The Green Forest tribune., 1910-09-09

cost or profit of this water to private owners by the government is held by the fedora! court of appeals not to be a 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 accumula- ted In the reclamation fund is $6O 273,- ZoS.22 and of that all but S6 491 ,955 34 has been expended. It became very clear to congress at it's last session, from the statements made by experts that these 30 projects could not be promptly com pleted with the balance remaining on 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 jed into taking up lands with the hope and understanding of having water furnished in a short time, who are left In most distressing situation. I 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 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 uable for agriculture and contribute to the general welfare by extending the area of cultivation. I deprecate the agl- ta fD nP rah 1aoriCI Tt Ie inviting the general government into contribution from its treasury toward en- terprises that should be conducted either by private capital or at tse instance of the state. In these days there Is a dispo- sitfon 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 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 It will be a 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 lferous minerals. The rules of owner ship and disposition of these lands 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 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. It was probably the ruthless destruction of forests In the older states that first called attention to 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 26o00,00O acres in two forests in Alaska) are 192,- GOO. 900 of acres, of which 166.00o000 of acres are in the United States proper and include within their boundaries some thing like 22,OO00 coo of acres that belong to the state or to private individuals. We have then excluding Alaska forests, total of about 144,000G00 acres of forests belonging to the government which Is being treated in accord with the princl- ples 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 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 It Is estimated that fire alone destroys s5O0oO,- 900 worth of timber year The management of forests not on pubic land is beyond the jurisdiction of the fed eral government If anything can be done by law 1t must be done by the state leg ,slatures. I believe that 1t Is within their constitutional power to require the en- forcement of regulations in the general public interest. as to fire and other causes of waste In the management or forests owned by private individuals and corporations
 T 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 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 classi- fled coal lands amounting to 5,476,OO acres and there were withdrawn from entry for purposes of classification IT, S67 900 acres Since that time there have been withdrawn by my order from entry for classification 77,64S.000 acres. making a total withdrawal of 95,5l5.OOO acres. Meantime, of the acres thus withdrawn, Il, ,371 ,000 have been classified and found not to contain coal. and have been re- stored to agricultural entry, and 495G,000 acres have been classified coal lands; while 79, ,7SS 900 acres remain withdrawn from entry and await classification. In addition 336, coo acres have been classl- fled as coal lands without prior withdraw al. thus increasing the classified coal lands to 10 16S,O00 acres.
 Under the laws providing for the dispo- sition of coal lands, the minimum price at which lands are permitted to be sold is s10 an acre; but the secretary of the interior has the power to fix maximum price and sell at that price, By the first regulations governing appraisal, ap> proved April 8, 1907, the minimum was s10, as provided by law. and the maximum was s1O0 and the highest price actually placed upon any land sold was S75. Un- der the new regulations, adopted April 10. 1909, the maximum price was increased to s3OO except in regions where there are large mines, where no maximum limit Is fixed and the price Is determined by the