Gilpin observer., 1906-12-27
THE PUBLIC Land
HOW 1T CAN BEST SERVE THE
PEOPLE,.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Existing Laws Need Revison-Would
Consolidate Railroad Timber Hold
ings - Would Have Government
Control Public Ranue.

| Control Public Range.
| In his recent message on the care
and disposition of the government
lands, President Roosevelt says:
"Many of the existing laws affecting
rights of way and privileges on public
lands and reservations are illogical and
unfair. Some work injustice by grant
ing valuable rights in perpetuity
| without return. Others fail to protect
the grantee in his possession of perma-
nent improvements made at large ex-
| pense.
"In fairness to the government, -
the holders of rights and privileges on
| the public lands, and to the people
| whom the latter serve, | urge the re-
| vision and re-enactment of these laws
! in one comprehensive act, providing
| that the regulations and the charge
now in force in many cases may bo ex-
tended to ALL to the end that unregu-
| lated or monopolistic control of great
natural resources may not be acquired
| or misused for private ends.
"The boundaries of the national
| forest reserves unavoidably include
| certain valuable timber lands not
owned by the government. Important
among them are the land grants of va
rious railroads For more than two
years negotiations with the land grant
railroads have been in progress, look
| ing toward an arrangement by which
| the forests on railroad lands within ma
] tional forest reserves may be pre-
served by the removal of the present
! crop of timber under rules prescribed
| by the forest service, and its perpetua,
tion may be assured by the transfer OF
J the land to the government without
/, cost.
| "The advantage of such an arrange
| ment to the government lies in the ac-
| uuisition of lands whose protection is
necessary to the general welfare. Inc
| advantage to the railroads is found IN
! the proposal to allow them to consoii-
date their holdings of timber within
| forest reserves by exchange, a1ter
| deciding their lands to the government,
and thus to cut within limited time
| solid bodies of timber instead of alter
nate sections. although the amount OF
| timber in each case would be the same
II is possible that LEGISLATION will he re-
| CURED to authorize this or similar ar
, rangement with the railroads ana
| other owners. If so l recommend that
| 1t be enacted.
"'rhe money value Of the national
, forests now reserved for the use and
benefit of the people exceeds consider
ably the sum of $1,000, 100000. The
stumpase value of the standing timber
| approaches s700, 100000. and, together
with, the range and timber lands, the
water for irrigation and power, ana the
subsidiary values. reaches an amount
equal to that of the national property
| iatn
the army and navy together. But this
vast domain is withheld from serving
the nation as freely and fully as 1t
might by the lack of capital to develop
II. The yearly running expenses are
sufficiently met by the annual appro-
priation and the proceeds of the for
ests.
The lack of reasonable working
ecuipment weakens the protection or
the national forests and greatly limits
their production. This want. cannot he
supplied from the appropriation for
running expenses. The need is urgent.
Accordingly. recommend that the
secretary of the treasury be authorized
to advance to the forest service. upon
the security of the standing timber, an
amount. say s5.000.0O0, sufficient 10
provide reasonable working capital
est and 40 be repaid in annual install
ments beginning in the following years.
"The national parks of the West are
forested md thew lie without excep-
ton within or adjacent to national for
est reserves. Two years ago the latter
were transferred to the care OF the sec
retary OF agriculture. with the most sat
isfactoy results. The same reasons
which led to this transfer make ad'
visable similar transfer of the na.
tional parks. now in charge Of the sec
retarv of the Interior and | recon-
mend legislation to that end.
"The control of grazing in the na
tional forests is an assured success
The condition of the range is improv'
ing rapidly, water is being developed
much feed formerly wasted is now
saved and used. range controversies
are settled, opposition to the grazinc
fee Is practically at an end and the
stockmen are earnestly supporting the
forest service and co operating with II
effectively for the Improvement OF the
range.
"The situation on the open govern
ment range is strikingly different. Its
carrying capacity has probably been
reduced one-half by over grazing and Us
still falling. Range controversies In
many places are active and bitter and
life AMI property are often In danger
The interests both of the livestock in
dustry and OF the government are need
lcsslv impaired. The present situation
Is indefensihle from any point Of view
and 1t should be ended.
Il recommend that n bill he enacted
which will provide for government con
troll of the public rance through the
department Of agriculture, which alone
is equipped for that work. Such bill
should insure tn each locality rules foy
grazing speciolly adapted to its needs
and should authorize the collection OF n
reasonable grazing fee Above all. the
rirhis Of the sntiler and hnmn M L or