249] Condition of Forests on the Public Lands. 65 



forest monarch. Occasionally it happens that after 

 he has profusely supplied his own needs, he can sell 

 the surplus to some lumberman, and thus prevent its 

 complete waste. 



For all of these reasons no timber bearing lands, 

 now the property of the United States, should be sub- 

 ject to entry under settlement laws. 



Let us now consider how the laws which I have 

 previously mentioned operate. Under the act of 

 June 3, 1878, applying to Colorado and the Territo- 

 ries, settlers and others were permitted to cut timber 

 for mining and agricultural purposes from mineral 

 land. Before cutting timber for local use the settler 

 can hardly be expected to sink a shaft or hire a chem- 

 ist to determine whether the land is in fact mineral 

 or not. He cuts where most convenient for him. 

 without knowing what the character of the land is, 

 and takes the chance of being prosecuted. JSTot one 

 acre in thousands throughout the region to which 

 this act applies is known to contain minerals, but it 

 is the only act under which timber may be taken by 

 settlers and miners in this great region. Conse- 

 quently this whole population is forced to steal one 

 of the necessaries of life. The community has become 

 demoralized with reference to this question. The 

 paramount and absolute necessity to obtain timber 

 for use overrides all considerations of right. To the 

 miner and settler of that region the use of timber 

 from local supplies is as absolutely necessary as the 

 use of the water that flows by him, or of the air that 

 surrounds him, and no plan of management which 

 fails to recognize this necessity can ever hope to be 

 successful. In reference to this the Commissioner of 



