ARBORICULTURE. 



319 



purposes, should pay a just and reasonable 

 price, to be determined by sound judgment, cir- 

 cumstances and experience. 



Second— That, in our opinion, the policy 

 adopted of selling mature and fire-killed timber 

 is both desirable and commendable, and that 

 the method employed for doing so, on competi- 

 tive bidding, is just, and that it closes the door 

 against fraud and waste. 



Third— That the Federal Government, in 

 what it is doing, is virtually relieving this State 

 of an enormous expense, which it could not 

 afford in order to carry on this important work. 

 Fourth — That inasmuch as the forest re- 

 serves are principally at high altitudes, and con- 

 tain little agricultural land suitable for home- 

 steads, and as the service has expressed a rea- 

 sonable desire to throw open such lands as are 

 found to be appropriate for honest settlement 

 and not for timber frauds, we see no force in 

 the claim that the reserves are a hindrance to 

 the growth of the State. 



Fifth — That we indorse the policy being pur- 

 sued by the forest service, and pledge it our 

 support, and deplore any attempt to hamper it 

 in its undertaking to protect the forests and 

 improve them in their greatly dilapidated con- 

 dition. 



Adopted June 11, 1907. 



A PUBLIC LANDS CONVENTION. 



The Acting Governor of Colorado, E. 

 R. Harper, issued a call for a convention 

 of Western States representatives to con- 

 sider the policy of the United States Gov- 

 ernment regarding forest reserves. 



We give prominence to some points 

 in this call which may emphasize the ob- 

 ject of those most interested in this con- 

 vention : 



Whereas, The Government of the United 

 States is the owner of large tracts of unoc- 

 cupied lands within the Western States and 

 Territories, over which Congress has absolute 

 control and administration, and has made laws 

 providing for the disposition of such lands to 

 citizens of the United States under certain con- 

 ditions; and. 



Whereas, Under the compact made by the 



States when admitted to the Union, said lands 

 can not be taxed as long as they remain the 

 property of the United States, and consequently 

 do not provide any revenue for the maintenance 

 of the State Government until title to the same 

 passes to the citizens; and. 



Whereas, The changing conditions in the 

 western part of the country, due to rapid settle- 

 ment, has seemed to render necessary certain 

 changes in the disposition of these public lands, 

 acquirement of title to these lands by citizens, 

 or the adoption of a policy contrary to that 

 which has been in effect for so many years, 

 which has recognized the right of the State to 

 encourage settlement and development under 

 the existing laws, might prove most disastrous 

 to the prosperity of this section of the country ; 

 and, 



Whereas, Owing to the fact that these 

 public lands constitute a large part of the area 

 of the States west of the Missouri River, in 

 some instances exceeding half the total area of 

 the States, the future welfare, prosperity and 

 advancement of such States are largely depend- 

 ent upon such policy and laws in relation to the 

 administration and disposition of these lands 

 as ivill result in their early acquirement and 

 development by citizens; and. 



Whereas, The enactment by Congress of 

 new laws that will hinder the development and 

 acquirement of title to these lands by citizens, 

 or the adoption of a policy contrary to that 

 which has been in effect for so many years, 

 which has recognized the right of the State to 

 encourage settlement and development under 

 the existing laws, might prove most disastrous 

 to the prosperity of this section of the country ; 

 and. 



Now, therefore, I do hereby call a conven- 

 tion of representative citizens of all States and 

 Territories west of the Missouri River, to meet 

 in the city of Denver, June 18, 19 and 20, 1907. 

 Said convention to be composed of delegates to 

 be appointed as follows : 



The Governor of each State and Territory 

 to appoint ten delegates at large. 



Each Chamber of Commerce, Board of 

 Trade, Real Estate Exchange or commercial 

 body may appoint Hve delegates. 



Each association of stock growers or lum- 

 bermen and forestry, irrigation, horticultural or 

 agricultural organization may appoint five del- 

 egates. 



