Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-04-26
OUR PROVIDENT UNCLE.

Down in Grant county is an instance showing
how the government falls short of going fifty-ify
with the state, in highway costs. very much
needed road from Silver City to Santa Rita is blocked
because one land owner declines to give right OF
way Time will be required for the county to Sc
cure condemnation and pay the sum that may be
awarded
The federal money cannot he used for surveys
right of way any purpose except actual cohstrue
ton.
After a read is constructed with federal and state
funds maintenance for all time is at expense of the
state which people are developing through taxation
upon themselves and by industry
All the federal aid roads here will traverse gov
=ernment domain The people win develop the pri-
vate and state-owned lands along roads and mann
tain the highways, but the government lands will
not be a source of aid through taxation or contrbu-
ton though growing in value for sale or lease.
Still, we constantly having it thrown up at os
that we should talking about cession of FED
eral lands, exclusive of forest reservations, because
$500 900 per year of the money we pay for timber
and grazing from the forests is turned back for
schools and certain roads That is used as an argu-
nent why the general domain shall not he delivered
to the state and revenue and development may re-
suit from lands that expense to the nation
and could be made productive and taN-yleldlng
through state and individual ownership
The 100000 sounds large. We can let the gov
eminent keep and handle the forest reserves ann
continue to get the above from what the stockmen
pay for grazing, and mills pay for timber for local
markets But after all, the sum is but three and
one third cents per acre of the lands in the ma
tional forest reservations in this state But much
more per acre is now being gladly paid for lenses
of subsurface rights large tracts of state lands,
with possible royalties.
There are about twenty million of nom
taxable federal lands in this state not yielding one
cent per to the government or the state In
fact custody and administration or the areas is at
expense. of the people of the nation, New MeXcans
paying their share into the federal treasury to BE-
appropriated We paying, every man Of
u.s. part of the money the government uses to match
our state funds in road building. After ten-year
fight to secure chance to develop through leasing
federal domain we may soon be getting some part
of the lease money and royalty from federal lands
which our people are trying to develop by sinking
costly wells for oil The government is not joining
in this effort, though its lands may be made in
valuable by oil discovery upon near them. Still
private holders of property will bear all the taxes,
the government nothing.
Instead of turning loose to the state the lands
we gave over in trust the nation sits tight lets us
make them valuable but does not do its bit like IN
dividual taxpayers The administrative bureaus tell
us that the government ought to take through pur-
chase or setting aside, more of the public domain
for special purposes instead of selling it to settlers
or surrendering to the state to bring about its use
In certain instances there may be justification
for reserying further limited areas but there is no
equity or economical for the government
keeping over half of all the land within the bound
aries of eleven states.
Yes Uncle Sam is provident now with the land
so far holding fast is provdent, but the country
must lag under such practices, and population and
prosperity be limited.
Turn loose Uncle Sam, and let us make
Greater West.