THE SOLICITOR. 891 



In several instances cases have been reported for criminal prose- 

 cution based on shipments of seized goods found to consist of filthy, 

 decomposed, or putrid substances, or to contain added poisonous or 

 deleterious ingredients which might render them injurious to health. 

 Four cases were discontinued on account of lack of evidence to main- 

 tain them. In 18 cases seizures were not made because the goods 

 had been disposed of prior to the filing of libels. In one seizure case 

 the court refused to issue process, and in another the proceedings 

 were dismissed. 



Notices of Judgment in the terminated cases have been prepared 

 by this office promptly on receipt of necessary records from the United 

 States attorneys. Six hundred and five of such notices were pub- 

 lished during the year and over 300 more were in course of prepa- 

 ration at the close of the year. As heretofore, advance copies of the 

 notices have been forwarded to the officials of the several States 

 authorized to cooperate with the department in the enforcement of 

 the law. 



During the fiscal year 1912 the Solicitor rendered 93 formal and 

 1,148 informal written opinions to the Forest Service on the legal 

 phases of questions arising in connection with the administration of 

 the National Forests. One thousand two hundred and fifty contracts, 

 leases, bonds, and right-of-way stipulations were prepared and exam- 

 ined for sufficiency of execution. One thousand five hundred and 

 sixty-eight cases involving contested claims to lands within the 

 Nationfu Forests were handled during the year. These cases involved 

 upwards of 400,000 acres of land, supporthig many million feet of 

 valuable merchantable timber. Final action was taken by the Sec- 

 retary of the Interior or the Commissioner of the General Land Office 

 in -622 of the above cases, of which 462 were decided favorably to 

 the United ^States. The office filed 241 briefs in contested claims 

 cases during the year and prosecuted 21 appeals, with accompanying 

 briefs, to the Secretary of the Ulterior from adverse decisions of the 

 commissioner, and made five oral arguments before the Secretary. 

 Depositions were taken by the office in 75 cases. Regulations for 

 the administration of the National Forests were revised during the 

 year and upward of 50 proclamations and executive orders eliminat- 

 mg lands from the National Forests were either prepared or passed 

 upon by the office. The office handled 406 cases of grazhig, timber, 

 fire, and occupancy trespasses on the National Forests. Those which 

 were concluded favorably to the Government durhig the year resulted 

 in the payment into the Treasury of S67,322.54, and in several crim- 

 inal cases substantial jail sentences were imposed. Punitive, in addi- 

 tion to actual damages, in tlie sum of S704.70 were recovered during 

 the year in cases involving illegal gi-azing on the forests. The office 

 passed upon 56 applications for ])Owcr permits and heard two oral 

 arguments of attorneys for applicants forconflictingpermits. Upward 

 of 60 complaints, briefs, and uidictments were prepared at reouest of 

 the United Slates attorneys during the year; 123 claims for relief and 

 reimbursement under tJie approi)ria(ions made by Congress in con- 

 sequence of the forest fires m the fall of 1910 were examined by the 

 office. Thirty-nhie contracts for the jnu'chase of lands for the pro- 

 tection of watersheds of navigable streams under the act of March 1, 

 1911, were prepared during the year. 



