The La Jara chronicle., 1905-12-22
CLIFFORD pINCHoT


U. s. Forester and Member of the Public Landi
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-
manning public lands are as yet almost nn-
known. Lands which generation or even
decade ago, were supposed to be valueess
or without irrigation. his 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
that best use Is by prelinIina study and
classification of them, and to determine
their probable future and development by
agriculture.
Until it can be definitely ascertained that
in all probability forever will remain un-
suited to agricultural development. the IT,
tie to that land should remain II the Gem
eral Government in trust for the future
settler.
For example: The passage of the recla-
the disposition to actual settlers of large
areas of land which up to that time had
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
capacity to produce, forest growth. The
making of wells will give an added value
to vast tracts of range lands for which
the water supply Is now scanty. In short,
hncnIISa nOSSihln hnUalnnmnnt
irrigation, through the Introduction OF new
plants and new methods of farming,
through forest preservation, and grazing
control. the remaining public lands have
an Importance hitherto but dimly forseen.
In view Of these facts it is of the first
mnSTta1es zee to save the remaining puzzle
most limit OF future possibilities and not
Q mortgage the future by any disposition
Ing will not keep step with disposal. TO
that end your Commission recommends
tsee ?. 12) method of range control under
ment.
After the agricultural possibilities of the
public lands have been ascertHined with
reasonable certainty, provision should be
made for dividing them into areas sufri-
larger, and to permit settlement on such
areas. 1t Is obvious that any attempt to
accomplish this end without a careful clas-
sarily fail. Attempts OF this kind are be-
ing made from time to time. and legIsla-
tion Of this character is now pending.
modelled on the Nebraska $40 acre home
stead law, which was passed as an expert
ment to meet certain restricted local con-
dition. This act t33 Stat. $40 permits
the entry of 64O-acre homcstends 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
settlers on the land is not yet determined.
Your commission is OF opinion, after care
ful consideration, that general provisions
o fthis kind should not be extended until
after thorough study OF the public lands