Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1913-01-30
COMMISSIONER OF CORPORA
TIONS MAKES REPORT TO
PRESIDENT TAFT.
PROBLEM A CRAVE ONE TO SOLVE
More Reserves Recommended and
Searching Inquiries to Be Made
Southern Pacific Owns 1867
600 100000 Feet Timber.


into the hands of few powerful inter-
ests of an enormous percentage oil the
timber lands of the United States has
created problem so grave for the
nation, in the judgment of Luther Co
nant, Jr., commissioner OF corpora
tons, that he has recommended 10
President Taft that the existing ma
tional forests not only be retained by
the federal government, but increased
as far as practicable.
This note of warning was sounded
by the commissioner in forwarding to
the president the full text OF part OF
the bureau of corporations 1nveslga-
ton of the lumber industry made by
direction of congress. A summary OF
this report, showing the extent OF con-
centrated control of timber lands, was
sent to the president and published
nearly two years ago.
To increase government ownership
of forest lands the commissioner urges
that the forests of Alaska be included
in reserves as we'll as all timbered
lands recovered in forfeiture suits. He
advises a further searching inquiry
into land grants of the past with the
view of instituting additional forfeiture
suits if the facts justify the procedure.
Attempts Still Being Made.
Mr.. Conant warns that attempts are
still being made to secure the trans
fer of public timber lands to private
owners under the same pleas of settle
ment which in the past often proved
wholly specious and insincere."
Much of the timber land still re-
naming" continues the commissioner,
sis adapted only for timber purposes.
All that could be properly asked by
bona fide settler is the surface OF ara
BILE land after the timber has been re-
moved, but too frequently back of the
argument made in the name OF set
tier is the desire to acquire the timber
or other natural resources rather than
the soil itself. 1t seems desirable,
therefore, to direct public attention to
the fundamental difference between
disposing of agricultural lands to act
ual settlers. whose industry contrib
utes directly to the material and social
upbuilding of the community, and the
alienation of virgin timber lands,
which do not require, and, indeed,
hardly permit of, improvement by prl-
vate owners, and the value of which is
rapidly rising because of reduction In
the supply and the increase in popula-
ton. The public service involved in
the more speculative holding of this
timber for an advance in price, under
present conditions of settlement of the
country, is practically negligible
When, moreover, such lands become
concentrated in a comparatively few
hands, there is, instead of a public
service a serious public danger
Nation Owns One-FIfth.
without entering into a discussion
of possible solutions of cetrain grave
problems involved in the present con
centration of timber ownership, it may
be pointed out that the government
today still owns, exclusive of the for
ests of Alaska, about one-fifth of the
countrys' total supply of merchanta
BILE standing timber. 1t is the agenc.
best adapted to practicing reforesta
tlOn on Il large SCdlc. iecNShbiJ iAhPOi
tant suits for forfeiture of extensive
timber lands have been brought by thu
government on the ground of nonfulfil
ment of conditions imposed in tn
grants by which these lands wer
alienated from the public domain. Fo
these reasons it would appear, there
fore, that the government may late
be able materially to strengthen it
relative position as a timber owner.
Should Extend Policy.
1.-THE facts set forth in this repor
clearly point to the desirabil1ty Q
maintaining the integrity of the ne
tional forests and of extending to othe
publicly owned timber, including fol
ests in Alaska and timber lands tina
NAV be recovered in forfeiture suit
now pending, or subsequently institu
ed by the government, the cardins
principle of the national forest policy
namely. the retention of the fee to sue
lands at least until the timber is II
moved. Decision will then have to b
made between retaining such lands 10
reforestation and disposing of the SUI
face for agricultural purposes"
Southern Pacific Greatest Holder
In the summary OF the report pr
yiously published the then commi
sioner of corporations, Herbert Kno