The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-09-09

cost or profit Of shis water to private
owners by the government IL held by tho
federal court of appeals not to be
usurpation OF power. But certainly this
ought not to be done except from sur
plus water, not needed for government
land. The total already accumula-
ted in the reclamation fund Is $50. .273,-
25S.22, and OF that all but @491, ,s65. "a has
been expended It became very clear to
congress at its last session, from tho
statements made by exp~c.s, that these
80 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 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, 80 that
the projects. worthy and feasible might
be promptly completed, and tho 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 board Of army en-
gineers, to be appointed by the president.
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. deprecate the agi-
tation In favor Of such legislation. 1t Is
inviting the general government into
contribution from its treasury toward en-
terprises that should Ia conducted either
by private capital at the instance of
the state In these days there is 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 l
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 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 un-
day for this country II 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, or what called metal
liferous minerals. The rules OF owner
ship and disposition Of these lands were
first nxed 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 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 to
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 dncluding 26,oo0,00O
acres In two forests In Alaska) are 1872
00o 900 of acres, OF which 166.o00oW OF
acres are In the United States proper and
thing like % 900 600 Of acres that belong
to the state or to private individuals. We
have then. excluding Alaska forests,
total of about IA, 900 900 acres or 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 $5o.ooo,-
900 worth Of timber year The
manaRement Of forests not on pubic
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. believe that 1t 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-
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, IL the DISPOSE
ton of the coal lands in the United
States and in Alaska. First, as to those
In the United States At tho beginning
Of this administration they were classi-
fed coal lands amounting to 5476.000
acres. and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes OF classification H.
S67, 900 acres. Since that time there have
been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 77.e4s,O 900 acres. making
a total withdrawal OF 900 acres
Meantime. Of the acres thus withdrawn,
II, ,S71 900 have been classified and found
not to contain coal and have been re-
stored to agricultural entry, and 1856, 900
acres have been classified as coal lands;
while 7S,7Ss000 acres remain withdrawn
from entry and await classification. In
addition 1886, 900 acres have been classi-
fed as coal lands without prior withdraw
al, thus increasing the classified coal