The Elbert County tribune., 1907-06-13

What has been accomplished In the
regulation OF the great oil fields of the
InCian territory offers a striking ex-
ample of the good results of such
policy. Last summer. accordingly, /
withdrew most of the coal-bearing pub
lie lands temporarily from disposal.
and asked for the legislation necessary
to protect the public interest from the
conservation of the mineral fuels that
is, for the power to keep the fee in the
| government and TO lease the coal, OIL
and gas rights under proper regula-
ton. No such legislation was passed.
but still hope that we shall ultimately
get it,
In addition to treating Alright for the
benefit of the whole people the forests
ana the mineral beds, we should simi-
larly try 10 preserve for the benefit of
all the people the great stretches OF
public domain, some 5000, 900 acres in
all, which are unfit for cultivation by
present methods and valuable only for
the forage which they supply. This
vast area is now open to the free graz
ing of cattle, sheep, horses and goats,
without restriction or regulation. When
population has increased. as is now the
case, such utter lack OF management
means that the public domain is turned
loNNi " Ot ShlnHtu Dl men WHOSE Only
concern is to get what they can out
OF ii at the moment, without any re-
gard to whether or not 1t is ruined so
far as the next generation is con
oerned.
Western Range overgrazed.
In other words. the range is not so
much used as wasted by abuse and as
an incident conflict and bloodshed fire.
quently arise between opposing forces.
With the rapid settling of the west the
range is more and more overgrazed.
Moreover. much of it cannot be used
to advantage unless it is fenced. for
fencing is the only way by which to
keep in check the absentee owners
OF the nomad fiocks which roam hither
and thither, utterly destroying the
lpasturage and leaving waste behind.
so that their presence is incompatible
With the presence of home makers.
Good judges estimate that our public
range has now lost nearly half its
value, yet fencing is against the law.
and as the law now stands it is well
nigh impossible to do anything to
Keep the value of the range
The only practical remedy is to
give control of the range to the fed
sral government Such control would
lot only stop all conflict, but would
conserve the forage without stopping
its use. as our experience with ma
Itional forests has fully proved
1t would likewise secure to the
West the great benefits of legitimate
fencing without interviewing in the
slightest with the settlement of the
Icountry-on the contrary, while pro-
noting the settlement of the country
Hitherto, however. 1t has not proved
possible to get any legislation to Sc
cure these ends. The destruction of
the public range will continue until
as nation, we insist upon the enact
ment of such laws as those | have adj
lvocated
For several years we have been do
ing everything in our power to pre-
vent fraud upon the public land. What
can be done under the present laws
is new being done through the joint
action of the Interior Department and
the Department OF Justice. But fully
to accomplish the prevention of fraud
there is need of further legislation
and especially of a sufficient appro-
Ipriation to permit the Department OF
the Interior to examine certain
classes of entries on the ground he
fore they pass into private own arship.
The appropriation asked for last win
ter. If granted would have put an end
to the squandering of the public do
main, while 1t would have prevented
any need of causing hardship to indi-
vidual settlers by holding up their
claims. However. the appropriation
was not given us, and in consequence,
II Is not possible to secure, as | would
like to secure, the natural resources
of the public land from fraud, waste
and encroachment.
Clifford Pinchot His Advisor.
so much for what we are trying to
do in utilizing our public lands for the
public; in securing the use of the
water. for forage, the coal. and the
timber for the public. In all four
movements my chief adviser, and the
man first to suggest to me the courses
which have actually proved so bene-
fetal, was Mr. Clifford Pinchot, the
chief of the national forest service
Mr.. Pinchot also suggested to me a
movement supplementary to all these
movements; one which will itself lead
the way in the general movement
which he represents, and with which
he is actively identified, for the CON
servation of all our natural resources.
This was the appointment of the in
land waterways commission.
THE inability of the railroads of
the United States TO meet the demands
upon them has drawn public atten-
ton forcibly to the use of our water
ways for transportation. But it is
obvious that this is only one of their
many uses, and that planned and or.
derby development is impossible ex-
cept by taking into account all the
services they are capable of render
ing. 1t was upon this ground that tLe
inland waterways commission was re-
Gently appointed. Their duty Is to
propose a comprehensive plan for the
Improvement and utilization of those
great waterways which are the great