The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-05
IN BATTLE ARRAY.
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once in his lifetime. may acquire 100
acres of land, II it has valuable timber
on 1t or valuable stone, by paying the
price of not less than $3.50 per acre.
fixed after examination of the stone or
timber by a government appraiser. In
times past a great deal of fraud has
been perpetrated in the acquisition of
lands under this act; but 1t is now be-
ing much more strictly enforced and
the entries made are so few in num-
Der that 1t seems to serve no useful
purpose and ought to be repealed
The present congress passed bill
of great Importance, severing the own.
ership of coal by the government in
the ground from the surface and per-
hitting homestead entries upon the sur
face Of the land, which, when perfect
ed, give the settler the right to farm
the surface, while the coal beneath the
surface is retained in ownership by the
government and may be disposed of
by it under other laws.
There is no crying need for radical
reform in the methods of disposing OF
what are really agricultural lands. The
present laws have worked well. The
enlarged homestead law has encourag-
ed the successful farming of lands in
the semiarid regions. OF course the
teachings of the agricultural depart
ment as to how these subar1d lands
may be treated and the soil preserved
for useful culture are of the very es-
sence of conservation. Then conserva-
ton of agricultural lands is shown in
the reclamation of arid lands by irri-
cation and should devote few words
to what the government has done and
is doing in this regard
Reclamation.
BY the reclamation act a fund has
been created of the proceeds of the
public lands of the United States with
which to construct works for storing
great bodies of water at proper alti-
tudes from which, by a suitable sys-
tenn of canals and bitches. the water
is to be distributed over the arid and
subarid lands of the government to be
sold to settlers at a price sufficient to
pay for the Improvements. Primar-
lily, the projects are and must be for
the Improvement Of public lands. In
cidentally, where private land is also
within the reach of the water supply,
the furnishing at cost or profit of this
water to private owners by the gov
eminent is held by the federal court of
appeals not to be a usurpation of
power. But certainly this ought not
to be done except from surplus water,
not needed for government land.
About 80 projects have been set on
foot distributed through the public
land states in accord with the statute,
by which the alIotments from the
reclamation fund are required to be as
near as practicable in proportion to
the proceeds from the sale of the pub
lie lands in the respective states. The
total sum already accumulated in the
reclamation fund is &60,273, 258.22, and
of that all but $6.491.955.34 has been
expended. 1t became very clear to
congress at its last session. from the
statements made by experts, that these
80 projects could not be promptly
completed with the balance remaining
on hand or with the funds likely to
accrue in the near future. 1t was
found, moreover. that there are many
ing up lands with the hope and under
standing of having water furnished in
a short time. who are left in a most
distressing situation. l recommended
to congress that authority be given to
the secretary of the Interior to issue
bonds in anticipation of the assured
earnings by the projects, so that the
projects, worthy and feasible, might be
promptly completed, and the settlers
might be relieved from their present
inconvenience and hardship In au-
thorizing the issue of these bonds,
congress limited the application of
their proceeds to those projects which
board of army engineers, to be ap-
pointed by the president. should ex-
anime and determine to be feasible and
been appointed and soon will make it's
report.
Suggestions have been made that the
United States ought to aid in the drain
age of swamp lands belonging to the
states or private owners, because, if
drained, they would be exceedingly
valuable for agriculture and contribute
to the general welfare by extending the
area of cultivation. I deprecate the
agitation in favor of such legislation.
1t is inviting the general government
| into contribution from it's treasury to-
/ ward enterprises that should be con-
| Quoted either by private capital or at
the instance of the state. In these days
there is disposition to look too much
| to the federal government for every
thing. 1 am liberal in the construc-
ton of the constitution with reference
to federal power; but 1 am firmly con-
WINGED that the only safe course for
| us to pursue is to hold fast to the
| limitations of the constitution and to
regard as sacred the powers of the
| states. We have made wonderful
| progress and at the same time have
| preserved with judicial exactness the
restrictions of the constitution. There
| is an easy way in which the constitu-
ton can be violated by congress with
| out judicial inhibition, towit, by ap-
preparations from the national treas
| ury for unconstitutional purposes 1t
will be sorry day for this country IL
| the time ever comes when our funda-
| mental compact shall be habitually
| disregarded in this manner.
Mineral Lands.
BY mineral lands mean those lands
bearing metals. or what are called