The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-13
Ct AGRICULTURAL LANDS
EXPLAINED BY FORESTER S0COX

eral enough TO warrant precautionary
measures. if possible, TO prevent it.
The administrative problem was to
provide for the earliest opening TO
entry of the heavily timbered agri-
cultural land but in a way which
would prevent speculation in the
timber values and at the same time
insure the actual settler getting the
land. After careful consideration by
the secretary of agriculture, it was
finally determined that the timber
should be sold and removed before
the land was opened TO entry. This
is the present policy, Under this
plan, it is optional with the settler to
either buy the timber himself if he
so desires conditioned on its removal
within a certain length Of time, or
apply for such lane and have his ap-
plication put of record but suspended
with the understanding that the for
est service will expedite the sale and
removal of the timu~r as rapidly as
possible, then open the land to entry.
Already many sales are under way
on such areas and proper efforts are
being made by advertisement and
otherwise to attract purchasers for
timber on all of the areas classified
as chiefly valuable FOR agriculture.
The question has been asked, why
doesn't the forest service sell the
timber to the settler and let him
hold it indefinitely" This can not
be done legally. The solicitor for the
department of agriculture rendered a
formal decision August 10, 1910, in
which he held that Il sale of standing
timber in the national forest, without
an agreement in the contract limiting
the time in which such timber is to
be cut and removed, is prohibited by
congressional statutes. Although from
a legal standpoint it is not possible
for the forest service 10 sell the tim
Der upon the and covered by an APP
| plication with the privilege of let
ting it stand for an indifenite period,
it is considered also inadvisable from
an administrative standpoint, since
such a plan would not eliminate spec
ulation in the timber. The govern
ment offers a freehold of AGRICULTURAL
! land and it is not considered good
public policy hat it should either
give away large timber holdings or
sell them at present stumpage prices
to be held indefinitely. In accord
ance with this general policy, pro-
vision is made for Il readjustment of
stumpage prices in all regular timber
sale contracts of over five years dur
alton.
That there is a great demand for
land subject to homestead entry is
shown by the number of applications
received by the forest service. These
applications are rapidly covering
every piece of land which settlers be-
lieve susceptible of being converted
into a home. Contrary to popular i'm
PRESTON, there is not a large amour,
of agricultural land in the nationa
forests; in fact, the amount is ex,
tremely small, a rough estimate plac,
ing it at considerably less thar two
PER cent. Although general ~classifi
cation work, when completed, viii
give definite information on this, .
momentarv consideration of the fac
that the national forests for tn
greater par straddle the crests o
the main mountain divides and in
clude the headWaters of streams, will
show this to be true.
Strong criticism of any of the poll
cies of the forest service is helpful
and is appreciated if made in a con
structive spirit.
r. A. SILICON,
District Forester