The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-08-14


Uncle Sam is the greatest landlord in the wor
G controls %l,oo0,ooo acres or about $3.50
lnarc miles. This would make - New Yorks,
New Jerseys or l3S Connecticu's.
Complaint over the manner in which the FEEDER
'vcrnment administers these vast tracts Of Lane
rests and other natural resources has given ri
a searching Investigation as to the wisdom
'eSent policies. IN" cOnservatOnst and the uti
rian will have ample opportunity to advise and
'otest Out of the probe into the public land 81
m it is hoped to eliminate som" OF The irrii
hich existing policies have aroused
The scope of the investigation is outlined as #
Tvs by a New York Times CORES pondent:
First - The Public Domain, an area OF
lSG,00O,Lo0 acres, most of ii in eleven States.
Every phase Of its administration will be
inquired into. 1t is charged that the Do
main is no mans land and that conflicts
between homesteaders, cattlemen and others
who have settled on or used the land have
led to more bloOdshed in the West than any
other thing. Has the administration of
the Domain had any part in bringing about
the crisis in the cattle industry? Is it adj
visabe to transfer control Of the Domain to
the States in which it is situated?
Second - The National Forests, 135,5O0.'
900 acres in extent. Is it true that more
than 90 per cent OF this land is virtually
treeless? Have the 10, 900 acres of graz
ing lands in the Reserves been administered
with fairness to the cattiemen? Have the
grazing fees been increased in some in
stances much as 800 per cent? If so, are
uct CaI h,
ment policy here operated against the pros
perity of the cattle business? How can the
cattle industry be revived to its old time
prosperity? Is it true that the plight of the
ca,tlemen has resulted in the failure of
scores of banks? '..-..'
Third The National Parks, about s.,
100000 acres Are they operated with a
view to the greatest pleasure for the great
est number? Is it true that concessions are
granted under monopolistc policy? Is
1t true that in certain of the parks the policy
is one tending to discourage automobile
traffic so as to increase railway traffic to
those parks? Is it true that excessive fees
are in force in some parks and that accom-
modatons for campers are such as to dis
courage such persons from visiting the
parks, thereby defeating their original pur-
pose?
Fourth - The Indian lands about a.
100000 acres. Are the sOcalled tribal
herds under the control Of the Indians them
selves. or are they, in many instances, con-
tr0led and operated by Government agents?
Every phase of the troublesome Indian prob
lem will be made a subject of inquiry by
the committee.
Fifth - Government mineral lands, 49,.
100000 acres. The leasing system The
rules for prospecting. In the matter of oil
lands it is expected that the question of how
the Salt Creek field in Wyoming came UNI
der the domination of the Midwest Com
pany will be investigator
Ii has been some time since the policy over pub
nds was under scrutiny Land fraud cases a
congressional investigation used to be the order
le day.
The situation is most acute in Arizona wht
lOre than G0fS of the land is under the control
,deral bureaus. Citizens claim that the fede
md policy is retarding development of that stt
nd working real hardship. Cattlemen ever
here over the western ranges are chatting unC
rules and regulation