Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-02-03
If as is reported in press dispatches

Senator Hepburn is questioning the
constitutionality of the :fForest Re-
serve" law on the floor of the senate,
using it as an argument for its repeal,
it can be taken as an encouraging sign
that should he fail as is probable to
carry his measure there, he will still
pursue the fight through judicial
channels. And risht here is where the
people of North Idaho have need to gel
busy and organize for any eventually
which may arise along these 80 called
forest reserve lines; whether they art
inhabitants of the various reserves OF
not. For it is fact that no intelligent
man believes any more that the preser-
walton of the timber is or ever has
been the motive governing the revolu-
tionary acts of Mr.. Roosevelt's forestry
graft SERVICE.
Az time passes, however, and the
plans are perfected the observant are
rewarded by an occasional glimpse of
the true inwardness of the much vaunt-
ed policy" 1t being thought in the
beginning that the reserve" idea was
instituted for the sole benefit of the
land subsidized railroads by permitting
them to exchange worthless land with
in the various "reserves" which they
had created for the purpose for more
valuable territory elsewhere. And
this may have been the full scope OF
the villiany as contemplated at the time,
but seeing the ease with which the
people could be gulled and the immense
possibilities for graft in the measure
which remained still untouched, they
are now bestirring themselves in al.
effort to secure those additional adj
vantages. 70 this end the land laws
are to be doctored through the seuate
committee on public lands Of which
Hansbrough is chairman, and Carter, OF
Montana, is very active member ano
both are very artistic seoundrels along
the lines, of their chosen art, under
ground legislation, the laurels gained
by those two worthless in framing legis-
lation which enabled them through a
federal judge, whiskey sodden tool, tc
confscate the miners claims at Nome,
Alaska, have not yet had time to withel
nor will they have time to wither, it is
safe to assume, before a measure will
be offered in congress and probably
passed as well, which for down right
robbery will make the Nome episode
look like schoolboy's raid on meloI
patch.
The forest reserve laws are now be
ing invoked along these lines in with
drawing the public timber from tn
reach of all who have not the means t,
buy it. The grazing privelage on tn
pnblic domain is denied to those VIII
are not able to pay stipulated sur
per head, and judging the future b.
the past metoods of the forestry graf
service ADMINISTRATION, the very nea
future will see those privileges let t
the highest bidder, which event whe
it comes will mark the extinction &
the small herdsman.
Regardless of the noisy disclaimer
emapating from this service" and il
supporters and apologists the mimi
industry is gradually heing encroache
upon and hampered by methods whic
surely point to the time approachin
when none but the wealthy can hope
pursue it, by buying the natural fac
lities which heretofore and now, la
and custom both, have recognized
eo-existent with the right of mimi
the precious metals. AS matter
fact the law permitting the miner u
free use of timber on public miner
ground contiguous to his claim h
been abrogated by these good hi