Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-03-15

IN the luttcr half ~ the nineteenth
century the spirit OF the public lduu
laws IN the United states was settle
mcnt and development With a pa
lic domain 81 one and % third billion
q cres. acquired IN the preceding Eaif
century --- is03-ls5s - by purchase
discovery. exploration and cession'
anu with another third % billion
acres In Alaska. constituting later
purchase the nation felt that II could
hc lavish with its lands. The wilder
ness called for pioneers Of every tytr'
and large premiums were heid nut I"
capital enterprise and indiyldu,n iHi-
tintive. Development was desired
whatever the cost iR lands that wo,e
intrinslcaly of little value without
settlement BUT with the most ni'
the best OF the nHgion's land alrcI"N
nucnated. the national duty h. nov 1"
put 90 its best use what remains.
Utilization ~ lands for their great
ct value naCessitutcs the determine
tion % that value. which o.. briefly.
land classification. and, 10 bc adc
quatc, land classification must be-
based apun first hand acquaintance
with the particular hand under con
sideratiOn. With national estate in
Guiding country ranging from sail p
inCrusted deserts 10 valleys knee-detp
with nutritious grasses or giant FOR
ests almost ilnpenctrabic because 2.
luxurlant underground. no general
statutes that may be enacted can pc
made so definite as not 90 require inc
exercise OF wcii-informcd Judgment
Boa their execution 70 this end cN-
animation ana classification ut 10"
public lands c0nslitut" an initial step
in heir disposition Tor Development
and settlement
70 insure appropriate disposition
and Go secure highest usc Of the ma
TONS nndH. scientific land rlhssiiiea ,
ton by the United states geological
survey has been made an Integral
part of thc public land admiHisira
ton The purpose 81 land clnssihru
ton b. highest utilization, ANA 20 ate
tain this end ID has been necessary tu
coordinate the work Of scientific in
yestiEation with the administruttN"
functions IT the department Of the
intcrior. The large participation OF
the geological survey in the puhllt
land administration has naturally
presented problems involving change
both boz office and Held organization
and ln executive uud scientific mcih
ode For these changes there has
been little or NO precedent. Htlrh-
lists and public men 81 older euun-
tries have been 0utrpOkcn in their ih
tpfrst ln this new application ~ Frl'
cuce to governmental administration,
aud requests have been made tot
more detailed Information un the Hun-
feet than be- available in the reference
appearing in administrative reports
~ thu secretary ~ the Interior and
hiH subufdiuutsa. To mcut the dee
maud lhr survey has just published q
bulletin covering thp subject No. 'at
The Introduction ou ihc pas Bose o
land classification. is contributed .'i
thr director 80 the SURVEY, and ih'
/ aiher sections Of this publication. de-
fIlplug tine procedure employed 90
th, wofk. usc written by members sol
Z The survey vino have originated iUl
4 tho most part the mtthOcs thut are ~
essential 90 aurceasill ana auiuuri
I tatlFn classification The development
az the surveys Organization for lanf
I classification De- described By ". g
: Nendeuhail. w ho as chief uf the land
! CLASSIFICATION board bias been directly
responsible for the preparation ~ th'
bulletin The history and legal basil
0f classification ar, discussed by NJ
W Boil. The classification aud Nulua
, lion 81 coal lands by ~ ~ Ashley 1nt
a a icshey. SIR Loshcr also contrib
uies Cd short section ON the pfepuru
tlon nf data for classification firi,
II, methods in coal. OH phosphate. ans
/ noansn rlhasinento arc discussed u1
~ 81 Woodruff. q. ~. Megemnnn "
a 81 Richards q. x. clark and o.. =
, Gnle. nu Of whom are geolvHiaiH o
! wide experience lu ueio Noih W 70
! iand classification. - Northnp hai
contributed 90 the section on classlh
sstion w ol and saE iAuqs ana a Il