THE PERIOD FROM 1878 TO 1891 



77 



lators, notwithstanding the provisions to prevent such a result."*^ 

 In 1883, Commissioner McFarland complained that the restrictions 

 and limitations of the act were flagrantly violated, and in 1884 he 

 said: "The result of the operation of the act is the transfer ... of 

 timber lands, practically in bulk, to a few large operators."** Sparks, 

 in 1885, complained in a similar strain, that the act had operated 

 "simply to promote the premature destruction of forests. "*° In each 

 of his annual reports, he called attention to the vicious effects of the 

 law, and asked for its repeal. The response of Congress to these 

 complaints is characteristic of congressional legislation regarding 

 the public lands. 



EXTENSION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT 



For a correct understanding of the action of Congress in regard 

 to the Timber and Stone Act, it will be necessary to recall the fact 

 that, at the time of its passage, sale of timber lands was the policy 

 recommended by almost everyone. Disposal of timber lands by means 

 of the Homestead and Preemption laws had always resulted in frauds, 

 and, as protection of the lands had never been seriously undertaken 

 by the government, and the idea of national forests had been only 

 vaguely suggested, sale seemed the only policy open to consideration. 

 The act itself had of course been dictated mainly by the timber in- 

 terests of the West, yet persons sincerely desirous of protecting the 

 public timber had favored the policy of sale as the best means of 

 protection, and the act had passed with scarcely an opposing voice. 

 It is thus clear that before the act could be repealed, or its provisions 

 seriously altered, there must be a complete reversal in the attitude 

 of Congress. 



Aside from the very limited agitation in favor of forest reserves, 

 the creation of which would of course have involved the repeal or 

 limitation of the Timber and Stone Act, little effort was made during 

 the eighties to change that law in any way. Representatives Strait and 

 Bunnell of Minnesota tried to amend the act to provide for sale only 



43 Report, Sec. of Int., 1878, XV. 



** Report, Land Office, 1883, 9; 1884, 8. 



46 Report, Sec. of Int., 1885, 225. 



