Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-29


that II the emigration 81 the younger
generation TO canada and Mexico was
TO he prevented. everything possible
must be done to develop and make
avHiiable for settlement the lands
within our own boundaries
Mr.. Potter said IL WAS the aim OF
rhe national forest service to have
every acre OF land in the national
forests used for tho purpose for which
Il is best adapted, TO this end. he
said, a careful reorganization Of the
boundaries Of All national forests was
made last year. and recommendation
were promulgated fer the elimination
OF all lands hest suited for agriculture
along the exterior boundaries Of the
forests. The total area OF these elm
nations. Ia added, would reach APP
proximatelY G.250.900 acres. some Of
ii very rough and much suitable only
for grazing
A perplexinR problem appeared Mt.
Potter said. in tho demand in some
localities for the elimination Of lands
ncN covered with valuable timber.
but sufficiently Ievel and of sufficient
GeJ1h OF soil for agricultural use, If
the timber were removed. The qties-
ton Is not only that 81 the relative
ynlue Of the land for agricultural u
for forest purposes. but the p%robabiii-
lies rs to whether q viii really be
used for agricultural purposes if a.
lowed to pass into private oWuership.
''Concoding that, ln general asfl-
cultural use, which c~Ontelnplates the
esta Adjustment Of homes uTon The land,
Il "a higher use than forest use, con
tInued the associate forester. Eve are
confronted with the fact that although
the land may be taken By the settler
with the intention OF establishing his
home upon il. &c the value of the mcr-
chantahlo timber on the land is
greater than the value at The land for
agricultural purposes, the chances are
IN favor of its passing into the hands
Of the saWmili men or lnfge owners ot
timber lands instead 81 being retained
hv the original settler and used Tor
agricultural purposes.
AS an Illustration. Mr.. Potter cited
the elimination Of 4U5,090 acres of
land from the olympic national forest
10 1900 and 1901. as being valuable
chiefly for agriculture, and because
further settlement Of that section of
the country would he prevented n II
were not eliminated Of this arca.
ACCORDING "a MI. Potter's figures, Is
100 acres reverted 10 the government,
tho state secured ta2,60p acres, %
Wing idle. and all ~ o26f520 acres
passed 10 private owners, Of which the
latter amount thirty~one individuals
and corporations own afS.640 acres,
while small owners aud original loca-
tors. purely as d timber investment.
hold 20a,0So acres. These lands
amounting to q total 81 522,120 acres,
are now lYine absolutely idle.
Thig does not Indicate much prog
ress N the bona fide settlement Of the
country said Nh. Potter. y tim :
her claims held hy 700 settlers, the
total area under cultivation is only
$40 acres, or an average OF 90 acres
10 each claim An examination %!
timber hands taken hy homestead
settlers. he added. showed clearly that
a verS large portion has o been cul~
flVated, Unit iins been sold for its tim
her or abandoned after tho timber had
been sold and cut from the lane
1t Is economically wasteful 70
clear hand Tor farmiag where q farm
viii not DE permanent. ne continued.
"A uomad farmer with q trail OF
used-up land behind him impover-
lehes. not e%nrivhcs, the country
The various laws enacted in the I'M
terest OF the uational'forests were eN-
blamed bv MIR. Potter, lie told of
the acts leading np TO the passage OF
tho forest homestead law. providing
FOR the settlement nt the agricultural
lands. This law, first ot an, he
said, placed upon the secretary Of
agriculture the responsibility of deter
mining which of the lands were chiet-
liz valuable for agriculture % might
ne occupied FOR agricultural purposes
without injury 10 the forest reserves
and which We're not needed for public
purposes
The secretary az agriculture he
..AHt.ssnl fH4w. rN. 4a.fsIe4. at his dis
erection requires that ouiN lands which
can be cultivated win be listed Under
the forest homestead law, but whor-
ever thure is adjacent land witch Is
valuable only for graline purposfs,
the listiug of an area of ertAinA lnnd
sQuai TO that ot the CultiNanle lands
is allowed. providing tho entire area
does not exceed LOO acres
Up Go june go. 1870 continued
tie associate forester. applications
had hoen received from tt.1GI per-
SONS for the listing of lands under the
provisions eft the forest homestead
law. or these. ASA have Teen re-
iectcd because thc land applied Tor
WAS found To- he chiefly valuable Tor
its timber or WAS needed for pubic
purposes, and e,1ae applications hpve
been Withdrawn. A totai oi 'bAt
applications covering An aren OF b-o,-
p 4a acres. having NttH NIIi'NfN anu
the land recommended for listing. Thc
lands applied FOR in the remaining
4,t10 applications have not set hoen
examined on recount uf the inability
of the limited number OF men await
able to meet the growing demand for
ihoir services. but Il U.s. expected That
favorable action viii he taken in ID
large number al Those otscH
"tt is not tile purpose nl uio DEPART
ment of agriculture 90 open all rul-
tiyable timber lands to entry lmmedi-
Htols anon the removal ol the timber
in excess Of San amount equal 20 tle
s~srIeuitural value OF the land, said
Nr. Potter. ina ~concludinr unless "a
b. evident that the land win Doe per-
manenuY moro valuable Tor ngriDul-
faral isc than Tor forest purposes. but
special attention ls being given Tao the
working out af 90 practical solution 90
th. urohlom which presents itself in
determining the agricultural values of
,uitisahie tlmhcr bands i order that
jast gs last as thore ia q BONA iitie de-
niand Tor tho occupancy ot those lands
hv actual -.tflers who win mako
tholf BONES upon them. the lands may
ue avail aNle for the use which VIII DO
the most toward Tie development ot
th. country and thr most for the pcr-
m4ueuI good of all The people.