The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-12-13

ton of seed. of fertilizing and of
cultivation. <.t-
PUBLIC LANDS.
There are in the Continental Uni
ted States $50, s73, 7s7 acres of un-
appropriated and unreseryed lands
and almost an equal amount in
Alaska. In the year ending June so,
1908, there were 1856 entries,
covering 4,242,71o.59 acres, num-
Der which has been exceeded in only
two years. 1t is evident, therefore,
that there is no present need to in
crease the size of holdings granted
TO each homesteader, as has been
recently urged, since the desire to
secure a homestead of 160 acres is
still strong enough to increase rather
than diminish the average number
of entries per year.
The public land laws, as they exist
today, do not furnish the necessary
protection 10 the peoples interests in
the public lands. Changes are neees-
sary not only because the present
laws are not suited to existing con-
ditions. but also partly because these
laws, as originally drawn, contem-
plated conditions and needs which
have been greatly modified. both by
changed conditions of the country
and by various decisions of the de-
partment and of the courts.
The nation should hold in its own
possession, and maintain in efficient
condition, those areas which are less
valuable for agricultural use or
homemaking than for conserving
unique natural beauty and wonders,
the water supply and the timber.
The resources still belonging dir
ectly to the nation, which must neces-
sarly be diminished and finally de-
stroyed 10y use, should be exploited
and used in a way to return the
greatest benefit in the long run to
the greatest number, the essential
caution being TO prevent waste, and,
without prohibiting or hindering &C.
| onomical development, prevent such
monopoly as might artifieially in
crease the cost of the resources to the
people beyond what would bring TO
| the exploiter a full reasonable profit
and no more.
! When the land itself. independent
of the minerals under its surface, is
more valuable for agricultural use
than for permanent dedication to
public use, it should be given, in
such aceas as will furnish a reason
able living to an average family, 10
those who will actually make homes
on il and TO no other
LOSS TO LIVESTOCK AND CROPS
An important factor in reducing
the crop yield is the losses due to
injurious animals and insects, es-
pecially the latter. 1t is estimated
that the losses To livestock, grain
etc. due 10 injurious animals ex-
ceeds 100 million dollars annually
most of which is caused by wolves
rats, and mice. The damage by birds
is mparatively slight, and is fan
out weighted by their benefcent work
/ in destroying noxious insects. IL il
estimated by the bureau of entomo'
logy that such insects infiict damages
in the average year amounting to not
less than 500 million dollars upoI
| growing crops. orchards. grain ,ir
| storage. etc. Most of these losses
are preventable
MONOPOLIZATION OF LANDS.
There is a tendency towards g
monopolization of farm lands, taker
as whole, which in certain sections
is marked, notably in the states ives
of the Mississippi river.
Among all the mineral lands, ant
particularly the iron lands, there il
{. marked tendency towards increase
: in holdings. for economic reasons
| while among timberlands the pro
gress towards monopoly is decided
largely for speculative purposes.
THE PUBLIC RANGE.
The public range OF the western
states is estimated to be 500 million
acres in area. Upon this il is esti
mated that there are so million cat.
tie, and 40 million sheep. The range
Is in very bad condition. especially
that part occupied by sheep, owing tG
overgrazing and trampling. These
bad conditions can be remedied by
an assumption OF control over the
range by it's owner. the United States
} and the portioning out of 1t to stock
ranges individually. This asset OF