The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-01-28
GRAFTERS find
METHODS EASY

A specia. to the Oregonlan from
olympia, Wash, says:
The Pinchot-Garfeld scheme, plan
ned as a method of conservation of
the public lands and preventing
fraud, is responsible for the fact that
the Federal Government no longer re-
quires five years residence on the
land and cultivation to those who
want to obtain agricultural property.
Like the operations of every sother
plan proposed by these ex-members
of the famous "tennis cabinet" their
regulations to prevent fraudulent &C
quirement of Government lands by
dishonest applicants made things cas-
Ter for the dishonest and have placed
hardships upon the honest claimant.
Tho Goldfeld regulations proposed
by Pinchot governing timber and
stone entries, now in force, have op
Grated to prevent the man of small
means from ever making "stake"
with a timber entry and have turned
over the forests to the wealthy tim
Der interests who have the money to
locate them with railroad script after
the Government has gone to the ex-
pense of making a careful cruise.
Now the "wise ones" are using these
same timber and stone entry regula-
tons to get homesteads without any
restrictions of residence and cultiva-
ton.
KNOWLEDGE BECOMES GENERAL.
Inspection of the notices now be-
ing printed in the newspapers of the
state of intention of applicants to
make final proof this spring at the
Federal Land Offices in Washington,
shows how general the knowledge of
show to beat the gate" has become.
The new regulations provide that
when one files under the timber and
stone act and deposits the initial fee
of $40 the government will put into
the field cruisers, who as soon as
possible, report in detail the timber
on the property, which is then APP
praised If the cruise shows a big
stand of timber, the applicant prompt
ly relinguishes his entry and locates
the land with railroad script.
Suppose, however, the land sought
is a fine bit of agricultural land.
Under the homestead laws one would
have to live on the land five years,
cultivate it and make improvements
and comply with special regulations.
Those who know better, though, do not
take land now under the homestead
law.
Even though they know there is no
timber on the land they make timber
and stone entry just the same. Then
the Government cruisers come showing
timber valued at nothing; land val
ued at $3.50 per acre"
Two courses arc then opened to the
surprised" applicant, both of which
have been successfully operated. If
conditions are right he surrenders
his timber and stone entry and asks,
based on the Government cruise, that T
The land be offered at auction as an
Isolated tract. If no other bidder is
On hand when the sale is had, he can
bid it in and get immediate title for
S1.25 an acre. 1t is then his abso-
utely, to dispose of as he sees fit.
The poor homesteader has to wait
i've years after he goes on tho land
before he gets title and can sell.
RESIDENCE is UNNECESSARY.
The other and more general plan,
iue to the fact that the isolated tract
equations do not often apply, is for
he applicant to go on with his timber
and stone entry. He simply paws
700 an acre, proves up and gets his
inal Receivers receipt and the land
3 his.
Why bother with five years. resi-
fence and all the restrictions when
his plan has been SO nicely prepared
~ ex-Secretary of the Interior James
(. Garfield at the admitted suggestion
u ex-Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot?
OF course, the affidavit one has to
make with his application under the
imber and stone act may not appeal
o an absolutely honest man-but then
'ossibly the applicant really believed
When ne made it the land was more
'aluable for its timber than as apr;.
nltural property and did not learn
letter until the surprising cruise was
made by the Governments experts
Anyway the new regulations in
many instances are ACCOMPLISHING
leither better revenues to tho Gov.
rnment from its timber areas nor
ne placing of agricultural lands in
nc possession of actual settlers.
OF COURSE IT WAS HARD
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