The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-09-15

LH
federal court of appeals not to be
usurpation of power. But certainly Thu
ought not to be done except from sur
Plu3 water, not needed for government
land. The total sum already accumula
ted in the reclamation fund is So, NS
25S..2, and of that all but Sc, 491, 1855. "a ha.
seen Amended It became very clear t.
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 or
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
in the near future. It 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 short time, who are
left in a 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 or 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 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, If
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 be conducted either
by private capital or 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 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 -
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-
tons from the national treasury for un-
constitutional purposes. 1t will be sorry
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
well 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 Cncluding $4,000, 900
acres in two forests I'm Alaska) are 1872
600, 900 Of acres, Of which 166,OOO,OO0 OF
acres are in the United States proper and
thing like 22,OOO0Oo Of acres that belong
to the state OF to private individuals. We
have then, excluding Alaska forests a
total of about IA, 000, 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-f6urth 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
900 worth of timber a year. The
MANAGEMENT of forests not ON public
land is beyond the jurisdiction of the fed
eral government If anything can be done
hv law it must be done by the state leg
islatures 1 believe that it is within their
constitutional power to require the en-
forcement of regulations in the general
public interest as to hre 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
vesting the executive with full power to
make forest reservations in every state
where government land is Undiscovered,
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
Il this administration they were cIass1-
fed coal lands amounting to SAG, 900
acres, and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes Of classification H.
S67 600 acres. Since that time there have
been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 77.64S000 acres making
a total withdrawal of 95.515,000 acres.
Meantime, of the acres thus withdrawn,
II, 81 900 have been classified and found
not to contain coal, and have been re-
stored to agricultural entry. and 1885, 900
acres have been classified as coal lands
while 797SS, 600 acres remain withdrawn
from entry and await classification. In
addition $4,000 acres have been classi-
fled as coal lands without prior withdraw
al, thus increasing the classified coal
lands tc 10,16S.00O acres.
Under the laws providing for the dispo-
sition Of coal lands, the minimum price
at which lands are permitted to be sold
is SO an acre; but the secretary Of the
interior has the power to fix a maximum
price and sell at that price. By the first
regulations governing appraisal, ap-