The Delta independent., 1907-01-04
The PUBLIC LAND
HOW 1T CAN BEST SERVE THE
PEOPLE,
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Existing Laws Need Revision-Would
Consolidate Railroad Timber Hold
ings - Would Have Government
Control Public Ranqe

In his recent message on the care
| and disposition of the government
| lands. President Roosevelt says:
Many of the existing laws affecting
rights of way and privileges on public
lands and reservations are illogical and
| unfair. Some work injustice by grant
ing valuable rights in perpetuty
without return. Others fail to protect
| the grantee in his possession of perma-
neut improvements made at large eN-
pense.
IN fairness to the government. to
| the holders of rights and privileges on
| the public lands. and to the people
| whom the latter serve, | urge the re-
vision and re-enactment Of these laws
in one comprehensive act. providing
| that the regulations and the charge
| now in force in many cases may be ex-
tended to all. to the end that unregu-
lated or monopolistic control OF great
natural resources may not be acquired
| or msused for private ends.
The boundaries of the natlonaI
forest reserves unavoidably include
certain valuable timber lands not
owned by the government Important
among them are the land grants OF va
rious railroads For more than two
years negotiations with the land grant
railroads have been in progress. look
| ing toward an arrangement by wnlch
the forests on railroad lands within ma
tional forest reserves may De pre-
served BY the removal of the present
crop Of timber under rules prescribed
bv The forest service. and its perpetua.
ton may be assured by the transfer or
the land to the government without
cost.
The advantage Of such an arrange
ment to the government lies In the &C
ouisition of lands whose protection IS
necessary to the general welfare. The
advantage to the railroads Is found in
the proposal to allow them to consoli-
date their holdings of timber within
| forest reserves by exchange. after
deciding their lands to the government.
and thus to cut within a limited time
solid bodies of timber instead OF aiter
nate sections. although the amount OF
timber in each case would be the same
II is possible that legislation will be re-
ouired to authorize this or similar ar
| rangement with the railroads ana
other owners. If so. recommend that
| II be enacted.
The money value Of the national
forests now reserved for the use and
1 "
ably the sum of $1,000. .000.0oo The
stumpage value of the standing timber
approachss 500, 900 900. and. together
| with the range and timber lands. the
water for irrigation and power. and the
| subsidiary values. reaches An amount
equal to that of the national property
now under the immediate control or
the army and navy together. But this
vast domain is withheld from serving
| the nation as freely and fully as IL
might by the lack Of capital to develop
it. The yearly running expenses ar"
sufficiently met by the annual appro-
priation and the proceeds OF the Tor
| ests.
| The lack OF reasonable working
equipment weakens the protection CT
the national forests and greatly limits
| their production. This want cannot BE-
supplied from the appropriation Tor
running expenses The need is urgent
Accordingly recommend that the
| secretary of the treasury be authorized
to advance to the forest service. upon
the security of the standing timber. an
amount. say $5.O0O.0Oo. sufficient to
provide a reasonable working capital
for the rational forests. to bear inter
est and TO be repaid in annual install
ments beginning in the following years
The national parks of the West are
| forested and they Sie without eNcep-
| ,ion within or adjacent TO national for
| est reserves Two years ago the latter
were transferred to the care Of the sec
| retary of agriculture. with the most sa'-
| isfactov results. The same reasons
which led to this transfer make al
| visahe a similar transfer OF the ma
| tioral parks now in charge OF the sec
retary of the interior. and recon-
mend legislation to that end.
The control OF grazing in the ma
| tioral forests is an assured success
| The condition of the range Is tmpror-
| ing rapidly. water is being developed.
much feed formerly wasted is now
saved and used. range controversies
are settled. opposition to the grazing
fee is practically At an end and tn"
stockmen are earnestly supporting th''
| forest service and cooperating with IL
effectively for the Improvement OF tn"
range.
| The situation on the open govern
ment range is strikingly different. Its
CARRYING capacity has probably been
| reduced one half by over grazing and Is
still falling Range controversies in
many places are active and bitter AMI
| life and property are often in danger
| The interests both OF the livestock in
dustry and OF the government are need
lcssly impaired. The present situation
| Is iudefemsible from any point OF view.
and II should be ended.
Il recommend that n bill be enacted
which will provide for government con-
| troll OF the public range through the
| department of agriculture. which alone
| Is equipped for that work Such bill
| should insure to each locality rules for
grazing specially adapted to It's needs
| and should authorize the collection OF
| reasonable grazing fee. Above all. tn"
| rights OF the settler and home maker
| should be absolutely guaranteed.
Much of the public land can only be