River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-09-08

uSurpation of power. But certainly this
ought not to be done except from sur
plus water, not needed for government
land. The total sum already accumula-
ted In the reclamation fund is $50 49,
25822, and of that all but Sc, 491 S55.34 has
Seen expended. 1t became very clear to
congress at it's last session, from the
statements made by experts, that these
30 projects could not be promptly COM
pleted with the balance remaining on
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
in the near future. 1t 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 a most distressing situation. 1
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 linn
tied the application of their proceeds to
those projects which a board of army en-
gineers, 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.
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 the agl-
tation in favor OF such legislation. 1t is
inviting the general government into
| contribution from it's treasury toward en-
chr In
by private capital or at the instance or
| the state In these days there is dispo-
sition to look too much to the federal
government for everything. l am liberal
| in the construction Of the Constitution
| with reference to federal power; but 1
| 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 eXactness 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 appropria-
tions from the national treasury for I'M
constitutional purposes. 1t will be a sorry
day for this country if the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually disregarded 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
we'll that I do not think it 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. 1t was probably the
ruthless destruction Of forests in the
older states that first called attention to
a halt in the waste of our resources. This
was recognized by congress by an act
authorizing the executive to 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
the timber lands of the government.
Within these forests Gncludng 26,OOOOOO
acres in two forests in Alaska) are 49,
900 900 Of acres, Of which 166,000,0OO OF
acres are in the United States proper ana
include within their boundaries some
thing like 22,00C000 of acres that belong
to the stateSor to private individuals. we
have then, excluding Alaska forests, a
total of about 1H,0O0,000 acres of forests
belonging to the government which IS
being treated in accord with the prlncl-
pies Of scientific forestry.
The government timber in this coun-
try amounts to only one-fourth OF all the
timber, the rest being in private own
ership Only three per cent. Of that which
is in private ownership is looked after
properly and treated according to mod
ern rules of forestry. The usual de-
structive waste and neglect continues in
| the remainder of the forests owned by
| private persons and corporations. 1t is
estimated that fire alone destroys $4,000, :
| OG0 worth of timber year. Inc
| management of forests not on pubic
| land is beyond the jurisdiction of the fed
eral government If anything can be done
| by law it must be done by the state leg
| islatures believe that it is within their
constitutional power to require the en-
| forcement of regulations in the general
| public interest, as to fire and other
causes of waste in the management OF
| forests owned by private individuals anu
| corporations.
have shown sufficiently the conditions
| as to federal forestry to indicate that no
| further legislation is needed at the mo-
| ment except an increase in the fire pro-
| lection to national forests and an act
vesting the executive with full power TO
make forest reservations in every state
where government land is timber-covered,
| or where the land is needed for forestry
| purposes.
Coal Lands.
The next subject. and one most impor-
! tant for our consideration, is the DISPOSE
| ton of the coal lands in the United
| States and in Alaska. First, as to those
| in the United States. At the beginning
| Of this administration they were classi-
| fled coal lands amounting to 5,476,0OC
| acres, and there were withdrawn from
| entry for purposes of classification IT,
| SGT 900 acres Since that time there have
| been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 77,64S0O0 acres, making
| total withdrawal of 95,515,O00 acres.
| Meantime, of the acres thus withdrawn,
| 1871 900 have been classified and found
not to contain coal, and have been re-
| stored to agricultural entry and 4356,O
acres have been classified as coal lands;
while 70, 7SS,O 900 acres remain withdrawn
| from entry and await classification. In
| addition $4,000 acres have been CLASH
| fed as coal lands without prior withdraw
| al thus increasing the classified coal
| lands to 016S,O00 acres.
Under the laws providing for the dispo-
sition of coal lands, the minimum price
! at which lands are permitted to be sold
| is $40 an acre; but the secretary of the
| interior has the power to fix maximum
| price and sell at that price. By the first
regulations governing appraisal, ap-
| proved April s, 1907, the minimum was So
| as provided by law, and the maximum
| was 500, and the highest price actually
| placed upon any land sold was SIS. I'm
/ der the new regulations, adopted April TO-
| 1909, the maximum price was increased to
| $780, except in regions where there are
| large mines, where no maximum limit is
| fixed and the price is determined by the
estimated tons Of coal to the acre. The