Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1909-11-06

when the government became pos
sessed of its public domain and took
measures to secure its settlement by
the passage of the homestead act and
other acts offering, after certain steps
prescribed, to vest title to a specific
part Of the public lands in individuals
the chief object of congress seemed
be to secure development by inducing
people to settle on public lands and
acquire 1T for themselves.
''The thought of conserving the re-
sources which were thus opened to pri-
vate acquisition hardly occurred to
congress.
'Its generosity to the Pacific rail
roads in offering the public lands in
such extensive grants to them is an
instance of the spirit. which actuated
congress 40 and so years ago.
81 am not criticizing congress in the
slightest for this policy. 1t certainly
was necessary to make extensive
grants to secure the construction of a
railroad which should unite the Pacific
coast with the Atlantic coast and bring
closer to the eastern seaboard the far
distant regions of this country.
way to explain the character of the
statutes now upon the statute books
with reference TO the sale and dispo-
sition of public lands.
'There has always been a distinc-
ton made between agricultural lands
and mineral lands, because it was recog-
nized that mineral lands would prob
ably be much more valuable, and a
different method was required for the
acquisition of the one from that of the
other.
"But never until now has adequate
provision been made for a classified
ton Of lands 80 as to show distinctly
what are mineral lands and what are
agricultural lands.
"The truth is that the needs of the
country have developed so, and the de-
mand for land has so much increased
that in order to secure a sensible, bust
nesslil1e disposition of the lands re-
naming in the public domain there
must be an authoritative classification
Of lands by the proper bureau, SO as
co show whether they are agricultural
lands, forest lands or lands available
for waterp0Wer sites on the banks of
rivers and other streams, or mineral
lands, coal lands, oil lands OF phosphate
lands.
" Had this classification been made
earlier il would have saved great
amount Of litigation, and would have
saved TO the government millions Of
acres, patented as one kind Of land
when, IN fact, II was another.
"The classification is being rapidly
executed BY the geological bureau.
" After classification legislation
should be, and doubtless will be, d.
rectod 10 the means by which such
lands should be disposed Of, and the re-
strietions specified in The interest Of
the public ca the tenure and use 10
which tho owner - 40 put such lands.
" A. ~ lands which arc purely agTi-
eultufai, there would seem 40 be 40
reason Tor departing from the ordi'
nary method of disposition under the
homestead aud other Laws, lneluding
tAe reclamation aete by which citizens
aequiIe title Ia tAon.
f" VIA respect ~ forest lands owned
by the public, they should bo surgeyed
and lelo by tAe government under the
regulation NJ lhe forestry bureau, per
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