The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-18

| TO maintain laws which sound well. but
| which make fraud the key without which
great natural resources must remain
closed. The Inv should give individuals
and corporations under proper Govern
ment regulation and control Che details
OF which I shall not at present discuss).
large enough for profitable development.
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 NIL
ming experts | recommend Is provided
and well used, the result Will be not only
10 stop land frauds but prevent DELAYS
In patenting claims, and to conserve tho
indispensable fuel resources OF the Ma
tlon.
Rights OF Way and Privileges.
Many OF the existing laws affecting
rights Of way and privileges, on public
lands and reservations are illogical and
unfair. Some work injustice by granting
valuable rights in penTPe.nity pntr without re-
tsct the grantee In his possession Of per-
msnent improvement made n, large ex-
pense In fairness to The Government.
the public lands. and 10 the people whom
the latter serve, | urge the revision and
enactment of these laws in a cornprehen-
sive act, providing that the regulations
and the charge now I'm force In many
cases may be extended TO all, to the end
that unregulated or monopolistic control
OF great natural resources may not be ac-
qulred or misused for private ends
The boundaries or the national forest
reserves unevoidably include certain val
uahle timber lands not owned by the
Government. Important among them are
the lend grants OF various railroads. For
more than two years negotiations with
the land grantees have been In progress,
looking toward an arrangement by which
the forest on railroad lands within ma
tIonal forest reserves may be preserved
by the removal of the present crop OF
timber under rules prescribed by the Tor
est service. and It's perpetuation may be
assured by the transfer OF the land TO
the Government without cost The ad
vantage OF such an arrangement 10 the
Government lies in the acquisition OF
lands whose protection is necessary TO
the railroads is found In the proposal TO
allow them to consolidate their holdings
of timber within forest reserves by ex-
change after deciding their lands TO the
Government, and thus to cut within a
limited time solid bodies OF timber in
stead OF alternate sections. although the
the same. 1t is possible that legislation
will be required 10 authorize this or a
similar arrangement with the railroads
and other owners. If So l recommend
that II be enacted.
Working Capital for Forests.
The money value OF the national for
ests now reserved for the use and bene-
At OF the people exceeds considerably the
sum of one thousand millions OF dollars.
The srumpage value OF the standing
dollars. and together with the range and
timber lands the water for irrigation and
power. and the subsidiary values. reach
es an amount equal to that OF the ma
tional property now under the immediate
control of the army and navy together
But this vast domain Is withheld from
serving the Nation as freely and fully IA
II might by the lack of capital TO de-
velop It. The yearly running expenses
are sufficiently met by the annual ap-
proprlation and the proceeds OF the for
esls. Under the care OF tho forest SER
Vice the latter are increasing at the rate
of more than half million dollars a |
year the estimate of an appropriation |
for the present year is less than for last |
year; and II is confidently expected that |
by 1910 the forest service will be entirely !
elf-supporting. In the meantime there |
Is the most urgent need for trails. fences, |
cabins for the rangers. bridges, tele- |
phone lines. and the other items OF equip |
mcnt without which the reserves can
not be handled TO advantage. cannot be
protected properly, and cannot contribute
az they should to the general welfare.
for such permanent i'm
provements are properly chargeable TO
capital account. The lack of reasonable |
working equipment weakens the protec-
ton OF the national forests and greatly /
limits their production. This want can
not be supplied from the appropriation |
for running expenses. The need is ur-