The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-09-05
SEN. NELSON
ON BAD Law
He Would Repeal Many
of the Land Laws
Now in Force

ST. Paul. Mimi, Sept 5.-Senator
knute Nelson of Minnesota. prclaccd
a careful review Of public land acts
by the statement that the natural re-
sources OF the country should be con-
served BY the individual. the state and
the national goyernment-the farmer
his soil; the state its lands, its Tor.
ests and its waters. and the federal
government the resources Of its
mines. its forests and it's lands with
their appurtenanceS.
He then sketched the situation at
the close of the revolution when tho
money-poor. land-Tlch government
sought 10 dispose OF is lands. Tho
well-meant laws enacted however, ro-
suited in small gain TO the county,
and big profit TO spectators. who did
not hesitate at shady methods to in
crease their wealth.
The law allowing lands to be Sc
cured at private entry was repealed
in 1889. and the Law allowing public
sales was repealed In 1891, he said.
The pre-empt'on law was also repeal
ed the same year. These laws mad
proved as administered. 70 be mors
valuable to the land grabbcrs anu mo
speculator than 10 thc actual settler
and homc-builder
I'm 1874. an act was passed TO en-
courage the growth OF timber on tho
western prairies, In its practical op-
erations the law proved failure and
II was finally repealed>ia 1891. with
some saving provisions Tor existing
claims"
The act passed in 1862, giving 10
each state thirty thousand acres OF
land for every senator and reDrcsen-
tatiye in congress for The purpose of
establishing and maintaining aGgicul-
rural and mechanical colleges. also
did the country little good. the speak
er said He continued.
I'm 1878, congress passed the so
called timber and stone act. original
ly detailed to four western states, but
the act OF 1892 extended TO all the
public land states Much valuablc
land. suitable for agricultural puT-
poses. has been entered under tho
law, and enormous quantities OF our
most valuable timber lands have been
secured. by fraudulent methods, by
the great timber spectators under
its provisions. employed scores and
hundreds OF men and women 10 en-
ter valuable timber lands, worth from
$40 To 500 per acre. At $3.50 per
acre. and Immediately after entry,
for a limited compensation, secured
transfer OF the land to themselves
pursuant 10 prior understanding and
agreement. Some five years ago the
senate passed bill repeating the
act but II failed TO pass in the house
OF representatives Since then the In
terror department has come TO our
relief In this matter. The law fixed
the minimum price at $3.50 per acre.
but did not prohibit the government
from charging more. In November,
1908. the interior department adopted
the rule and policy OF appraising the
land. subject 10 entry under the act
and selling the same at the appraised
value which is much higher in most
instances than the minimum price OF
the statute This new policy, which
IS still adhered to. hns checked the
fraudulent speculation In these lands
and has given the government a much
higher price for the land entered.
Over 600 900 acres have been so en-
tered. Notwithstanding this valuable
relief. am still of the
opinion that the law should he re-
pealed 10 the end that The timber
and stone may he disposed OF at fair
or and more reasonable prices and
"In 1862. congress passed the home
stead Law. This law. as you know,
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