The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-09-07

| the projects. worthy ard feasible. might
| be promptly completed. and the settlers
might tie 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 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 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. I am liberal
I'm the construction of the Constitution
with reference to federal power: but
am firmly convinced that the Only safe
course for Ifs 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-
tons from the national treasury for I'M
constitutional purposes. 1t viii, be- a sorry
day for this country II the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually disreSartied in this
manner.
Mineral Lands.
BY mineral lands I mean those lands
hearing metals. or what are called metal
lifcrous 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 faiGy and
well that I do not think il is wise to
attempt to change or better them.
Forest Lands.
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 cene. Of all
the timber lands OF the government.
Within these forests Hncluding $500. 90
acres in two forests in Alaskan are 49,
OoO.Up Of acres. OF which l66.00O.OC0 OF
acres are in the United States proper and
include within their boundaries some
thing like ee0o0Oo0 Of acres that belong
to the state or to private Individuals. We
have then. excluding Alaska forests. a
total Of about 14a.000.00a 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 ccun-
try amounts; to only One-fourth Of all the
timber. the rest being in private own
erslip. 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 IL
estimated that fire alone destroys So.0N.-
oNO 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
;slatures. believe that 1t is within their
constitutional power to require the en-
fOrcement Of regulations in the general
public interest. As {" fire and other
causes Of waste in the management Of
forests owned by private individuals and
corporations.
have shown sufficiently the conditions
as to federal forestry to indicate that no
further legislation il needed at the mo-
in
lection to national forests and an act
veSting the executive with full power tn
make forest reservations in every state
whcr. COVE rnmcnt land IL 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 5.4'6.0Qo
acres. and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes OF classification L.
s67 600 acres. Since that time there have
been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification T.64S.o0O acres. making
a total withdrawal Of a5.5l5.0Oo acres.
Meantime. OF the acres thus withdrawn.
1l.3.l. 600 have been classified and found
not to contain coal. and have been re-
stored to agricultural entry. and IS 600
acres have been classified as coal lands:
while .S.1SsO00 acres remain withdrawn
from entry and await classification. In
addition n. coo acres have been classi-
fied as coal lands without prior withdraw
al. thus increasing the classified coal
lands to IL. lSS.00O acres.
Under the laws providing for the dispo-
u. Hho
at which lands are permitted to be sold
Is SO an acre: but the secretary OF the
interior has the power to fix q maximum
price and sell at that price. BY the first
regulations governing appraisal. ap-
proved April :. 1907, the minimum was So
as provided by law. and the maximum
was $780, and the highest price actually
placed upon any land sold was So. Tn
der the new regulations adopted April n.
1909. the maximum price was increased to
$50. except in regions where there are
large mines. where no maximum limit Is |
fixed and the price is determined by the |
estimated tons Of coal to the acre. The |
highest price fixed for any land under |
this regulation has been $66. The an
praisa! value of the lands classified as
coal lands and valued under the new and !
old regulations Is shown to be as follows:
SOC. 92l acres. valued under the old resu-
lations at $U.SA.39. an average Of SIS an
acre: and 5.S641e acress classified and
valued under the new regulation Al $39i-
ed3. "a. or total of 1oi5S.6c3 acres. val
ued II $i.l.Si..5.l. |
For the year ending March 81. 1873. 80 |
coal entries We're made. embracing an
area OF a.S3l acres. which sold for $685. \
'1" ~. For the year ending March 81
1910. there were l.6 entries. embracing an !
She Was Settled.
Mrs. Uppson-I don't want another
giddy girl. Can't you get me a settlos ,