The Ketchikan miner., 1909-06-19
Forest Methods not
 to His Liking

In the October issue of the Mining and Scientific Press appeared a long article treating on the Forest Reserve Administration" writer by U. s. Rush of Ksssan. The article is ,oo long to be reproduced in the Miner, but extracts will be of interest to our readers. Mir. Rush says:
 In the first place, the large corpora
 sion appears 10 have no trouble in Alaska in securing the elimination from forest reserve Of any tract desired In fact. the relation of these corporation with the Bureau seems to be alway uooth ard sstifactory. With the smaller corporation or individual of limited means. il is different. He must conduct his bus iusss. 10 I great extent, through per mi ission. granted or refused. extended or revoked, according 10 the momen- tary pleasure. whim. or fancy of some officers of this Bureau. Ii. for instance you wish. within the limits of your claim CT eisewh here. 10 conduct a gen. eral merchandise store. you must first ge. permission from some officer of lhe Bureau. The officer can refuse pre- mission altogether if he wants to; or he can require ycu to furnish bonds of any character and in any amount he may wish. The officer may tax you any amouut of money per year he may choose, for letting you conduct your store. Any agreement made between yourself snd the officer Is binding upon you, but net on she officer of the Bureau. for al any time yolr permit may be revoked. and you must then sie2 out and leave your Improvements If the officer wishes you 10. In short, when you have secured his permis- sion. paid his price. put in your stock. you nave nos the assurance that you will hs allowed 10 onduct your busi- ness. This applies 10 the 'hone-seeker' S Sh0 is so 'enderly coddled in the 'Cse Book i, applies to the miner who has 10 caFry his ores across Govern ment land to reach a market: it applies 10 the prospector wbo may want to put up little cabin in which to winter: II applies to anyone who may want 10 put out q little garden to raise veg sisbles for his own use. The policy is proving 10 be an industrial blight opon this part of Alaska.
 The miner is willing to pay fer timber of Government land but he objects to being dependent upon the nomentary pleasure. whim, or fancy Of some sub Of this Bureau. for his timber or for anything else. The pros pector is willing 10 pay the Govern mens for the right 70 make himself home. but be is 10. ap. to b1ild a nome where his title rests upon the momentary pleasure. whim or fancy Of some .su5' of a Bureau. The Act of June II, 1866, was intended 10 open the forest reserve 70 the home-sseker: bu, ,he rights are all conferred upon the Bureau and none upon tbe home seeker. So it is really the Bureau sub in sbe field 10 w tho T the home seeker must go and upon whose nom entrT pleasure. abim CT fancy he mos' depend for q home within Forest Reserve. Tn at least one instance. however the Bureaus sub proved  himself friend Of the home-seeker.. abo0s two miles from here an old IT, dian has cleared tract of land and made garden. ! 'home-seeker' cant along. aanled the old Indians garden and by inducing the Bureaus "sub' 90 exercise his rare discretionary powers. he go, il in spite Of ihe old Indians protest. Of course, there ~as neither justice nor common sense in such proce edirg: but by experience 1e have learned not to expect justice or com mon 2@nse. DOT even the truth. from sub of this Bureaucracy the literature furnished them can hardly be expected to promote trushfulness.
 The Northern Pacific ins not worry