The Green Forest tribune., 1910-01-21

the public domain, the area of the home stead has been enlarged from 16G to 320 acres has resulted most beneficially in the extension or dry farming" and in the demonstration which has been made of the possibility, through variation in the character and mode of culture, of raising substantial crops without the presence of such a supply of water as has been heretofore thought to be neces- sary for agriculture.
 But there are millions of acres of com pletely arid land in the public domain which, by the establishment of reservoirs for the storing of water and the irri- gation of the lands, may be made much more fruitful and productive than the best lands in a climate where the mois- ture comes from the clouds. Congress recognized the importance of this method of artificial distribution of water on the arid lands by the passage of the reclama- tion act. The proceeds of the public lands creates the fund to build the works needed to store and furnish the neees- sary water, and it was left to the secre- tary of the interior to determine what projects should be started among those suggested and to direct the reclamation service. with the funds at hand and through the engineers in its employ, to construct the works.
 No one can visit the far west and the country of arid and semi-ard lands with out being convinced that this is one of the most important methods of the con- serVatlon of our natural resources that the government has entered upon. It would appear that over 30 projects have been undertaken, and that a few of these are likely to be unsuccessful be- cause of lack of water, or for other req sons, but generally the work which has been done has been well done, and many important engineering problems have been met and solved.
 Funds Inadequate for Service. One of the difficulties which has arisen is that too many projects in
 view of the available funds have been set on foot. The funds available under the reclamation statute are inadequate to complete these projects within n reasonable time. And yet the projects have been begun; settlers have been invited to take up and. in many in-
 stances, have taken up the public land within the projects. relying upon their
 prompt completion. The failure to complete the projects for their benefit is. in effect breach of faith and
 leaves them in a most distressed con dition. I urge that the nation ought to afford the means to lift them out of the very desperate condition in which they now are.
 This condition does not indicate any excessive waste or any corruption on the part of the reclamation service. It only indicates an over-zealOus desire to extend the benefit of reclamation to as many acres and as many states as possible. 1 recommend. therefore that authority be given to issue, not exceeding SS0,0OO.000 of bonds from time to time as the secretary of the interior shall find it necessary. the proceeds to be applied to the comple- tion of the projects already begun and their proper extension. and the bonds running ten years or more to be taken up by the proceeds of returns to the reclamation fund. which returns as the years go on. will increase rapidly in amount.
 There is no doubt at all that if these bonds were to be allowed to run ten years. the proceeds from the public lands. together with the rentals for water furnished through the completed enterprises. would quickly create a sinking fund large enough to retire the bonds within the time specified. hope that. while the statute shall pro- vide that these bonds are to be paid out of the reclamation fund. it will be drawn in such a way as to secure in tercSt at the lowest rate and that the credit of the United States will be pledged for their redemption.
 l urge consideration of the recom- mcudations of the secretary of the interior in his annual report for amendments of the reclamation act
 proposing other relief for settlers on thess projects.
 New Law Requisite.
 Respecting the comparatively small timbcred areas on the public domain not included in national forests because of their isolation or their special value for agricultural or mineral purposes, it is ap- parent from the evils resulting by vr- tue of the imperfections of existing laws fnr nft tir,,l, the acts of June 8, 1878, should be re- pealed and a law enacted for the dispo- sition of the timber at public sale, the lands after the removal of the timber to be subject to appropriation under the agricultural or mineral land laws.
 What I have said is really an epitome of the recommendations of the secretary of the interior in respect to the future conservation of the public domain in his present annual report. He has given close attention to the problem of disposi- tion of these lands under such conditions as to invite the private capital necessary to their development on the one hand and the maintenance of the restrictions necessary to prevent monopoly and abuse from absolute ownership the other These recommendations are incorporated in bills he has prepared, and they are at the disposition of the congress I earnest ly recommend that all the suggestions which he has made with respect to these lands shall be embodied in statutes and especially, that the withdrawals already made shall be validated so far as neces- sary and that doubt as to the authority of the secretary of the interior to with draw lands for the purpose of submitting recommendations as to future disposition of them where new Legislation is needed shall be made complete and unquestioned
 Disposition of Forest Reserves.
 The forest reserves of the United States, some 190 ,000, GOO acres in extent. are under the control of the department of agriculture. with authority adequate to preserve them and to extend their growth so far as that may be practica ble The importance of the maintenance of our forests cannot be exaggerated. The possi- bility of scientific treatment of forests so that they shall be made to yield large return in timber without really re- ducing the supply has been demonstrated in other countries. and should work toward the standard set by them as far as their methods are applicable to our conditions.
 Upwards of four hundred millions acres of forest land in this country are in pri- vate ownership. but only three per cent. of it is being treated scientifically and with a view to the maintenance of the forests The part played by the forests in the equalization of he supply of water on watersheds is a matter of discussion and dispute. but the general benefit to be derived by the public from the extension of forest lands on watersheds and the promotion of the growth of trees in places that are now denuded and that once had great flourishing forests. goes without saying The control to be eXer- cised over private owners in their treat ment of the forests which they own is matter for state and not national regu lation. because there is nothing in the constitution that authorizes the federal government to exercise any control over forests within a state. unless the forests