Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1913-01-24
THE TIMBER LANDS
COMM SSlONER 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.

Washington. - The concentration
into the hands of few powerful inter-
ests of an enormous percentage of the
timber lands of the United States has
created a problem so grave for the
nation, in the judgment of Luther Co
nant, Jr., commissioner of corpora
tons, that he has recommended to
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 investiga-
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 well 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 a
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 thar
the soil itself. 1t seems desirable
luCl " QlACOl RubAAS o1bCAAAOA ~
the fundamental difference between
disposing of agricultural lands to act
ual settlers, whose industry contrib
utes directly to the material and socia
upbuilding of the community, and the
alienation of virgin timber lands
which do not require, and, indeed
hardly permit of, improvement by pri
vate owners, and the value of which il
rapidly rising because of reduction IL
the supply and the increase in popula
ton. The public service involved il
the more speculative holding of thii
timber for an advance in price, unde,
present conditions of settlement of thu
country, is practically negligible
When, moreover, such lands becom,
concentrated in a comparatively few
hands, there is, instead of a publ,
service, a serious public danger.
Nation Owns One-Flfth.
without entering into a discussion
of possible solutions of cetrain grav'
problems involved in the present con
centration of timber ownership, it ma.
> be pointed out that the government
= today still owns, exclusive of the for
J ests of Alaska, about one-fifth of thu
} countrys' total supply Of merchants
BILE standing timber. 1t is the agenc,
best adapted to practicing reforesta
ton on a large scale. Recently impoI
tant suits for forfeiture of EXTENSIVE
timber lands have been brought by tn
= government on the ground of nonfulfil
I ment of conditions imposed in tn
r grants by which these lands wer
= alienated from the public domain. Flo
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.
= "The facts set forth in this repoI
clearly point to the desirability {
maintaining the integrity of the n;
: tional forests and of extending to othe
publicly owned timber, including 70,
: ests in Alaska and timber lands ths
: may be recovered in forfeiture suit
: now pending, or subsequently institu
ed by the government, the cardin;
= principle of the national forest polio,
!, namely. the retention of the fee to sue
:, lands at least until the timber is r.
= moved. Decision will then have to b
made between retaining such lands fC
v reforestation and disposing of the su
h face for agricultural purposes"
n Southern Pacific Greatest Holder
L In the summary OF the report pr
viously published the then commi
sioner Of corporations, Herbert Kno
Smith, set forth that the Southern p
cific company is the greatest privat
M hnldar of timhar In the IInitnd State