, 1907-01-07
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Elsewhere The Republican presents
in full the inaugural address deliver.
ed at Cheyenne today by Governor b.
b. Brooks. 1t is a straightforward, elo'
quent appeal to the people of Wyoming
to assist in every possible the
upbuilding of our young state. The
executive believes that a state that Is
good enough 10 makem money in is good
enough to live and die in. He refers
to the signs indicative of permanence
and BODYBUILDING. Public questions,
save the land question, he does moi
discuss, %preferring to leave matters
of public policy and the affairs of the
state in general to his annual message.
Governor Brooks handles the land
question without gloves and in a a
ner not entirely warranted by the facts
He refers t the large Withdrawals OF
land from coal entry, leaving the in
ference that this land may not be set
tied upon under any act. It Is still
open to all forms of entry save coal,
and will doubtless in the near future
be restored to coal entry, either under
the present coal laws or laws to be en-
acted by the present congress. 1t Ger.
tainly is not the intention of the pres
ident to withhold it from coal entry
permanently. Reference is also made
to the large areas withdrawn for for.
est purposes, the governor fixing the
mount al 10000, 900 acres and adding
that probably not more than one
fourth the mount grows sufficient
timber to Justify its segregation. 1t
should be added that all of this land
that does not bear sufficient timber TO
warrant its use for forestry purposes is
susceptible of entry under the home
stead act, under the Mondell law pass
ed at the first session of the present
congress. In relation to the large areas
withdrawn for the purposes of the rec
lamation act, 1t may also be added tina,
any Of the lands thus withdrawn are
subject to homestead entry. Those
lands that can be irrigated through the
operation of the law should of course
be reserved for the settlers under the
act and they may settle and begin their
improvements at any time they may
see fit. Those lands that are founa
reclamation act are certainly not sucl
lands as may be legally taken under
the desert land act, hence there has
been hardship to the people because
of their withdrawal from all forms o.
agricultural entry save the homestead
act.
All the lands of Wyoming that are
chiefly valuable for agricultural pur,
poses are now subject to entry under
the homestead act and the areas that
have been withdrawn for irrigation
purposes and because of their suppos
ed value for coal can still be used as
open range. The coal land withdrawal
is of a temporary nature and is certain
ly working no serious hardship, as all
the land embraced therein is subject
to all forms OF entry save coal, pro
vided the entryman must file his aft
davit as to the non-mineral character
in making agriculture! entries and
must prove its mineral character in
making entries of land valuable for
precious metals.
The governor deems this subject of
great importance and asks for full and
frank discussion thereof, hence The
Republican desires to go on record as
favorable to the enforcement of the
land laws as they nov are until such
time as the people of the west evolve
some law that will operate to their
better advantage. Certain it is that
the vast areas oil free range will eveI
be a bone Of contention. Some law
must be enacted that will give the hold
ed of lands title thereto, by l%easehold
or otherwise, in order that he may say
t. his %neighbor, This is mine, you
must keep your stock of." Possession
under the law and not possession by in
diyidual might is what is demanded.
Under such possession the state could
be made to carry twice the live stock
it does today. Men having absolute
right to the range under their control
would improve the same and build up
for the future. Permanence would be
assured and the BODYBUILDING the gov
ernor advocates so eloquently would
come as a logical sequence.
LOGICALLY ANALYZED.