58 Condition of Forests on the Public Lands. [242 



First, what are our existing laws; second, what 

 are the general characteristics of the timber region 

 to which these laws apply; and, third, what is their 

 effect upon the forests? 



The foundation of our protective system rests upon 

 an act passed March I, 1817, which authorized the 

 Secretary of the Navy to reserve lands producing 

 live-oak and red cedar "for the sole purpose of sup- 

 plying timber for the navy of the United States," 

 and, an extension of this law, made by the pas- 

 sage of the act of March 2, 1831, which provided 

 that if any person should cut live-oak or red cedar 

 trees, or other timber from the lands of the United 

 States, for any other purpose than the construction of 

 the navy, such person shall pay a fine not less than 

 triple the value of the timber cut, and be imprisoned 

 for a period not exceeding twelve months. Upon 

 this old law, having the construction of a wooden 

 navy in view, the government of the United States 

 has to-day chiefly to rely in protecting its timber 

 throughout the arid regions of the West, where none 

 of the naval timber, which the law had in contem- 

 plation, is to be found. Can it be wondered that this 

 act does not meet present conditions? 



By the act of June 3, 1878 (20 Stats., 88), timber 

 can be taken from public lands, not subject to entry 

 under any existing laws except for mineral entry, by 

 bona fide residents of the Rocky Mountain States and 

 Territories and the two Dakotas. The Land Office 

 regulations in reference to this act provide that such 

 timber cannot be exported, that none less than eight 

 inches in diameter may be cut, and that in cutting 

 the timber must not be wantonly wasted or destroyed. 



The timber and stone act, passed the same date, 



