The Elbert County tribune., 1907-11-28

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-
tifc 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 our
mineral wealth.
"Fifth-Because of the rapid fall of
or mountain streams they develop
valuable water power. Later local en-
terprise has attempted to take advnn-
tage of this natural condition to nth
ize this power for developing electric
ity for use by our citizens. They have
been confronted by a demand from the
forest reserve administration for pay
for the use OF this water In amounts TO
| ldibt as W pIhcllCdilS put Stop W Aht
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
the forest reserve administration is to
make the forest reserves return every
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Withdrawn from settlement and placed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 pay
this burdensome tax for which we get
no return and which Is collected by
authority of rules and regulations made
by department officials and without
any authority of law. AS a sort of con
science fund they return ten per cent.
of the money thus forced from the peo-
pie, to the state to be applied to our
road and school funds. We already tax
ourselves to maintain our schools and
roads and this is in effect double taxa
tion.
'Seventh-It is the ambition of Our
lcitizens to make prosperous homes and
a prosperous community. II Is appar-
lently the policy of the forest reserve
administration to prevent settlement
and occupation of this section as far
as possible and maintain wilderness.
The very objects of our statehood. TO
gain in population and wealth. is being
most successfully defeated by This
monstrous infliction of government UNI
der the gulse OF beneficent intention.
These are only few of the many
objections to the present forest ie-
serve policy. We ask assistance from
/ IN do
these conditions and urge upon cur
members in Congress that they do all
in their power to have the laws so
amended that our prosperity and
growth may not be permanently may
not be permanently injured. We sUg.
gest the following necessary amend
ments TO the present forest reserve
policy to be enforced by statute:
"First-That the forest reserves he
restricted to the actual forest lands
and that all interested lands be imme
diately eliminated from the reserves.
"Second-That the policy OF conduct
ing the reserves for revenue, to be col
lected from the citizens within or adja
cent to the reserves. be abandoned
and as the reserves are for the ben
eft of all the people, that Congress
make such appropriations as may he
"Third-That the forest reserve OH.
GERS be divested of any authority to in
terfere with the rights OF mineral ioca.
tors or mining claims or to interfere
with the use of the water from our
streams In any manner whatsoever.
'Fourth-that the sale of timber
from the reserves be restricted to the
actual necessities of the forest and
that no timber be removed from the
locality where grown If there is local
demand sufficient TO consume It, and
that all timber sold be sold at fixed
valuation and not by competitive bids
to the highest bidder.
"Fifth-That settlers have the same
rights to enter upon agricultural land
for homestead when found within a
forest reserve as they have on unre-
served lands.
"Sixth-That no fees for grazing
within forest reserves be permitted.
"Seventh-That revenue to be de
rived from forest reserves be restricted
to the sale of merchantable timber for
the use of settlers be free as hereto
fore under such general restrictions as
to methods OF taking the same as ill
be reasonable and fair.
"Eighth-That rights of way for
roads, bitches. pipelines or other pub
lie or private improvements be granted
without cost or delay and be refused
only on the ground of injury to the
public"
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