East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-01-10

stick of this vast forest cut and sawed |
if the present demand keeps up.
State Forest.
When this state was admitted to |
the union it was given two sections
16 and 36) in each township by the
federal government to aid in the sup
port of its common schools. The fed
eral laws provide that If the state
loses any of the said lands by reason
of their being covered by homestead
or mineral entries. or on account of
| township being fractional, it may Sc
| lect other unappropriated government
| lands to satisfy such losses, and they
| further provide that If any of the said
| lands should be included within the
| boundaries of federal reserves the
state may surrender title to the gov
ernment and select an equal amount
of other unappropriated lands. These
tracts for which the state is entitled
| to indemnity are called base lands
or base" The state has, since its
admission to the union used for Sc
lections several hundred thousand
acres of base, but has about $4,000
| acres still remaining for which 1t is
entitled to indemnity.
1t is my duty as governor of this
state to satisfy the said losses by the
selection of other vacant government
lands. 1t is my purpose, however, in
stead of following the present prac-
tice, which is to select only when
request for a selection Is made and an
application to purchase filed, to ar
range il possible with the federal gov
ernment for the satisfaction of ell
these losses at once and by the selec-
ton of a tract of land in body some
where in the Cascade forest reserve.
The tract should, If possible, be Sc
lected SO as to cover a stream con-
tanning undeveloped water power, AMI
should be withdrawn from sale by the
legislature and turned over to the
state conservation commission, the
state agricultural college or the state
university. whichever is best equipped
to handle it. Under proper supervi-
sion the matured timber could be
marketed, the lands re-forested, and
1 water power developed, all of which
in time would be a source of revenue
to the state or colleges.
= This state forestry system could be
further extended by arranging for
: the turning over to the state agricul
: tural college and state university all
lands, other than city property, SUBJ
ject to sale for delinquent taxes-land'
in certain counties to go to the univar-
siry and in others 10 the agricultural
u college. Through the adoption %
e such a policy the two schools woult
II in time come into possession of thou
IL sands of acres of land which could b.
al re-forested and would become a grea
" source Of revenue to the schools
lie The establishment of a state fores
st would not only give the students i
our colleges an excellent opportunit
r to study the forestry question bu
De would bring about a better under
OF standing and cooperation betwee
n the government, the state and tn
al timbermen, and insure the adoptio
re of some sensible policy as to fire pro
'e- lection and without increased cost
I'D those concerned These forests whe
N established could also be used as
ds reserve for the protection and prop
or CATION of fish and game.
dy If these suggestions should me
with NOuI dpplONdl tic
nd should be set on foot without della
mt for the longer the state is permit
ow to sell it's base and the count
I'VE their logged-off tracts for delinque
* taxes the more difficult and costly
I've is going to be to establish a state fC
OF est and if delayed too long 1t will CO
of an enormous amount. The state
i've New York is now spending millions
Just such purposes and hopes throu
my the creation of her forests, to prot
IN the sources of her streams, and by
ur- construction of reservoirs, to ms
err her streams once more run full a
of provide additional power which, l
1ey der state control, may enable her
ion break the monopoly of the great pc
or er trust which now controls all ava
,es. able power in that state.
nat The New Water Law.
" After many years struggle
friends of reform secured in 1903
heE passage of a water code which Is
iiei in advance of the laws of any otl
a' state more particularly because 1t II
va its the use of water for power pI
up poses to a period of 40 years a
Ut provides the most simple and ex
anu ditious methods for settling wa
rus rights. The main features of the
are the provision for
/. The determination of ca
oi rights;
III 2. The protection of existing rig
and
eat 5 8. The acquisition Of new rigf
lith The passage of this code has prov
a great boon to the state and togetl
the with the results being obtair
uay through it's administration, 1t stal
nat as monument to those who gave
ue- support. Prior to its passage 1t tc
10y, years to have a water right adju
OF Gated 1t took nine years to settle
'lse famous Hough-Porter case with o
riV- At rights involved. The present boz
10 Of control operating under the n
code has in less than two years
uiu judicated seven streams involv
res over 400 rights, and has taken te'
nat mony involving 825 rights on ten
ate ditional streams, without expense
lrdl the p1lblic and at small cost tn