Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-11-11
CONTROL OF THE WEST
VIII the Future Settler BE Able to
Secure a Deed to His Prop
erty?

The most important question
which will be considered at the an
nual convention of the American Min
ing Congress, which meets at Spo-
kane, Wash, during the week Of No
vember 25-29, concerns the future
management and control of the pub
lie lands, which include more than
half the acreage of the United states
west of a north and south line pass
ing through the eastern border of
Colorado.
Whatever of development and
prosperity has come to this section
of the United States and whatever of
benefit which this section has given
to the nation at large, has come
through wise and liberal admins
tration of public land laws designed
to offer the largest inducement to
the pioneer.
Under a liberal administratiCn of
these laws, these pioneers have de-
veloped civilization second to none
in the world, have provided contin-
uing stream of gold which has con-
stituted the basis of our monetary
system and which, during the days
of the Civil War saved the nations S
credit and made possible a united ma
tion.
In accomplishing these benefits a
very liberal construction has been
| applied to the technical wording of
the statutes, construction seeming
ly justified by the intent OF the stat
utes and the purpose for which they
were created.
This construction, so long followed, =,
has been so generally recognized that
the western pioneer has read the law
in the light of such uniform construc-
tion and upon this assumption many
enterprises have been predicated in
which millions of dollars have been
invested, only to find that a more
recent administrative policy dntici-
pates the most strict construction of
the law. Under this changed con-
struction from which there is practi-
cally no appeal, many enormous in
vestments are made valueless and ag-
gravating requirements create delays
which greatly obstruct and hamper
the continuance of the enterprises
already undertaken and absolutely
prohibit all new undertakings. 1t is
freely asserted and generally believed
that this administrative policy carries
with it an effort to accomplish, by
indirection, what the law does not
justify by the most technical con-
struction, in order to establish new
system of land tenure; that through
this indirect method of Withholding
from private ownership public lands
needed for development of western
enterprises, conditions are being kept
in statu quo until congress may pro-
vide an entirely new system for con-
troll Of the public lands.
Thus far, aside from a general pro-
test, the west has not agreed upon
any definite policy touching this far
reaching question. 1t is hoped that
the resolutions, adopted at the Spo.
kane convention, upon this subject
will create a fixed policy and that
the delegation from the several west.
ern states will be so representative
that the policy thus agreed uponi will
have the united support of the west.
ern states. To this end an invitation
has been issued to each of the gov.
ernors of tht aid land states to at.
tend the convention, take part in its
discussions and assist in the framing
of policy which will be thoroughly
representative. r
Governor John F. ShafroJh of Col
orado will lead this discussion. Gov.
ernor Shafroth has, for years, giver
this subject careful consideration an6
brings to it's discussion the value Of
long experience in public affairs
both as a member of congress ans
as governor 1t is confidently ex
pected that there will be full at
tendance of state executives and that
through their cooperation the dele
cations at Spokane will be so repre-
sentative that the policy there out
lined will be accepted as the las
word on the subject and that upol
the platform theer adopted an ag
gressive campaign will be carried OIL
through which the continued prosper
| ity of the west will ha aScurad