Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-14

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. l
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 ecure in
terest at the lowest rate, and that the
credit of the United States will be
pledged for their redemption.
l urge consideration OF the recon-
mendationst of the secretary of the in
terror in his annual report for amend
ments Of the reclamation act, proposing
other relief for settlers on these prof.
ects. S
Respecting the comparatively small
timbered areas on the public domain
not included in national forests because
of their isolation or their special value
for agricultural or mineral purposes, II
is apparent from the evils resulting by
virtue of the imperfections of existing
laws for the disposition of timber lands
that the acts of June 3, 1878, should be
repealed and q law enacted for the dis
position of the timber at public sale,
the lands after the removal of the tim
Der to be subject to appropriation un-
der the agricultural or mineral land
laws.
Endorses BslIinxer's Plans
What 1 have said is really an epitome
of the recommendations of the secre-
+o~x, 30 A. ;ata-;ar IN roenoof 20 thu
future conversation of the public do
main in his present annual report. He
has given close attention to the prob
lem of disposition of these lands under
such conditions as to invite the private
capita, necessary to their development
on the hand and the maintenance
of the restrictions necessary to prevent
monopoly and abuse from absolute own
ership on the other. These recommen-
dations are incorporated in bills he
has prepared, and they are at the dis
position of the Congress. / earnestly
recommend that all the suggestions
which he has made with respect to these
lands shall be embodied in statutes,
and, especially, hat the withdrawals
already made shall be validated 50 far
as necessary and that doubt as to the
authority of the secretary of the interior
to withdraw lands for the purpose of
submitting recommendations as to
future disposition of them where new
legislation is needed shall be made COM
plete and unquestioned.
The forest reserves of the United
States, some 100, 900, 900 acres in extent
are under the control of the department
of agriculture, with authority adequate
to preserve them and to extend theil
growth so far as that may be prac-
ticable. The Importance Of the main
tenance of our forests cannot be *.
aggerated. The possibility of a scien'
tific treatment of forests so h a they
shall be made to Weld a large return IL
timber without really reducing the sup
ply has been demonstrated in othel
countries, and we should work TOWARD
the standard set by them as far a.
their methods are applicable to oul
conditions.
Upwards of 400, 900. 900 acres of fores'
land in this country are In private
ownership, but only43 per cent. of 1t Il
being treated scientifically and Will
a view TO the maintenance of tn,
forests. The part played by the forest
in the equalization of the supply O
water on watersheds is a matter 0
discussion and dispute, but the genera
benefit 10 be derived by the puoli'
from the extension of forest lands Of
watersheds and the promotion of TIL
growth of trees in places that are nov
denuded and that once had great
f1%ourishing forests. goes without saying
The. control to be exercised over privat'