The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-09-09

usurpatfon OF power. But certainly this
ought not to Be done except from sur
plus water. not needed for government
land. The total sum already accumula-
ted in the reclamation fund 10 tDE3,-
esq. and Of that all but y. .e55 "a has
been expended. II became very clear to
congress 1t its last session. from the
statements made by experts. that these
projects could not be promptly COM
pleted with the balance remaining on
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
in the near future. II was found. more
over. that there are many settlers who
have been led into taking upelands with
water furnished in . short time, who are
left In . most distressing situation.
recommended to congress that authority
be given to the secretary OF the interior
to issue bonds In anticipation OF the as
sured earnings by the projects, 10 that
the projects, worthy and feasible. might
Be promptly completed, and the settlers
might be relieved from their present in
convenience and hardship. In authorizing
the issue Of these projects, congress lin
tied the application OF their proceeds to
those projects which q board OF army en-
gineers. to be appointed by the president.
should examine and determine to be
feasible and worthy Of completion. The
board has been appointed and soon will
make its 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, II
drained. they would be exceedingly val
liable for agriculture and contribute to
the general welfare by extending the
area of cultivation. I deprecate the agi-
tation In favor Of such legislation. It IL
inviting the general government into
49, 80
terprises that should be conducted either
by private capital or at the instance Of
the state. In these days there Is a dispo-
sition to look too much to the federal
government for everything. I am liberal
In the construction OF the Constitution
with reference to federal power: but I
am firmly convinced 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 prog
ress and at tho same time have pre-
served with judicial exactness the re-
strictions Of the Constitution. There is
an easy way in which the Constitution
can be violated by congress without
judicial inhibition, to-wit. by appropria-
tons from the national treasury for I'M
constitutional purposes. It will be a sorry
day for this country II the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually disregarded In this
manner.
Mineral Lands.
By mineral lands I mean those lands
bearing metals. or what are called metal
liferous minerals. The rules of owner
ship and disposition Of these lands were
first fixed by custom IN the west. and
then were embodied In the law. and they
have worked. on the whole. so fairly and
vVal1 that 4 IN mt ehirk "a IN
attempt to change or better them.
Forest Lands.
Nothing can be more important in the
matter of conservation than the treatment
Of our forest lands. II was probably the
ruthless destruction OF forests In the
older states that first called attention to
o halt In the waste Of our resources. This
was recognized by congress by an act
authorizing the executive to reserve from
entry and set aside public timber lands
as national forests Speaking generally.
there has been reserved of the existing
forests about seventy per cent of all
the timber lands of the government.
Within these forests Qncluding goo
acres In two forests In Alaska) are 1872
900. 900 Of acres, Of which 166.ooo.0t0 OF
acres are In the United States proper and
include within their boundaries some
thing like q, 100000 of acres that belong
to the state or to private individuals. We
have then, excluding Alaska forests. a
total of about IA. 900 900 acres of forests
belonging to the government which Is
being treated In accord with the princi-
pies OF scientific forestry.
The government timber In this coun-
try amounts to only one-sourth OF all the
timber. the rest being in private own
ership Only three per csct. of that which
is in private ownership Is looked after
properly and treated according to mod
ern rules OF forestry. Tho usual de-
structive waste and negfsct continues IN
the remainder OF the forests owned by
private persons and corporations. 1t IL
estimated that fire alone destroys sso,ooo.-
900 worth OF timber . year. The
management Of forests not on public
land Is beyond the jurisI< ton OF the fed
eral government. II anything can he done
by law Il must be done by the state leg
slatures. believe that It II within their
power to require the en-
forcement OF regulations In the general
causes of waste In the management OF
forests owned by private individuals and
corporations.
/ have shown suff,cientyy the conditions
as to federal forestry to Indicate that no
further legislation II needed at the mo-
ment except an increase IN the fire pro-
lection to national forests and an act
vesting the executive with full power to
make forest reservations In every state
where government land IL timber-covered.
or where the land IL needed for forestry
purposes.
Coal lande.
The next subject. and one most in,por-
tant for our consideration II the disposi-
ton OF the coal lands In the United
States and IN Alaska FIRST. Al to those
In tho United States. - the beginning
OF this administration they were classi-
ned coal lands amounting to s.<f6.ooo
acres. and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes OF classification H.
ss7 900 acres. Since that time there have
been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 77.6aS.Se acres. making
a total withdrawal OF a5.5l5.ooo acres.
Meantime. OF the acres thus withdrawn,
II. 81. 900 have been classified and found
not to contain coal. aud have been re-
stored to agricultural entry. and t.s5s0oo
acres have been classified as coal lands:
while u. 90 acres remain withdrawn
from entry and await classification. In
addition go. 600 acres have been elassi-
fed a. coal lands without prior withdraw
al. thus increasing the classified coal
lands to lol6S.000 acres.
Under the laws providing for the dispo-