Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-09-08

sont cr prcnt o. this water % prtvat
owners ~ the government Il held BY tn
4 federal court Of appeals not to be
i uanrpation Of power. But certainly thi
ought not to b done except from sur
| plus water, not needed for govefnmen
| land, The total sum already aecumula
| tea in the reclamation fund 10 eeo,N1s
| Ns.2s. and Of that all but t0.l .sSS.Si hal
| been expended. II became very clear 4
| congress 81 IL last session, from tn
| statements made BY experta. that thes'
\ 50 projects could not be promptly com
| pIeted with the balance remaining OF
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
| In the near future, II was found, more,
over. that there are many settlers wht
| have been led into taking up lands VIII
the hope and understanding Of having
water furnished In short time, who are
left In q most distressing situation.
recommended to congress that authority
be given to the secretary OF the interior
10 issue bonds in anticipation Of the as
sured earnings BY the projects, 80 that
the projects, worthy and feasible, might
be promptly completed, and the settlers
might be relieved from their present I'M
convenience and hardship In authorizing
the issue Of these projects, congress linz
tied the application OF their proceeds 70
those projects which board Of army en-
kineers, to be appointed by the president,
should examine and determine to be
feasible and worthy Of completion. The
board has been appointed and soon VIII
make its report.
Euggestions have been made that the
United States ought to aid In the drain
age Of swamp lands belonging to the
states or private owners, because, II
drained, they would be exceedingly val
liable for agriculture and contribute 70
the general welfare BY extending the
area Of cultivation deprecate the agj-
tation In favor Of such legislation. II IL
inviting the general government into
contribution from It's treasury toward en-
terprises that should be conducted either
by private capital or at the instance OF
the state. IN these days there 10 dispo-
sition to look too much to the federal
government for everything. am liberal
in the construction Of the Constitution
with reference to federal power: but !
am firmly convinced that the only safe
course for us to pursue Is to hold fast
to the limitations Of the Constitution and
to regard as sacred the powers Of the
states. we have made wonderful prog
ress and at the same time have pre-
served with judicial exactneag the re-
strictions Of the Constitution. There Is
an easy way in which the Constitution
can be violated by congress without
judicial Inhibition, to-wIt, by appropriate
lions from the national treasury for UNI
purposes. II will be q sorry
day for this country X the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually disregarded In this
manner.
Mineral Lands.
BY mineral lands mean those lands
bearing metals, OF what are called metal
llferous minerals The rules Of owners
ship and disposition OF these lands were
FIRST fixed by custom IN the west, and
then were embodied In the law, and they
have worked, on the whole, 30 fairly and
well that / do not think Il Is wise to
attempt to change or better them.
Forest Lands.
Nothing can be more important IN the
matter OF conservation than the treatment
81 our forest lands II was probably the
ruthless destruction OF forests IN the
older states that first called attention to
4 halt in the waste 6f bur resources This
WAS recognized BY congress BY an. act
the executive 10 reserve from
entry and set aside public timber lands
is national forests Speaking generally.
there has been reserved Of the existing
forestA about seventy per cent Of All
The timber lands Of the government
Within these forests Gneluding e 2o.0oO
acres In two forests In Alaekal are l02,-
700, 900 Of acrea, Of which le600eo0O Of
acres are ii, the United States proper and
include within their boundaries some
thing like 220000OO Of acres that belong
q the state or to private individuals. We
nave then. excluding Alaska Forests,
lotai q about 14400O.0OO acres Of forests
,eloneinR 10 the government which Is
being treated in accord with the princi-
oles Of scientific forestry.
The government timber in this coun-
nv amounts to only one-fourth OF al the |
innher, the rest being in private own
,rship. Only three per cent. Of that which |
j in private ownership IL looked after
and treated according to mod
IN rules OF forestry. The usual de-
,tructiye waste and~neglect continues IN |
ne remainder OF the forests owned BY |
lrivnte persons apd corporations. It u
,HtIynated that flre alone destroys $4,000 |
no worth OF timber year. The
Of forests not on public
and IL beyond the jurisdiction Of the fed
raj government. II anything can be done
" law Il must be done by the state leg
slatures. believe that II q within their
constitutional power to require the en-
Of regulations in the general
,ubllc interest. az to IRE and other
,auses Of waste IN the manaeement Of
'orests owned BY private individuals ana
i have shown sufficiently the conditions
-. ls41ls - a. MI
tirther legislation Is needed al the mo-
nent except an Increase IN the fire pro-
cotton 10 national forests and an act
testing the executive with full power to
make forest reservations in every state
who're government land IL timber-coverea
" where the land is needed for forestry
purposes.
cotI Lands.
The next subject. and one most lmpor-
ant for our consideration, Is the dispose
ion Of the coal lands IN the United
'tatea and IN Alaslta First as to those
n, the United States At the besinnlne
4 this administration they were ciaasl-
I'd coal lands amounting to AflSooo
lcrea.. and there were withdrawn from
Intrv FOR purposes Of classification H.
e7.ooo acres Since that time there have
zen withdrawn BY my order from entry
or classification 77.6H. 600 acres making
total withdrawal Of H.si5,uoo acres.
feanlime. Of the acres thus withdrawn,
ts5i.mn have been classified and found
ioi 70 contain coal. and ihaye teen re-
tered to agricultural entry. and f1ssooo
Icres have been classified a. coal lands;
While saTzSooo acres remain Withdrawn
rom entry and await classification. In
dditlon t8ao0o acrea have been claa1i-
!, thus increasing the classified coal
lnds TO loleSooo acres