The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-03-31

transformed from a research into
an administrative bureau, with the
result that constant friction has
prevailed.
''The forest service dictates the
course of roads within the national
forests, and prevents the construc-
ton of highways which are re-
quired in the public welfare. 1t
halts a farmers cow in search of
drink of water at a spring lying
few feet within a forest area.
1t denies to a pioneering farmer
the right to acquire few feet of
timber adjoining his homestead.
J 1t sells off the timber on mining
claim, denying the timber to the
miner, who must send sometimes
thousands of miles for few sticks
of timber which might have been
cut from his own claim. 1t dis
poses of timber to foreign countries
at a time when domestic needs are
unsupplied. 1t does not create ad-
ditional forest to replace that which
is cut, but clings to lands which are
not forested at all, and refuses to
permit them to be opened for
homes.
''The chaotic conditions result
| ing from divided authority over
the public lands should be ended
| forthwith. The reorganization COM
mission has recommended that the
forests be administered by the De-
partment of the Interior, just as
lother lands are administered
whether mineral, desert, oil-bearing
| agricultural, or Indian lands. The
L 4aly 4 h
which seems to be logical and un-
| assailable, that one authority should
be exercised over public lands
without regard to the particular
nature of the lands. Only by this
| method can there be coordination
/ in the various services. When the
question arises whether a particu-
| lar piece of land is forest, agrcul-
tural, mineral, or what not, CEN
trail authority should decide. The
question of surveys is most import
ant in connection with the public
| lands, and it is most damaging to
| the public interest that the geo.
logical survey and the forest sur
vey should follow conflicting sys-
| TENS.
1T is high time that political
and personal aims should give way
to public interest in the reorganiz-
alton of the bureaus pertaining ia
the public lands of the United
States. Alaska is locked up, use
less treasure house, while thous-
ands of enterprising Americans are
| deprived of the opportunity to
| build themselves homes in that
| great region. A few million acres
| remain which could be transforms
into homes in the continental
| United States, if the lands suitable
for agriculture could be wrested
from the dead grip of the forest
service, which neither untilizes
| the lands nor permits others to
| utilize them. Roads should be
built to accommodate growing pop
ulations throughout the western
areas; mines should be opened
which are now closed because OF
imaginary forest uses or because
timber is denied to the miners; for
ests should be started in areas
which the forest service claims to
be unsuitable for forests; water
| supplies now unavailable should be
made available to the people; for
| ests in watersheds and catchment
areas should be protected; and the
so-called national forests should be
| overhauled, for the purpose of ex-
Guiding from them the lands that
are not. forested and never will be
forested.
| Congress will have the reorgan-
ization commissions report in due
time, with the Presidents recon-
mendations thereon. 1t is, to be
hoped that the people will be given
an opportunity to make their land
heritage available for proper use. y