The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-01-02
Lane SHOWS UP The
INJUSTICE TO
The WEST

The west has just cause for com
plant against the conservation policy
now being enforced by bIH govern
mcnt, according TO the admission
made by Secretary OF Interior Lane
in his annual reuort, and he sets forth
with characteristic frankness the rea-
sons why complaint is justified Dis
cussing generally the public land sit
uation, Secretary Lane, in his report
says:
There exists a feeling in the west
that its affairs and needs have not been
given that consideration at the hands
of tire national government which they
merit This feeling is not confined to
spectators or exploiters. II is the
sentiment of many who are without
selfish motive and regard the matter
wholly from the standpoint OF national
growth. They point to the conditions
which obtain in Alaska as unparalleled
among people of our aggressive and
nation-building stock So, too. they
are unable to understand why ways
have not been found by which the
great bodies of coal and oil lands, of
phosphate and potash lands, may be
developed and the waters Of the noun.
tains made available for the generation
OF power and the redemption of the
desert.
THE NEW POLICY.
There is one very simple explana-
ton for the existence of this feeling.
We have adventured upon new pol
icy of administering our affairs and
have not developed adequate machin-
cry. We have called halt on meth
DDS OF spoliation which existed, to the
great benefit of many, but we have
failed to substitute methods, sane,
healthful, and progressive, by which
the normal enterprise of an ambitious
people can make full use of their own
resources. We abruptly closed oppor-
tunites to the monopolist, but did not
open them to the developer"
The secretary says the land laws
were framed with the idea of disposing
OF the public yards quickly as posi-
bic, and for years lands were dispensed
with free hand, to the railroads, to
the states and to others. There was
land for all, he says, "and it was
the governments glad function to dis
tribute it and let those prosper who
could. There was no thought then of
creating timber barons, or cattle kings
or of coal monopoly. Land is land,
save when it contains minerals; this
was roughly the broad principle adopt
ed.
IF the government did not appre-
ciate the invaluable nature of the as
sets. there were men who did" the
secretary added. Then came the re-
action; then came the Withdrawals
which are now in effect
Commenting on this changed con-
dition Secretary Lane says:
The old philosophy that land is
land was evidently untitled to a coun-
try where land is sometimes timber
and sometimes COAL indeed, where
land may mean Whitewater for tens
of thousands of needy neig1boring
acres. For the lands of the west diff
Ter as men do. in character and con-
dition and degree of usefulness. We
had not recognized this fact when we
said land is land Lands fitted for
dry farming and lands that must for
ever lie unused without irrigation;
lands that are worthless save for their
timber; lands that are rich in grasses
and lands that are poor in grasses;
lands underlain with the non-precious
essential to industry or ag-
lands thlat are invaluable for
reservoir or dam sites-theSe varie-
ties may be multiplied, and each new
variety emphasize the fact that each |
kind OF land has its own future and |
affords its own opportunity for CON
tributing to the nations wealth.
SO there has slowly evolved in the
public mind the conception Of a new
Dolicy--that land should be used for |
hat purpose for which, it is best fit
ed, and it should be disposed of by
he government with respect to that
Use. To this policy believe the west
S now reconciled, The west no longer
lrgeS a return to the hazards of the
land is land policy, but it does ask
Iction. 1t is reconciled to the gov
'rnment making all proper safeguards
gainst monopoly and against the sub
'ersion OF the spirit of all our land
avs, which IS in essence that all
ultable lands should go into homes,
nd all other lands shall be develop
d tor that purpose which shall make
mem OF greatest service. But il asks
hat the machinery be promptly es-
abliShed i'll the law by which the
lnds may be used, And this demand
reasonable, Already the congress D.,
as recognized in many ways the ap- !
oStteneSs of this policy, but it is for
ourseif and congress to further ex-
end TINS thought into our legislation"