The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-08-12
LAND SPECTATORS
BLOCK SETTLEMENT
Forest Serice Statement Says Western
Farming Problem Can be Solved by
Development OF Logged-0n Tracts.

l
Washington, August i0-During tn
last decade, the Forest Service ha
classified as agricultural and opene'
10 public entry more than l5,500 indi
vidual scattered tracts Of land in th
national forests, comprising more thar
| 100000 acres, says an article by th'
Chief Forester, published in the Yea
Book Of the Department of Agricul
ture, just issued. Within the last tive
years, in addition, several large blocks
have been eliminated aggregatine
more than 2,500,000 acres, while near
| ly 100000 acres more are now under
consideration for elimination. All the
remaining agricultural land in the ma.
tional forests is confined chiefly in iso-
lated tracts scattered here and there
to restricted areas requiring irriga-
ton, where water can not be obtained;
and to certain river bottoms and
benches which are not covered with
very heavy and valuable timber.
A constant pressure is being
brought to bear on the government by
private individuals who want to ac-
quire possession Of these heavily tim
bered agricultural lands, single quar-
ter-sections Of which often have a val
ue as high as $4,000 for the timber
alone. In spite of the fact that some
Of these lands have soil suitable for
agriculture, to throw them open as
homesteads would not result in farm
development. This has been proven
over and over again where lands Of
this kind, acquired under the Home
stead Law, are to-day held not by
homesteaders but by lumber compan-
les who promptly purchased them
from the settlers as soon as title
passed from the governments specu-
ulative process which effectively pre-
vents men Of small means from
acquiring land and establishing homes.
The government is withholding from
agricultural entry all such heavily
timbered land until after the timber
is cut off. AS soon as this is done,
the lands will be opened to entry and
settlers will be able to acquire it di-
rectly from the government without
cost, instead of having to pay from
$40 to $50 an acre to land spectators.
For example, on the kaniksu National
Forest in Idaho and Washington, the
timber sales have been
made to include much of the remain
ing timbered agricultural land. With
in eight years fully 10000 acres will
be made available for settlement. Per-
homes will be established byI
the settlers, and there will be avail
able for the use of communities ap-
proximately S225,000 for roads and
schools. Private ownership Of heavily |
agricultural land blocks |
farming development, says the article;
government ownership insures such
development under conditions that
give opportunities to the small settler
whose only capital is his strength and
courageous perseverance.
One Of the most serious agricultural
problems Of the northwest to-day is
he development of the logged-off
ands in private ownership. In Oregon
md Washington alone more than
hree million acres of such logged-off
ands are lying idle, although much of
his area has fine agricultural soil and
climate that insures abundant crops
nd the development of thriving COM
nunities. Yet in this same region
Of settlers are seeking to
md places in the national forests, u.s.
ally remote from transportation, high
n the mountains where the climate is
arsh and the soil relatively poor,
imply because the good lands at low
r levels outside the forests are held
y the spectators at prohibitive
rices. The true solution of the prob
m Of agriculture in such sections is q
, develop the right logged-of private 9
lnds that lie outside the forests, and l
OF to throw open the non-agricultural =
Inds within the forests.
To show how thorough is the land =
assifcation work Of the Forest Ser
ce, the Kootenai Valley in Montana
ay be taken as an example, continues q
le article. Here a large river winds =
" $50 miles through the national for u
It. At many points steep, densely y
rested hills drop down to the wat !. !.
Is edge, making the valley gorge !,
canyon. Here and there bars in the u
yer have resulted in deposits Of silt,
rming long, narrow bottoms. or lev c
islands, which are very fertile Part
ly up the mountains slopes OCCASION
benches Of land afford few acres
fertile soil. At first il was proposed oi
throw out the entire valley, strip lii
rec miles in width on either side es
the river. Ninety-fye per cent Of SC
is belt however is non-agricultural vi