Tombstone epitaph., 1917-09-16

to force the allowance Of all applica-
tions for entry. regardless OF the
character of the land sought. the
qualifications of the applicant. the
fraudulent nature of the application.
or any other legal objection which
might exist TO the allowance thereof
According to the report of the
Commissioner Of the General Land
Office for the year ended June 80.
1916, there we're entered under the
64o-acre and 320-acre homestead laws
the following areas in the states
named: Arizona. 261.2ls.13 acres;
Colorado. 2.so0.270.43 acres: New
Mexico. l.s6o.524.s7 acres; South
Dakota. e53.2ss25 acres: Utah. 2si.-
7s2.0 acres: under the desert-land
laws: Arizona. 34.lS3.65 acres: Col
orado. 6s,sl6.o6 acres; New Mexico.
s.34532 acres; South Dakota. 240
acres; Utah. l5.s374s acres.
These figures. which include only
lands originally entered. Indicate the
demand last year for public lands in
the states in question for homes I'M
der the old homestead and dry-farm-
ing homestead acts, and for reclaim
alton under the desert.land laws
These laws. as well AS the other
public land laws now applicable to
those states are in effect wiped out
or superseded by the proposed amend
ment. and as already indicated. all
lands. irrespective of their value or
character. would be subject to &C
QUESTION in the 640acre tracts
The effect of the proposed legisla-
ton would be TO preclude the under
taking OF any further reclamation
or Carey act projects in the state.
affected. II will put an end TO the
making of entries under the desert
land law for the purpose of reclaim
ing the lands entered through irriga-
tion. 1t would supercede the making
OF loo and l20-acre homestead en-
tries. upon which cultivation and
crop production are now required
and had IL would permit the entry
of lands chiefly valuable for timber
in 640-acre tracts without payment
to the Government and without re-
strictions Of any kind except the
maximum OF Gao acres per entry.
Most OF the states affected have
large grants for the support of schools
and other public institutions which
have not been satisfied by the Sc
lection OF public lands. The en-
actment OF this legislation. making
all classes Of land subject to the GO
acre entry will probably diminish
the value OF these state grants and
prevent their satisfaction. unless II
be from lands so worthless that even
a Spectator will refrain from making
entry thereof
The measure in question is a com
plete reversal OF the PUBLICAN poll
cy heretofore adopted by Congress
and followed without exception
throughout the public land areas
The public-land laws all contemplate
and require a classification and dis
position OF the lands according to
their character and usually accord
ing TO their principal value. This
policy has worked well and resulted
in large development Of the country's
resources. IL has also tended to era
dictate or diminish fraud and specu-
latiOn. With the sections proposed
to be added through the state amend
ments. ! see no check upon fraudu-
lent entries. although complaints
filed in this Office indicate that very
many fraudulent applications have
been filed by cattle and sheep men.
for or through their employees. II
Continued from Page u
would also. in my opinion. tend to
hamper the development OF the min
eral resources in the public lands in
the states named All Of the states
are large producers OF minerals and
the United States mining laws have
been and are being taken advantage
of constantly by prospectors and min
ers therein.
While section 3 of the act Of De-
cember 29. 1916. reserves coal and
other minerals from patents issued