The Raymer enterprise., 1910-09-08

| ought not to be done except from sur
| plus water. not needed for government
land. Tho total sum already accumula-
| ted In the reclamation fund IL S60.N3,-
| ISL. and OF that all but ts.4sl. 1854 has
been expended. II became very clear to
| congress at Its last session. from tho
statements made by experts. that these
| 90 projects could not be promptly COM
pleted with the balance remaining on
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
In the near future. It was found. more
over. that there are many settlers who
have been led into taking up lands with
the hope and understanding Of having
water furnished In a short time. who are
left In q most distressing situation.
recommended to congress- that authority
be given to the secretary Of the interior
to issue bonds In anticipation OF the as
sured earnings by the projects. so that
the projects. worthy and feasible. might
be promptly completed. and the settlers
might be relieved from their present In
convenience and hardship. In authorizing
the issue of these projects. congress lin
tied the application Of their proceeds to
those projects which a board OF army en-
gineers. 20 be appointed by the president.
should examine and determine to be
feasible and worthy OF completion. The
board has been appointed and soon Will
make It's report.
Suggestions 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 to
the general welfare by extending the
area OF cultivation. I deprecate tho agi-
tation In favor OF such legislation. 1t Is
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 Is a dispo-
s!ton 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 e1hctness the re-
str!ctions OF the Constitution. There Is
an easy way In which the Constitution
can be violated by congress without
judicial inhibition. to-wit. by approprla-
tions from the national treasury for un-
constitutional purposes, II will be a sorry
day for this country II the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually dlsregarded in this
manner.
Mineral Lands.
By mineral lands I mean those lands
bearing metals. or what are called metal
lIferous minerals The rules OF owner
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. so fairly and
well that ! do not think 1t Is wise TO
attempt TO change or better them.
Forest Lands.
Nothing can be more important In the
matter Of conservation than the treatment
OF our forest lands. II was probably the
ruthless destruction OF forests In the
older states that first called attention 10
halt in the waste OF our resources. This
was recognized by congress by nm act
authorizing the executive 10 reserve from
entry and set aside public timber lands
as national forests Speaking generally.
there has been reserved OF the existing
forests about seventy per cent OF all
tho timber lands Of the government.
within these forests nnclud'ng 100000
acres In two forests In Alaska) are 1872
COO 90 OF acres, Of which l6s.o0oOI0 OF
acres are In the United States proper and
include within their boundaries some
thing Ike 100000 Of acres that belong
TO the state or to private individuals. We
have then. excluding Alaska forests, a
- ~
belonging to the government which Is
being treated In accord with the princi-
pies OF scientific forestry.
TIL. government timber In this coun-
try amounts to only ons-fourth Of all the
timber. the rest being in private own
ership. Only three per cent. OF that which
In I'm priyate ownership is looked after
properly and treated according to mod
ern rules OF forestry. The usual de-
structive waste and neglect continues In
ihe remainder OF the forests owned by
private persons and corporations II Is
estimated that nre alone destroys N,HN.
ho worth Of timber year. the
management OF forests not on puhllc
land is beyond the Jurisdiction Of the fed
ernl government II anything can he don"
bv Inv II must he done BY the state leg
,slaturcs. believe that II Is within their
constitutional power to renuir" the en-
forcem.nt Of regulations In the general
public interest, as to IRE ana oth"r
causes Of waste In the management OF
forests owned by private individuals and
| corporations.
| have shown sufficiently the conditions
| ms 10 federal forestry to indicate that nc
further legislation Is needed AT the mo
mcnt except nm increase In the fire pro-
| toc,ion To national forests and an nc'
yesting the executive with full power 'c
make forest reservations in every state
where government land Is timber-covered
| or where the land is needed for forestr,
| purposes.
Coal Lands.
The next subject. and one most impor
| tant for our consideration. Is the dsposi
| tIon Of the coal lands In the Cnite'
States and In ALASKA, First, as TO thos'
In the United States At the beg.nrinl
Of this administration they were classi
fed coal lands amounting 10 j.iIigi
| ncres., and there were withdrawn from
| entry for purposes Of classification II.
| SCI 900 acres Since that time there hny'
been withdrawn by my order from cntr!
for classification 7iGisoo0 acres, maxim
n total Withdrawal Of S.bl6.0oo acres
Meantime. Of the acres thus withdrawn
n,sii. .o0 have been classified and fOun'
not to contain coal. ard have been re-
stored TO agricultural entry. and i.s56.o
acres have been classified ms coal lands
Will, To.7ss.OOo acres remain withdraw
from entry md await classification. II
addition $500 acres have been classl
fled as coal lands without prior withdraw
al, thus increasing the classified Goa
lands to lO.lssOO1 acres.
Under the laws providing for the dIspo
sltion OF coal lands, the minimum pric
| n, ,rhlrh lnnla nrn nnrr,iIitnh To h. snlI