, 1908-06-26

session this was called to my attention
and / introduced a bill for a second
million acres for Wyoming. We had
much difficulty in passing the bill, but
l was finally able to attach 1t as a rid
er to an appropriation bill. / regard
this as important, for We cannot AFFORD
to have our progress in reclaiming
arid lands checked for a single mo-
ment, and this might occur prior to the
opening Of another congress had not
this legislation been secured.
I'm the meantime, ! am not unminds
full of the great success which is be-
ing achieved by you, my friends and
co-workers, whose sphere of action is
here at home, in dry farming. l am
heartily DESTROYS of assisting in this
good work.
Townships to Be Resurveyed.
Another important item of legisla-
ton secured for Wyoming is the law
authorizing the survey of about 800
townships of public lands in this state.
This legislation makes it possible to
have over six million acres, on which
the original surveys were imperfect,
r~esurveyed and placed at the disposal
of the ranchman and farmer.
Crow Creek Maneuver Grounds.
Il deem of much benefit to Wyo.
ming. and particularly to Cheyenne
and Laramie, the law passed In the
recent session authorizing the secre-
tary of the interior and the secretary
of war to acquire for the government
the lands held in private ownership
in the Crow creek forest reserve
through an exchange of lands. When
this law is carried into effect Wyo-
ming will have the largest and finest
maneuvering and camping ground for
regular troops and militia In the Unit.
ed States, and this $4,000 acres, with
the 1000 In its home reserve, will give
Fort Russell the best military reserva.
ton in the country.
Help for Military Posts.
Il may say, parenthetically, that lib
eral appropriations and allotments of
money will be available during the
ensuing year for all the military posts
in Wyoming, including, of course, our
W Fort Russell, and liberal provision
has been made also for our neighbor-
ing states.
incidentally, in connection with this
Crow creek reserve, we obtained an
appropriation in the closing days of
the session to reimburse ranchmen on
the ser for damages sustained
through the maneuvers held there a
year ago last summer, aggregating
nearly 1000.
"Of great benefit to Wyoming was
the provision made in the agricultu-
raj appropriation bill, of which l had
charge, on account of the illness OF
Chairman Hansbrough Of the agricul-
tural committee, for increasing the
percentage of forest reserve proceeds
to be paid the states containing the
reserves, from 10 to % per cent. This
l regard as the entering wedge for a
further increase to the states of these
proceeds. I would like to see the per
centage increased to SO or even rs
per cent.
More Pay for Witnesses.
Among the matters of minor impor-
lance is the correction of a crying evil
to which our citizens have been sub.
jected when subpoenaed for service in
the United States courts. They have
been allowed in the past only $1.50 a
day and a fraction of their actual trav.
cling expenses. We have, In a meas
ure, remedied this by an act provii.
ing for SO per diem, five cents a mile
travel pay by railroad and fifteen cents
a mile by other conveyance.
Pensions for Veterans.
'In the recent congress many of our
veterans of the Civil and Spanish wars
received original or increased pen
sions through special legislation, al
though my heart was -saddened that
in the cases of those two beloved Yete