The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-18
AND LAWS ARE
FOUND WANTING
continued FRONT Page !

transfer OF the land 10 the governments
without cost. The advantage OF such
an arrangement TO the government lies
within forest reserves by exchange,
after deciding their lands to the gov
eminent, and thus to cut within linn
lred time solid bodies OF timber instead
OF alternate sections, although the
amount of timber in each case would
be the same It is possible that legis-
Iation will be required to authorize this
In the acquisition of lands whose pro-
lection is necessary to the general wei
fare. The advantage to the railroads is
found in the proposal 70 allow them 10
consolidate their holdings of timber
ar a similar arrangement with the rail-
roads and other owners. IL so. rec
ommend that it be enacted.
Working Capital for the National
Forests.
The money value OF the national for
ests row reserved for the use and benc-
fit of the people exceeds considerably
the sum OF one thousand million dol
lars.
The stumpage value OF the standing
timber approaches seven hundred mill
lion dollars, and together with the
range and timber lands, the water for
irrigation and power, and the EilDsid-
to that of the national property now
under the immediate control CT the
army and navy together. But this vast
domain is withheld from serving the
nation as freely and fully as it might
| by the lack of capital 10 develop IL.
| The yearly running expenses are suffi-
GENTLY met by the annual appropriation
and the proceeds of the forests Under
| the care of the forest service the latter
are increasing at the rare or more than
half a million dollars u year; the esti-
mate OF an appropriation Cor the pres
ent year is less than for lasI year; and
| ii is confidently expected that by 1916
the forest service will be entirely self
| 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
equipment without which the reserves
cannot be handled to advantage, can
not be protected properly, and cannot
contribute as they should to the genera
welfare. Expenditures for such perma'
nent Improvements are properly charge
| able to capital account. The lack Of
reasonable working equipment weakeni
the protection OF the national forests
and greatly limits their production
This want cannot be supplied from tn
appropriation for running expenses. TIL
need is urgent. Accordingly I recon
mend that the secretary Of the treas
ury be authorized to advance 10 TIL
fores.. service, upon the security OF tn
standing timber. an amount, say So,
coo. 600. sufficient to provide reason
able working capital for the nationa
forests, TO bear interest AMI to be re
paid in annual installments in the fol
lowing years.
Transfer of the National Park.
The national parks of the west ar
forested and they lie without exeep
ton within or adjacent 10 national for
est reserves Two years ago the latte
; were transferred to the care of the sec
: rotary of agriculture, with the most sat
isfactory results. The same reason
which led TO this transfer make ad
yisable a similar transfer of the ma
: tionaI parks, now in charge Of the sec
rotary of the interior, and / recommen
,, legislation TO that end.
Indian Lands.
!. Within or adjoining national for
ests are considerable areas of India
! lands of more value under forest tina
! for any other purpose. 1t would al
greatly in putting these lands to thei
: best use If the power to create nations
Z
: to cover them. The Indians would b
t paid the fun value of any land thu
taken for such purposes. from the pro
ceeds of the lands themselves, but sue
land should revert to the Indians II
is excluded from national forest use be
fore full payment has been made
j. Government Control of Grazing.
The control OF grazing in the nations
: | forests is an assured success. The col
e dition of the range is improving rapi'
: iy, water is being developed, much fee
c formerly wasted is now saved and use
: range controversies are settled, oppos
ton TO the grazing fee is practically
: an end, and the stockmeu are earnest
e supporting the forest service and G.
d operating with IL effectively Tor the III
o rroyement of the range.
!, The situation on the open COVER
= ment range is strikingly different.
70 carrying capacity has probably been T
duced one-half by over-grazinG and
% still falling. Range controversies
a many places are active and blttef al
/ life and property are often in Gangt
! The interests, both of the livestock /
te dustry and of the government, are nee
jlessly impaired. The present sttuati
is indefensibie from any point Oh vie
and it should be ended.
I recommend that a bill be enact
= which will provide for government co
E. troll of the public range through the
e partment of agriculture, which a;one
IF equipped for that work such n }
J. should insure to each locality rules
= grazing specially adapted to its nee'
q and should authorize the collection
reasonable grazing fee. Above
the rights OF the settler and hoHeeTnah
should be absolutely guaranteed.
Law Not Being Enforced.
IN Much of the public land can only.
used to advantage for grazing WI
fenced. Much of the fencing has DC
~ done for the reason and also to Tfev'
p | other stock owners from using the Ia
a. to which they have an equal risht !
en- der the law. Reasonable fencing, VIII
err promotes the use OF the range and
s. interferes neither with settlement 7
IL with other range rights, would be tn
~ oughlv desirable IL it were legal,
ps the law forbids, and the law must a
n will he enforced. ! will see TO !. q
he the Illegal fences are removed uni