Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-04-02
MR.. siLcox EXPLAINS
PROJECTORS RIGHTS


The following communication Is di-
rected by Mr.. F. A. Silcox, in reply
to questions presented yesterday TO
him, in behalf of the prospectors own
ing acquired rights in the regions OF
the San Juan forest reserve:
United States Department OF Agrf =
culture, Forest Service.
Durango, Colo. March 80. 1906.
Editor Evening Herald.
Durango, Colo.
Dear Sir:-The initiation of mining
claims in any of the national forest
reserves Is in no manner affected by
the regulation of the forest service
as all questions involving title to
such claims are under the jurisdic-
ton of the secretary of the interior
and the procedure is the same as
formerly, except that before patent
is granted to any claim in reserve
an examination is made by forest
officer in order to prevent the perfec-
ton of title to fraudulent entries.
Under the mining laws claimant
Is allowed timber on his own claim
for the development Of that claim or
to use the timber on one claim In
group for the development of another
claim in the same group. If there is
no timber on any of the claims the
claimant can secure under the reserve
regulations permit for the free use
If timber for, development purposes.
The free use privilege is granted
to settlers, farmers, prospectors or
other similar persons who may not
reasonably be required to purchase
and who have not on their own land
or claims or on lands or claims coGS
trolled by them a sufficient or prad
ticably accessible supply OF timber or
stone for the purposes named in the
law. The forest service will do all
in its power to protect such claim
ants and owners and will grant pref
erence in the use of privileges to ac-
tual residents in or near forest re-
serves.
Under the old range conditions no
light existed to use the range other
than custom or the power to hold the
same, and in numerous instances
those dependent upon the use OF
certain range as, for example, small
ranchers upon the range adjacent 10
their land or .tprospectors upon a
range in the vicinity of their claims
for their pack-stock. were eaten out
by drifting stock grazing under no
restrictions
All persons must secure permits to
run any stock in forest reserve ex-
cept the few head in actual use by
prospectors, campers and travellers,
and milch COWS or work animals not
exceeding a total of six head, owned
by bona fide settlers, which are ex-
cepted and require no permit. A case
10 hand will show the protection that
such a regulation can insure to the
class of owners mentioned therein.
In the Oro Fino district, at the head
of the La Plata river, the prospect
ors are dependent, as elsewhere, upon
having range for their pack stock
md one party from that district came
nto this office to secure a permit to
mold the same, but was informed that
10 permit was required for that class
of stock and that the range would be,
protected for their use as in CT
where permits are required. a ~
days later after this inquiry an ap.
'ation was made to run stock on fKe
IDENTICAL range which application had
oeen refused.
Owing to the newness of the pres
snt regulations and the lack of infor-
nation regarding the policy of the
forest service in the use of tne forest
reserves, many rumors have been
spread for which there is no founia-
ton
A copy of the regulations and any
further information relative to tim.
ber. grazing. free use, claims, etc,
ian be obtained by applying to the
office of the forest service, Durango,
Colo.
Very truly yours,
F. A. SILCOX,
Assistant FnraCf JuSpantnr