The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-09-09

| owners by the government Is held by the
| federal court of appeals not to be
usurpation 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 is $60,H8,-
| 25S22, and of that all but s6491, 955A has
| been expended. 1t became very clear to
| congress at its last session, from the
| statements made by experts. that these
| 30 projects could not be promptly com
| peted with the balance remaining on
hand or with the funds likely to accrue
| in the near future. 1t was found, more
| over, that there are many settlers who
| have been led into taking up lands with
| the hope and understanding 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 as
sured earnings by the projects, so 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 board of army en-
| gineers, to be appointed by the president
| should examine and determine to be
| 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. l deprecate the agi-
toti in fa Of LEGISLATION.
inviting the general government into
contribution from its treasury toward en-
terprises that should be conducted either
by private capital or at the instance OF
the state In these days there is dlspo-
sition to look too much to the federal
government for everything. | am liberal
In the construction Of the Constitution
with reference to federal power but
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 sacred the powers OF the
states We have made wonderful prog
ress and at the same time have pre-
served with judicial eXactness the re-
strctions of the Constitution. There is
an easy way in which the Constitution
can be violated by congress without
judicial inhibition. to-wit by appropria-
tions from the national treasury for I'M
constitutional purposes 1t will be n sorry
day for this country If the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitually disregarded in this
manner.
Mineral Lands.
BY mineral lands l mean those lands
bearing metals, or what are called metal
lferous 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
well that l do not think 1t Is wise to
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. 1t was probably the
ruthless destruction of forests In the
older states that first called attention to
a 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 Including 26,OOO,OOO
acres in two forests in Alaska) are w.
900 900 of acres, of which 166,000,OW OF
acres are in the United States proper ana
include within their boundaries some
thing like 22,0O0,O0O of acres that belong
to the state or to private individuals. we
have then, excluding Alaska forests a
total Of about 1440O0,OOo acres OF forests
belonging to the government which Is
being treated in accord with the prlnci-
pies of scientific forestry
The government timber In this coun-
try amounts to only one-fourth or all the
timber the rest being in private own
ership Only three per cent. OF that whlch
Is in private ownership is looked after
properly and treated according to mod
ern rules of forestry. The usual de-
structlve waste and neglect continues In
the remainder of the forests owned by
private persons and corporations. 1t Is
estimated that fire alone destroys SO,OW-
900 worth of timber year. me
MANAGEMENT of forests not on pubic
land is beyond the jurisdiction OF the red
eral government. If anything can be done
by law It must be done by the state leg
,slatures. I believe that It Is within their
constitutional power to require the en-
forcement of regulations in the general
public interest as to fire and other
causes of waste in the management OF
forests owned by private individuals ana
corporations
7 have shown sufficiently the conditions
as to federal forestry TO Indicate that no
further legislation Is neeueu At tIo iho-
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 is timber-covered.
or where the land is needed for forestry
purposes.
Coal Lands.
The next subject, and one most impor-
tant for our consideration, is the DISPOSE
ton of the coal lands in the United
States and In Alaska. First. as to those
in the United States. At the beginning
of this administration they were classi-
fed coal lands amounting to 5,F6NW
acres, and there were withdrawn from
entry for purposes of classification H.
S67 900 acres. Since that time there have
been withdrawn by my order from entry
for classification 77.64S0O0 acres, making
a total withdrawal of s55l5,00O acres.
Meantime, Of the acres thus withdrawn,
II, 81 900 have been classified and found
not to contain coal. and have been re-
stored to agricultural entry, and 4,S560OO
acres have been classified as coal lands;
while 79. 900 acres remain withdrawn
from entry and await classification. In
addition $4,000 acres have been classi-
fed as coal lands without prior withdraw
al thus increasing the classified coal
-