American Poorest Congress 83 



way for the Central Arizona Railway Company 

 through the San Francisco Mountains Forest Reserve 

 in Arizona. In reporting upon this bill, the General 

 Land Office referred to the legislation of 1899, and 

 stated that there was no need of such law, and that it 

 would be better for application to be made in the 

 regular way, subject to the general regulations in 

 force. The bill was, however, passed without change, 

 and was presented the President. At this stage, those 

 interested in the matter, fearing that it would be vetoed, 

 secured the passage of a resolution (April 12, 1902 ; 

 32 Stat., 1767), asking for the return of the bill. This 

 was not done, but the bill was vetoed by the President 

 April 23, 1902. At the next session of Congress a 

 bill of an entirely different character was introduced. 

 This provided simply that the company would be 

 granted right of way upon compliance with the general 

 regulations of the department. Such a bill was of 

 no practical use, but it was not objectionable. It be- 

 came a law February 25, 1903 (32 Stat., 907). 



Every application for right of way over a forest 

 reserve for any purpose is reported on by a forest 

 superintendent or supervisor, who is required to make 

 a statement in detail upon every point affecting the 

 interests of the government in regard to the preserva- 

 tion of the reserves. 



A bond is required from the applicant that he will 

 pay to the United States, for any and all damage to 

 the public lands, timber, natural curiosities, or other 

 public property on such reservation, or upon the lands 

 of the United States, by reason of such use and occu- 

 pation of the reserve, regardless of the cause or circum- 

 stances under which such damage may occur. Such 

 a bond is required in every case except those of small 

 importance, a definite limit being fixed in the regula- 

 tions. 



