The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-14


been mat and solved
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 un-
der the reclamation statue are made
quate to complete these projects, with
in a reasonable time. And vet the
projects have been begun; settlers
have been invited to take up and i'm
many instances, have taken up the
public land within the projects, re-
lying upon their prompt completion.
The failure to complete the projects
for their benefit is, in effect, a breach
of faith and leaves them in most
distressing condition. / urge that ma
nation ought to afford the means to
lift them out of the very desperate
condition in which they arenow. This
condition does not indicate that any
excessive waste or any corruption on
the part Of the reclamation service.
1T only indicates an over jealous de-
sire to extend the benefit of reclama-
ton to as many acres and as MANY
states as possible. recommend, there
fore that authority be given to issue,
not exceeding $50, 100000 of bonds from
time to time, as the ,ecretary of the
interior shall find it necessary, the pro-
ceeds to be applied to the compile
ton 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 complet-
ed enterprises, would quickly create
sinking fund large enough to retire
the bonds within the time specified.
hope, that while the statute shall
provide that these bonds are to be
paid out of the reclamation fnud, 1t
will be drawn in such a way as to
secure interest at the lowest rate and
that the credit of the United States
will be pledged for their redemption.
urge consideration of the recon-
mendations of the secretary of the i'm
terror in his annual report for amend
ments of the reclamation act, propos-
ing other relief for settlers on these
projects.
Small Timbered Areas.
Respecting the comparatively small
timbered areas on the public domain
not included in national forests be-
cause of their isolation or their special
value for agricultural or mineral DUR
poses, it is apparent from the evils
resulting by virtue of the imperfec-
tons of existing laws for the DISPOSE
ton of timber lands that the acts of
June 3, 1873, should be repealed and
a law enacted for the disposition 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 / have said is really an cpl
time 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 disposition 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 neces-
sary to prevent monopoly and abuse
from absolute ownership on the other.
These recommendations ere incorpor-
ated in the bills ne has prepared, and
they are at the disposition of the
congess. / earnestly recommend that
all the suggestions which he has
made, with respect to these lands shall |
be embodied in statutes, and, espe- |
ciaIly, that the Withdrawals already
made shall be validated; far as neces- |
sary and that doubt as to the author |
~ Of NhA fsaw ~ G.,A-
withdraw lands for tine purpose of |
submitting recommendations as to
future disposition to them where new |
legislation is needed shall be made |
complete and unquestioned.
Must Maintain Forests.
The forest reserves or the United |
States, some 19O,O00,O00 acres In ex- |
tent, are under the control of the de- |
partment of agriculture, with author |
ity adequate to preserve them and to |
extend their growth; far as that may |
be practicable. The importance of the |
maintenance of our forests cannot be |
exaggerated.
The possibility OF scientific treat |
ment of forests in order that they
shall be made to yield a large return |
in timber without really reducing the /
supply has been demonstrated in other
countries and we should work toward /
the standard set by them as far as
their methods are applicable to our
conditions.
Upwards of 40O,0OO0OO acres of for
est land in this country are in private |
ownership, but only per cent of 1t
is being treated scientifically and with /
view to the maintenance of the for
ests. The part played by the forests
in the equalization of the supply of |
water on watersheds is a matter of |
discussion and dispute, but the gen
eral benefit to be derived by the pub
lie from the extension of forest lands
on watersheds and the promotion OF |
the growth of trees in places that are
now deunded and that once had great
flourishing forests, goes without say
ing. The control to be exercised over
private owners in their treatment of
the forests which they own is a mat
ter for state and not national regula-
ton, because there is nothing in the
constitution that authorizes the fed i
eral government to exercise any con-
troll over forests within a state, I'M
less the forests are owned in a pro- i
prietary way by the federal govern
ment.
Improve Waterways.