River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-06-13

animation specifically showed the ex-
istence of great frauds upon the public
domain, and their recommendations for
changes in the law were made with the
design of conserving the natural re-
sources of every part of the public land
by putting 1t to it's best use. Attention
was especially called to the prevention of
settlement by the passage of great areas
of public lands into the hands of a few
men, and to the enormous waste caused
by unrestricted grazing on the open
range; system of using the natural
forage on the public domain which
amounts to putting a premium on its
destruction. The recommendations of the
pubic lands commission were sound for
they were especially in the interest of
the actual home maker; and where the
small home maker could not utilize the
land, 1T was provided that the govern
ment should keep control of it so that
1T could not be monopolzed by a few
wealthy men, Congress has not yet
acted upon these recommendations, eX-
cept for the repeal of the ubiquitous
ieu-land law. But the recommendations
are so just and proper, so essential to our
national welfare, that 1 believe they will
surely ultimately be adopted.
In 1891 congress authorized the pres-
dent to create national forests in the
public domain. These forests reserves re-
the general land Office, which had no
men properly trained in forestry. But
another department, that of agriculture,
possessed the trained men. In other
words, the government forests were with
out foresters and the government for
eSters without forests. Waste of effort
and waste of forests inevitably followed.
Finally the situation was ended in 1905
by the creation of the United States
forest service, which has stopped the
waste, conserved the resources of the
national forests, and made them useful;
so that our forests are now being man.
aged on a coherent plan, and in a way
that augurs we'll for the future.
Preserve Mineral Resources.
The mineral fuels of the eastern United
States have already passed into the
hands of large private owners and those
of the west are rapidly following. This
should not be, for such mineral resources
belong in a peculiar degree to the whole
people Under private control there is
much waste from the shortsighted
methods of working, and the complete
utilization is often sacrificed for a greater
immediate profit. The mineral fuels un>
der our present conditions are as ESSEN
tial to our prosperity as the forests will
always be. The difference is that the
supply is definitely limited, for coal does
not grow and trees do. 1t is obvious
that the mineral fuels should be con-
served, not wasted, and that enough of
them should remain in the hands of
the government to protect the people
against unjust eXtortionate prices SO
far as that can still be DONE What has
been accomplished in the regulation of
the great oil fields Of the Indian terri
tory offers a striking example of the
good results of such a policy. Last
summer, accordingly, I withdrew most
rNf4 I,A han.
arily from disposal, and asked for the
legislation necessary to protect the pub
lie interest by 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 regulation. No such legislation
was passed, but I still hope that we shall
ultimately. get it.
Prevention of Frauds.
For several years we have been do
ing everything in our power to prevent
fraud upon the public land. What can
be done under the present laws is now
being done through the joint action of
the interior department and the depart
ment of justice. But fully to accomplish
the prevention of fraud there is need of
further legislation and especially of a
sufficient appropriation to permit the de-
partment Of the interior to examine GER
tain classes of entries on the ground
before they pass into private owner
ship. The appropriation asked for last
winter, if granted, would have put an
end to the squandering Of the. public
domain, while it would have prevented
any need of causing hardship to indi-
vidual settlers by holding up their claims.
However, the appropriation was not
given u.s. and in consequence it is not
possible to secure. as [ would like to
secure the natural resources of the pub
lie land from fraud, waste and encroach-
ment.
So much for what we are trying to do
in Utilizing our public lands for the pub
lic in securing the use of the water the
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 beneficial, was Mr.. Clifford
Pinchot, the chief of the national forest
service. Mr.. Pinchot also suggested to
me a movement supplementary to all of
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 conserva-
ton of all our natural resources. This
was the appointment of the inland
waterways commission
The inability of the railroads of the
United States to meet the demands
upon them has drawn public attention
forcibly to the use of our waterways
for transportation. But it is obvious
that this is only one of their many
uses, and that a planned and orderly
development is impossible except by
taking into account all the services
they are capable of rendering. 1t was
upon this ground that the inland wa
terways commission was recently ap-
pointed. Their duty is to propose a
comprehensive plan for the improve
ment and utilization of those great
waterways which are the great poten-
tial highways of the country Their
duty is also to bring together the
points Of view of all users of streams.
and to submit general plan for the
development and conservation of the