Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-11-29

We hold that under the constitution
Of the United States our state law is
supreme In local affairs.
"Fourth-The mining interests OF
this section are important and large.
The forest reserves take in many thou
sands of acres of valuable mineral
lands. including vast areas that are
above timber line. where no tree has
ever grown and for obvious and scien-
tiflc reasons can not be made to grow
even by forest experts. The forest re-
serve administration. acting under au-
thority OF rules and regulations alone.
assumes to prevent the issuance OF
patents to mining claims until forest
ranger has first made an examination
and passed upon the validity OF the
claim. The forest officer assumes other
mining operations and are seriously In
terfering with the development OF ou-
mineral wealth.
"Fifth-Because OF the rapid iall of
or mountain streams they develop
valuable water power. Later local en-
terprlse has attempted to take advnn-
tage OF this natural crIdi,ion to ut!l-
izc this power for developing electric
ity for use by our citizens. They have
been confronted by demand from the
forest reserve administration for pay
for the use OF this water In amounts ro
large as to practically put stop to the
proposed development. The waters OF
the state have always belonged to the
people Of the state and We, deny the
right OF the government to interfere
with their legitimate use.
"Sixth-The fundamental policy OF
"A IN n 81 r
make the forest reserves return avery
cent OF revenue possible. The vast
areas Of public land that have been
withdrawn from settlement and placed
In these reserves are being exploited
for revenue only and the citizens of
these counties are being asked to pny
this burdensomc tax for which we get
no return and which In collected by
authority OF rules and regulations made
by department officials and without
any authority Of law. An a sort OF con
science fund they return ten per cent.
of the money thus forced from the pco.
pie. to the state to be applied 10 cur
road and school funds. We already inx
ourselves To maintain our schools md
roads and this Is In effect double iaSn.
ton.
''Scvcnth-It iK the ambition Of cur
citizens To make prosperous homes and
u prosperous community. II In appar'
emily the policy Of the forest reserve
administration To prevent settlement
and occupation Of this section as iar
m possible and maintain n wilderness.
The very objects of our statehood. To
gain In population and wealth. II being
most successfully defeated by This
monstrous innicitnn Of government, un.
der the guisc Of b.ncficcnt Intention.
These arr only few Of the many
serve policy. We ask assistance irpn
Congress to provide us relief from
these conditions and urge upon cur
members In Congress that they do I'll
In their power To have the laws 20
amcnded that our prosperity and
growth may not be permanently may
not be permanently Injured. We sGs'
.cst the following necessary amend.
rncnis To the present forest reserve
policy IN b. enforced by statute:
-firs,-That the forest reserves 10
rcstricicd TO III. actual forest lands
and that all Interested lands bc imnr-
diatriy eliminated from the reserves.
''ss-eond-That the policy ot conduct.
ing the reserves for revenue. To he col
i.c'cd from the citizens within or siia.
cent 10 tho reserves. b- abandoned.
and as tho reserves are for the hen
CIT Of all the people. that Congress
make such appropriations rs may tc
necessary for their administration.
''Thiri-Tha, the forest reserve yi'i.
GERS be disrstci Of any authority TO IN.
ierfcfr with tho rights of mineral 'oca.
tors or mining claims or to interfere
with the use Of the wafer from our
streams In any manner whatsoever.
"foarth-,hat the sale OF timber
from tho reserves bc restricted 10 the
actual necessities of tho forcs, and
that no timber be- removed from the
locality where grown II there is local
demand sufficient to consume II. and
;ha; all timber sold bs sold at fx-d
valuation and not by competitive bids
TO the hishcs; bidder.
-fifth-That settlers have the ssms
rights to enter uton agricultural land
for homestead when found within
forest reserve as they have on uaTc.
served lands.
''sis,h-That no fees for grazing
within fores, reserves he permitted.
''Sesenth-That revenue tn be de
rived from forest reserves be restricted
to the sale of merchants able timber fer
the use Of settlers be free as hereto.
fore under such general restrictions as
to methods Of taking the same as will
be reasonable and fair.
"Eishth-Tha, rights of way for
roads. bitches. pipelines or other plb-
lie or private improvements be granted
without cost or delay and be refused
only on the ground of injury TO the
public
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS