The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-09-08

cost or profit of this water to private
owners by the government Is held by the
federal court OF appeals not to be a
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
ted In the reclamation fund is So,Z73,-
25s. %. and OF that all but $40, 955.A has
been expended. It 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
I'm 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 I'm a short time, who are
left In d most distressing situation. l
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 70
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 will
make its report.
Suggestions nave 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 agi-
tation in favor OF such legislation. 1t is
inviting the general government into
contribution from It's treasury toward en-
terprises that should IL conducted either
by private capital or at the instance OF
the state. In these days there is a dispo-
sition to look too much to the federal
government for everything. I am liberal
In the construction Of the Constitution
with reference to federal power: but I
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 e~xactness 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-
lions from the national treasury for un-
constitutional purposes. II will be n sorry
day for this country II the time ever
comes when our Fundamental compact
shall be h~abitually ~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
well that I do not think II 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. It 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 Including 26,0 900
acres In two forests In Alaska) are 1872
600, 900 OF acres, of which 166,OOO,OoO OF
acres are in the United States proper and
include within their boundaries some
thing like %, 000h0O OF acres that belong
to the state or TO private individuals. We
have then. excluding Alaska forests, a
total OF about 144, O00, 600 acres of forests
belonging to the government which is
being treated In accord with the princi-
Piles 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 10000
900 worth Of timber a year. The
management OF forests not on public
land Is beyond the Jurisdiction of the fed
eral government. II anything can be done
by law 1t must be done by the state leg
,slatures. I believe that II 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 and
corporations.
I 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
v~esting the executive with full power to
| MAKE forest TeStTNdllOliS III vel
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-
fed coal lands amounting to SAG, 900
acres, and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes OF classification H.
SGT. 900 acres. Since that time there have
been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification n, Gas, 900 acres. making
a total withdrawal OF IS, 515.0 900 acres.
Meantime. OF the acres thus withdrawn,
II, ST., 900 nave been classified and found
not to contain coal. and have been re-
stored to agricultural entry, and 1856, 900
acres nave been classified as coal lands;
while 70. 7SS, 900 acres remain withdrawn
from entry and await classification. In
addition 1886, 600 acres have been CLASH
fed as coal lands without prior withdraw
al. thus increasing the classified coal
lands to 10. 1850 o acres.
Under the laws providing for the dispo-
sition of coal lands, the minimum price
at which lands are permitted to be sold
A. IN A.s 49, -