The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1908-12-17
ORDER IS SWEEPING
Timber and Stone Entries Entirely
Knocked Out for Time Being.
No More Filings Being Taken

order relative to timber and stone
entries is more sweeping that at
first supposed. The order received
at the Occur d'Alene land office
from Secretary Garfield is to the
effect that all entries made under
the timber and stone laws after
Dec. 1 will he considered by the
department as null and void. The
order is sweeping and has been
issued to all land districts. 1t also
orders that no more timber and
stone entries can be made until the
government makes the adjustments
which are deemed right and proper.
The ruling of Secretary Garfield
has not been received. The order
to the local land office was brief
and to the point with the informa-
ton that the ruling in full would
follow later. This ruling is being
looked for daily and will be made
public as soon as received. It's
contents are of vital interest to the
northwest country and especially
those states including Idaho, Ore
gon and Washington, which have
gained many bona fide settlers
through the timber and stone law
The terms of the timber and
stone act fix the price of timber
lands entered under it at $3.50 per
acre. This is the minimum price.
Secretary Garfield made the dis
covery only recently that the mini
mum price was not to be less than
$3.50 and that the department,
should it see fit. could increase the
price to be charged for the land.
In other words, appraise it's value.
1t is believed, however, that those
who framed the timber and stone
law specifically stated $3.50 an
acre, believing that this price was
within reach of the average entry
man, and that it was not their in
tention to place the price at a pro-
hibitive figure, thus cutting off
bona fde settlers from taking up
entries. The timber lands were
thrown open for entry especially
for the benefit of the settlers, and
it was for this reason that so low a
price per acre was set, a small part
of which was to be paid down and
the balance at the time of proving
up.
1t is evident that Secretary Gar
field. as we'll as the department,
considers that conditions have
changed since the placing of the
timber and stone act on the federal
statute books, and that in order to
prevent corporate interests and
land grabbers from cornering the
land it will be necessary to throw
guards around the law, Secretary
Garfield having discovered that the
minimum price per acre is $3.50,
and that if the department so de-
cides this price can be raised.
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota, is
bitterly opposed to the timber and
stone act, and wants to see it
stricken from the statute books
There are numerous other influen-
tial legislators arrayed against the
act. but it has also many sup.
porters.
Secretary Garheld's order OF Dec
l will completely change the man.
ner of making entries, and the
entryman, instead of getting his
timber land at a bargain price. will
probably, in the future, have tt
pay something near its market
value.
The government intends to ap
praise all timber lands and tn,
entryman will have to pay the ap
praised value. Hereafter only tn
cheaper grades of public timbe
land will be sold at $3.50 per acre
the price that formerly applied t.
lands entered under the timber AM
stone act. 1t is understood that