The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-12-21

lands not owned by the Govern
ment. Important among them
are the land g ants of various rail
roads. For more than Two years
negotiations with the land grant
railroads have been in progress,
looking toward an arrangement
by which the forest on railroad
lands within national forest re-
serves may he preserved 10y the
removal of the present crop of
timber, under rules prescribed b,
the Forest Ser. Ice. and its per
petuatiOn may be assured 10y the
transfer of The land to the Gov
ernmrut without cost.
The ad, antagt of such an ar
rabgemeut 10 lie Government lies
i'll the acquisition of lands whose
protection is necessary to lie gen
eral welfare. The advantage to
the railroads is found in the pro
posal TO allow chem to consolidate
their holdings OF timber within
forest reserves by exchange, alter
deciding their lands to the Gov
ernment, aud thus To cut Within IA
limited time solid bodies of tim
Der instead of alternate sections,
although the amOunt of tim ber in
each case would lie the same.
Ii Is possible that Legislation
will be required to authorize this
or similar arrangement with the
railroads and other owners. If
50, | recommend that it be ell
acted.
TRANSFER OF NATIONAL PARKS.
The national parks of The west
are tOrested aud they lie without
exception within or adjacent to
national forest reserves. Two
Years ago the latter were trans
ferred to the care of the Secretary
OF Agriculture. with the most
satisfactory results.
The same reasons which led to
this transfer make advisable
similar transfer of the national
parks, now i'll charge of the Sec
rotary of the Interior. aud | rec
Ommcnd Legislation to that end.
THE INDIAN LANDS.
Within or adjoining national
forests are considerable areas Of
Indian lands of more value under
forest than for al V other purpose.
1t would aid greatly in putting
these lands to their best use if the
power to create national forests bv
proclamation were extended to
cover them.
The Indians should be paid the
full value Of any land thus taken
for public purposes from the pro
ceedS of the lands themselves, but
such lands should revert to the
Indians if it is excluded from ma
tlonal forest use before full pay
ment has been made.
GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF PUB
Lie RANGE DESIRED.
The control Of grazing in the
national forests iS an assured sue.
cess. The condillun of the range
is Improving rapidly, water is he
i'g lie el0ped, much feed formerly
wasted is now saved and used.
range controversies are settled,
opposition to the grazing fee j.
practically at an end, and the
Stockman are earnestly supporting
the forest >er\ ice and co operating
with il effectively for the improve
ment of the range.
The situation on The open Gov
eminent lange is strikiugly diff
terent. lis carrying capacity has
probably been reduced one half by
Overgrazing, and is still falling.
Range c0ntro> er>ileS IN many
places are active and bitter, and
life and property are often in dan
ger. The interests both of the
live stock industry and of the
Government are needlesSly in
paired. The present situation is
indefensihle from any point of
view, and it should be ended.
recommend that bill be en-
acTed which will provide for Gov
eminent control of the public
range through the Department of
Agriculture, which alone is equip
ped for that work. Such bill
should insure to each locality rules
for grazing specially adapted to
its needs and should authorize the
collection of reasonable grazing
fee. Above all. the rights of the
settler and home maker should be
absolutely guaranteed.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Roosevelt has so far sent six
messages to Congress- since the
session began. He is loquacious
on everything but the real remedy
for the oppressive trusts-Tariff
Reform. Teddy at heart is not an
ideal prOtectiOnist, but he cannot,