs, following the general policy al
ready I'm successful operation the forest re-
serves II is probable that the present grazing
vaJue of the open public range is scarcely more
than half what 1t once was or what 1t might
easily be again under careful regulation.
The forest policy of the administration ap-
nears to enjoy the unbroken support of the peo-
ME The great users of timber are themselves
foruarding the movement for forest preserva-
lion. Ali organized opposition to the forest re-
serves in the West has disappeared Since the
consolidation of all government forest work in
the national forest service there mas nesn
forest reserves to the people and in public ap-
probation OF their value. The national parks
within or adjacent to forest reserves should be
transferred to the charge OF the forest service
also
The national government already does some
thing in connection with the
MISSISSIPPI construction and maintenance
IFyEEs of the great sYztem of ieyees
along ths lower course OF ths