Charlevoix county herald., 1906-01-06

ditions has already been brought about by
range control on the forest reserves, and
that the great bulk of the western stock
men are definitely in favor OF government
control OF the open range.
Fifth. Upon facts presented at many
public meetings held throughout the West
and upon innumerable suggestions which
have been received and considered.
Your commission concurs in the opinion
OF the stockmen that some form of gov
eminent control is necessary at once, but
Is opposed to the immediate application of
any definite plan to all of the grazing
lands alike, regardless of local conditions
or actual grazing value. The following
plan is intended TO bring about the grad
ual application to each locality of a
that locality. whether it may be APP
plicable to any other locality or not.
Your commission recommends that suit
able authority be given to the Presi-
dent to set aside, by proclamation, certain
grazing districts or reserves. To the Sec
rotary of Agriculture, In whose depart
with range conditions and livestock ques-
lions which is absolutely necessary for the
wise solution of these problems
the grazing value of these lands, to APP
point such officers as the care of each
grazing district may require. to charge
permits, and to make and apply definite
and appropriate regulations to each graz
ing district. These regulations should be
framed and applied with special reference
to bringing about the largest permanent
tisrs and home 'T Seekers All land Covered
by any permit so given should continue
to be subject to entry under reasonable
regulations Notwithstanding such permit.
Mining Laws.
Your commission has not yet found 1t
possible to take up the extremely lmpor-
laws with the thoroughness which IL de-
serves. From the EVIDENCE already SUP.
mitted 1t is obvious that important
changes are necessary, both in the United
States and in Alaska. The commission
hopes to treat this matter more at length
in a subsequent report.
Rights of Way.
Year after year the question of rights OF
way across the public lands and reserva.
lions has been called to the attention Of
the Congress in the reports of the Secre-
tary of the Interior and the Commissioner
this subject are numerous and apparently
often incongruous. Rights OF way are
granted contingent upon the execution OF
work within a definite time, but decisions
and practices are now in force under
which II has become almost Impossible to
divest the public lands or the INCUBUS OF
these rights granted conditionally in the
first place, but still in existence, although
the conditions were not fulhlled.
Rights such as these are very numerous.
They lie dormant until actual development
has begun to take place, either under the
reclamation act or otherwise; then they
appear in enormous numbers TO the very
serious hindrance of new enterprises:
Your commission is engaged on a study OF
this subject and will report hereafter
upon IL.
Attention is called again to the recon-
mendation of your commission in its pre-
yious report thereto attached that entry
of agricultural lands included in forest re-
serves be permitted under surveys by
metes and bounds, and special emphasis Is
directed 70 the recommendation, which !.
here renewed, that in such cases actua
residence at home on the land be rigidly
required and that no Communication be al
lowed.
Large and Small Holdings.
Detailed study OF the practical operation
of the present land laws, particularly OF
the desert-land act and the Communication
clause OF the homestead act, shows thai
their tendency far too often Is TO brinl
about land monopoly rather than to null
tiply small holdings by actual settlers
The land laws decisions, and practices
have become so complicated that the set
tier Is at a marked disadvantage I'm com
parison with the shrewd business mar
who aims to acquire large properties
Not infreuuently their effect Is to pu
premium on perjury and dishones
methods in the acquisition of land. IT Il
apparent in consequence, that in very
many localities, and perhaps In general
a larger proportion. Of the public land u
passing into the hands OF spectators and
corporations than into those or actua
settlers who are making homes.
This Is not due to the character OF tn,
land In all parts OF the United states
known TO your Commission where suci
Iarre holdings are being acquired tn,