2 PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION. 



1. This report is based on a broad general view of the public-land 

 situation, not on specific cases. 



2. The present laws are not suited to meet the conditions of the re- 

 maining public domain. 



3. The agricultural possibilities of the remaining public domain 

 are unknown. Provision should be made to ascertain them, and, 

 pending such ascertainment, to hold under Government control and 

 in trust for such use the lands likely to be developed by actual 

 settlers. 



4. The right to exchange lands in forest reserves for lands outside 

 should be withdrawn. Provision should be made for the purchase of 

 needed private lands inside forest reserves, or for the exchange of 

 such lands for specified tracts of like area and value outside the 

 reserves. 



5. The former recommendation for the repeal of the timber and 

 stone act is renewed and emphasized. 



6. The sale of timber from unreserved public lands should be 

 authorized. 



7. The commutation clause of the homestead act is found on exami- 

 nation to work badly. Three years' actual residence should be re- 

 quired before commutation. 



8. The desert-land law is found to lead to land monopoly in many 

 cases. The area of a desert entry should be reduced to not exceeding 

 160 acres. Actual residence for not less than two years should be 

 required, with the actual production of a valuable crop on one-fourth 

 the area and proof of an adequate water supply. 



9. After thorough investigation of the grazing problem your 

 Commission is opposed to the immediate application of any rigid 

 system to all grazing lands, but recommends the following flexible 

 plan: 



(a) Authority should be given to the President to set aside graz- 

 ing districts by proclamation. 



{&) Authority should be given the Secretary of Agriculture to 

 classify and appraise the grazing value of lands in these districts ; to 

 appoint such officers as the care of each district may require; to 

 charge and collect a moderate fee for grazing permits, and to make 

 and apply appropriate regulations to each district, with the special 

 object of bringing about the largest permanent occupation of the 

 country by actual settlers and home seekers. 



10. The fundamental fact that characterizes the situation under 

 the present public-land law is this, that the number of patents issued 

 is increasing out of all proportion to the number of new homes. 



SECOND PARTIAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION. 



Sir : This Commission, appointed October 22, 1903, to report upon 

 the condition, operation, and effect of the present land laws, and to 

 recommend such changes as are needed to effect the largest practicable 

 disposition of the public lands to actual settlers who will build per- 

 manent homes upon them, and to secure in permanence the fullest 

 and most effective use of the resources of the public lands, submitted 

 to you a partial report, dated March T, 1904, which was printed as 



