The Elbert County tribune., 1910-09-09


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 sum already accumuia-
ted in the reclamation FUND IL $50 Ns,-
z5s.z2 and of that all but Ss.4si. .s55 d has
been expended It became very clear to
congress at Its last session. from the
statements made by experts. 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. II 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
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 pro5scts which a board of army
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 the agi-
tation in favor of such legislation. 1t is
inviting the general government into
contribution from its 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-
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 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 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-
constitutional purposes. 1t will be sorry
day for this country II the time ever
comes when fundamental compact
manner.
Mineral Lands.
BY mineral lands I mean those lands
bearing metals. or what are called metal
nferous 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. 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. 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 dncluding 26.0000 900
acres in two forests in Alaska) are ls2,-
000.000 of acres, of which 166.OOO.OOo OF
acres are in the United States proper and
include within their boundaries some
thing like 22000.000 of acres that belong
to the state or to private Individuals. We
have then. excluding Alaska forests, n
total OF about 144.0o00O0 acres of forests
belonging to the government which is
being treated in accord with the princi-
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
ersfip. 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 $780, =
of irnh n
management of forests not on public
land is beyond the Jurisdiction of the fed
eral government II anything can be done
by law It must be done by the state. leg
,slatures / believe that It is within their
constitutional power to require the en-
forcement OF regulations in the general
public interest. az to fire and other
causes of waste in the management of
forests owned by private individuals and
corporations.
1 have shown sufficiently the conditions
MS 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 disposi-
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 class-
fed coal lands amounting to 5.476. 900
acres. and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes of classification H.
s6T 900 acres. Since that time there have
been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 77.64s0o0 acres. making
a total withdrawal of o., 5,515000 acres.
Meantime OF the acres thus withdrawn.
11.371 200 have been classified and found
not to contain coal and have been re-
stored to agricultural entry. and 4.3560o0
acres have been classified coal lands
while 7g7Ss.000 acres remain withdrawn
from entry and await classification. In
iadditiG.. $4,000 acres have been classi-
fed as coal lands without prior withdraw