The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-09-06

1t was found. moreover. that there
lnre many settlers who have been led
Into taking up lands with the hope aud
understanding of having water fur
Inished in a short time who are LETT IN
4 most distressing situation
Draining Swamp Lands.
Suggestions have been made that the
United States ought to aid In the
drainage of swamp lands belonging to
! the states or private owners, because
7 IL drained they would be exceedingly
valuable for agriculture and contribute
to the general welfare by extending the
area Of cultivation. deprecate the
agitation in favor Of such legislation.
1t Is inviting the general government
into contribution from fits treasury to-
ward enterprises that should be con-
Quoted either by private capital or at
the instance Of the state. In these
days there is a disposition to look too
much to the federal government for
everything.
am liberal In the construction OF
the constitution with reference to fed
eral power. but am firmly con-
WINGED that the only safe course for us
to pursue is to hold fast TO the hmita-
lions of the constitution and to regard
as sacred the powers Of the states.
We have made wonderful progress and
lat the same time have preserved with
judicial exactnesJ the restrictions or
the constitution. There is an easy way
I in which the constitution can be VIC
lated by congress without judicial In
lhibition-to wit, by appropriations
from the national treasury for uncon-
stitutional purposes. 1t will be sorry
day for this country II the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually disregarded In this
manner.
Our 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 re-
serve from entry and set aside pub
lie timberlands as national forests.
Speaking generally, there has been
reserved OF the existing forests about
20 per cent OF all the timberlands of
the government
Within these forests Qncludlng 90
100000 acres in two forests In Alas
ka) are 102. 100000 of acres. of which
166.O00,0o0 Of acres are in the United
States proper and include within their
boundaries something like 22.000,O00
of acres that belong TO the state or TO
private individuals. We have. then,
excluding Alaska forests, a tstal OF
about $4,000. 900 acres OF forests be-
longing 10 the government which Is
being treated in accord with the prin-
ciples Of scientific forestry.
The law now prohibits the reserva-
ton OF any more forests lands in
Oregon, Washington. Idaho. Montana.
Colorado aud Wyoming. except by act
of congress. am informed by the de-
partment Of agriculture that the gov
eminent owns other tracts of timber
land In these states which should be
Included IN the forest reserves.
expect TO recommend TO congress
that the limitation herein imposed
shall be repealed. In the present for
est reserve there are lands which are
not properly forest land and which
ought to be subject TO homestead en-
try. This has caused some local irri-
tation.
We are carefully eliminating such
lands from forest reserves OF, where
their elimination is not practicable,
listing them for entry under the forest
homestead act Congress ought to
trust the executive to use the power
of reservation only with respect to
land covered by timber or which will
be useful In the plan Of reforestation.
Another source Of profit in the for
estry Is the receipts for timber sold.
This year they amounted to S1.Ol3,OO
an increase Of 100000 over the re-
ceipts Of last year. This increase is
due to the improvement in transporta-
| ton to market ana 10 the greater facu-
fly with which the timber can be
reached
Neglect Of Timber.
The government timber in this coun-
try amounts TO only one-fourth Of all
the timber, the rest being in private
ownership. Only 3 per cent Of that
which is in private ownership Is look
ed after properly and treated accord
ing to modern rules Of forestry. The
usual destructive waste and neglect
continue In the remainder Of the for
ests owned by private persons and cor
porations.
1t is estimated that fire alone de.
stroys s50O00.oo0 worth Of timber a
year. The management Of forests not
on public land is beyond the juris-
diction OF the federal government.
II anything can be done by law II
must be done by the state legislatures.
believe that 1t is within their CON
| stitutional power to require the en-
forcement Of regulations in the gen
| eral public interest "a 70 fro and 9th