Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-27
LASH ON LAND SEIZURE.


President. in Message, Asks for
Remedial Liquidation.
President Roosevelt in a message to
Congress vigorously discussed public
land frauds and asked larger appro-
pr4ations so that more special agents
may be employed in preventing these
swindles. Legislation for the preserva-
ton OF the national forests anu the
transfer Of national parks and the pub
lie grazing range to the control OF the
Secretary of Agriculture are recon-
mended. The President says:
l am gravely concerned at the eH-
tremely unsatisfactory condition OF the
public land laws and at the prevalence
OF fraud under their present provisions.
For much of this fraud the present laws
are chiefly responsible. There is but n
way by which the fraudulent acquisition
OF these lands can be definitely stopped,
and therefore | have directed the Secre-
tary of the Interior to allow no patent
to be issued to public lands under any
law until by an examination on the
ground actual compliance with that law
has been found to exist. For this pur-
Do an increase of special agents in the
general land Office is urgently required;
unless it is given, bona fde settlers Will
be put to grave inconvenience, or else
the fraud will in large part go on.
Further, the Secretary of the Interior
should be enabled to employ enough min
ing experts to examine the validity OF
all mineral land claims. and to under
take the supervision and control OF the
use of the mineral fuels still belonging
to the United States.
The present coal law. limiting the in
dividual entry To 100 acres, puts a pre-
MUM on fraud Dy making it impossible
to develop certain types of coal fields
and yet comply with the law. 1t is a
scandal to maintain laws which sound
well, but which make fraud the key, with
out which great natural resources must
remain closed. The law should give in
dividuals and corporations proper gov
rnmen regulation and control (the de-
tails of which | shall not at present
discuss). the right to work bodies of coal
and large enough for profitable develop
ment. My own belief is that there should
be provision for leasing coal, oil and gas
rights under proper restrictions. Ii the
additional force of special agents and
mining experts | recommend is provided
and we'll used, the result will be not only
to stop the land frauds. but to prevent
delays in p~atenting land claims. and to
conserve the indispensable fuel resources
of the nation.
The President urges further that eX-
listing laws affecting rights of way and
privileges ON public lands be revised
and re-enacted into one comprehensive
act.
Some arrangement by which the for
ests on railroad lands within national
forest reserves may be preserved by
the removal of the present crop OF tim
Der under rules prescribed by the forest
service is recommended.
Of legislation needed to protect the
range the President says:
| recommend that a bill be enacted
which will provide for government con
troll of the public range through the De
partment of Agriculture, which alone is
equipped for that work. Such a bill
should insure to each locality rules for
grazing specially adapted to its needs
and should authorize the collection of a
reasonable grazing fee. Above all, the
rights of the settler and homemaker
should be absolutely guaranteed.