The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-05

the ground from the surface and per-
hitting homestead entries upon the
surface of the land. which, when per-
fected, give the settler the right to
farm the surface, while the coal be-
meath the surface is retained In own
ership By the government and may be
',isposed of by it under other laws.
There is no crying need for radical
rsforn in the methods of disposing Of
what are really agricultural lands.
The present laws have worked well.
The enlarged homestead law has en-
couraged the successful farming OF
lands in the semiarid regions. OF
course the teachings of the agricul-
tIIral department as to how these sub
arid lands may be treated and soil
preserved for useful culture are OF the
very essence of conservation.
Then conservation of agricultural
lands is shown In the reclamation OF
arid lands by irrigation, and should
devote q few words to what the gov
ernmcnt has done and Is doing in this
regard.
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-
tndes. from which, by 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 q price sufficient
to pay for the improvements.
The total sum already accumulated
IN the reclamation fund Is $G0s2T3,-
25S.22, and of that all but $G,4o1, 955.34
has been expended. 1t became very
clear to congress at it's last session,
from the statements made by experts,
that these thirty projects could not be
promptly completed with the balance
remaining on hand or with the funds
hkely.to accrue in the near future.
It was found, moreover, that there
are many settlers who have been led
into taking up lands with the hope and
understanding Of having water fur
nished in a short time who are left In
most distressing situation.
Draining Swamp Lands.
Suggestions have been made that the
United States ought to aid in the
drainage 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. l deprecate the
agitation in favor Of such legislation.
1t is inviting the general government
into contribution from its 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 a disposition to look too
much to the federal government for
everything.
am liberal in the construction Of
the constitution with reference to fed
eral power, but / am firmly con-
WINGED that the only safe course for US
10 pursue is to hold fast to the lirhita-
lions of the constitution and to regard
as sacred the powers of the states.
we hsvs made wonderful progress and
at the same time have preserved with
judicial exactnes5 the restrictions Of
the constitution. There. is an easy way
! m which the constitution can be VIC
lated by congress without judicial in
hibftien--to wit, by appropriations
from the national treasury for uncon-
stftutional ruroos IS. 1t win be sorry
day for this country IL the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact
shall be habitnaIly disregsrded in this
manner.
Our 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 cur resources.
This was recognized by congress by
an act authorizing the executive to re-
serve from entry and set aside pub
Lie timberlands as national forests.
Speaking generally, there has been
reserved Of the existing forests about
20 per cent Of all the timberlands Of
the government.
Within these forests Qncluding g.
100000 acres in two forests in Alas
ka) are 192,00o,000 Of acres, Of which
10000, 900 Of acres are in the United
States proper and include within their
boundaries something like $4,000 900
OF acres that belong to the state or to
private individuals. We have, then.
excluding Alaska forests, a total Of
about 144,00e,6 900 acres of forests be
longing to the government which Is
being treated in accord with tho prin
ciples OF scientific forestry.
The law now prohibits the reserva
ton OF any more forests lands in
Oregon, washington, Idaho, Montana,
colorado and Wyoming, except by act
Of congress. am informed by the de-
partment of agriculture that the gov
eminent owns other tracts OF timber
land in these states which should be
Included In the forest reserves.
expect to recommend to congress
that the limitation herein imposed
shall be repealed. In the present for
est reserve there are lands which are
not properly forest land and which
ought to be subject to homestead EN-.
try. This has caused some local irri-
tation.
We are carefully eliminating such
lands from forest reserves or, where
their elimination ia not nroctieahla