The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-09-06

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 $780, 49,
25S,22, and Of that all but $6,491, 1854 has
been expended. 1t became very clear to
congress at it's last session, from the
statements made by experts, that these
30 projects could not bc~ 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, 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 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 have been made that the
onlteu states ougnI 70 aiu IN the oraln-
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. T deprecate the agi-
tation in favor Of such legislation. IT Ia
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 dispo-
sitioh 10 look TOO mucn 70 the Ieueral
government TOT everything. am uperaI
III the construction OF the Cohstleution
with reference TO teoeral power; put
am HrIniy convinced that tne ohiy sare
course TOT US 10 pursue Is 70 nold Iast
70 the limitations Oh tne CONSTITUTION anu
70 rssaru as sacreo tne powers OF tne
states we nave mace Wonuer1ui prog
ress anu AT the Same time nave pre-
served WIN Juoiclai exactness the re-
s.rictlons OF tne constitution. Inere Is
an easy way IN wnich the Constltutlon
can % Voihteo py congress wNhout
Judicial inniDit'on, to-wit, by appropria-
tlons from the nationai treasury TOT un-
CONSTITUTIONAL purposes. II VIII pc sorry
day LOT Lnls country II tne Tune ever
comes wnen our lunuainentai compact
snah DC napltually olsregaroeo IN THIS
manner.
Mineral Lands.
Rv mineral lands T mean those lands
hearing metals ~ what arc cal,ed natal
I,Faro,,s yninarals Tha r,las ~ o,,,ar
chin and disnosition ~ tbasa lands ryera
f,rst f1vad Nv cnstom IN the west dnd
then were embodied in ths law and thew
have u1orl,ed IN The whole 90 fairly ana
u1aii +bot T AZ not +hinL ~ 10 u,isa 70
atta,,,,t 70 chovoa ~ ha+tar +hey,
-.
o'oe. ~os'
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 aid
the timber lands of the government.
Within these forests Qncludtng 26,O0O,OOO
acres In two forests in Alaska) are 1872
900, 900 Of acres, of which 166,00O,00O Of
acres are In the United States proper and
include within their boundaries some
thing like 220O0,000 Of acres that belong
to the state or to private individuals. We
have then, excluding Alaska forests,
total OF ABOUT l44,UuU,uOU dCTSS OIL LOEeSlS
belonging to the government which is
being treated in accord with the princi-
Piles of scientific forestry
80, 80 n S 10 n,,,v onesfourth Of ali the
t,r,har Az rest ha,ng in nrivate own
srshIr ,niv thrae ner cent Of that which
o. - or,,yota nyv,srsbin is loolrad aftar
nronariv and treated accordinr to mod
e., r,,Ias ~ forestry the usual de.
str,,ot,yo waste and neglect continues in
~ raro.,rder ~ tha forests owned nv
,n,,,atn rarso,,s and cornorations II is
a.t,,,.ataa tba Az alone DESTROYS s50 O0O :
ono worth ~ timber wear The
~ 10 ,er,ant ~ forests not on nublic
iana T. ta,,o,,a tba iur,sd,ction of the fed
araI eovarnmart n anvthinr can be done
~, 10 y, ~ rnnst he dome nv the state Leg
ts,at,,ras heI,eva that n is within their
corstitutional novver ~ require the en-
forcarnart AZ reg,,lations in the general
,,,,h1jc irtarast as ~ Are and other
causas ~ waste in the management Of
Sorasts owned nv nr,vafe individuals and
cornorations
nav, shown sufficientlv the conditions
&c 80 eederaI Forestry "a indicate that no
frrthar lIaqisIation ia needed at the mo-
mani axcant an Increase in the fre nro-
tactior ~ national forests and an act
S,astine tha ovacutiva With full mower n
malsa forest reservations In every state
where government land is timber-covered.
~ ,vhara the land IA needed for forestry
nurnoses
r.,t..d.
eos'
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 CLASH
- ana