Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-15

tons Of the secretary of the interior in his
annual report for amendments Of the recla-
nation act, proposing other relief for set
tiers on these projects.
Forestry Laws.
Respecting the comparatively small tim
bered areas on the public domain not in
cluded in national forests because OF their
isolation or their special value for agri-
culture or mineral purposes, it is apparent
from the evils resulting by virtue of the
imperfections of existing laws for the dis
position OF timber lands that the acts OF
June 3, 1878, should be repealed and a law
enacted for the removal of the timber to be
subject to appropriation under the agricul-
ture or mineral lands laws. h ! have
said is really an epitome of the recon-
mendations 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 necessary to prevent monopoly
and abuse from absolute ownership on the
other. These recommendations are incor-
porated in bills he has prepared, and they
are at the disposition of the congress. /
earnestly recommend that all the sugges-
tlons which he has made with respect to
these lands shall be embodied in statutes,
and especially; that the Withdrawals al
ready made shall be validated SO far as
necessary and that the authority of the
secretary Of the interior TO Withdraw
lands for the purpose of submitting
recommendation as to future disposition
- 49,. .yho,a gagigIatInn fu nAadad
shall be made complete and unquestioned.
The forest reserves of the United States,
some 100, OOO, 900 acres in extent, are under
the control OF the Department of Agricul-
ture. with authority adequate to preserve
them and TO extend their growth so far
that may De practicable, The Importance
Of maintenance OF our forest cannot be
exaggerated. The possibility OF a scientific
treatment 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.
Privately Owned TimBer.
Upwards Of 400, coz, 600 acres OF forest land
in this country are In private ownership.
49, oAAS lhAoo pei cent u IL 10 ASihS TREATED
scientifically and with a view to the
maintenance Of the forests, The part played
by the forests in the equalization OF the
supply OF water on water sheds 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 Furnishing forests, goes
without saying. The control TO be exercised
over private owners In their treatment OF
the forests which they own is a matter for
state and not national regulation, because
there Is nothing in the constitution that
authorizes the federal government TO
exercise any control over forests within a
state, unless the forests are owned in a
proprietary way by the federal government
II has been proposed and a bill for the
purpose passed the lower house in the last
congress, that the national government APP
propriate q certain amount each year out