213 



Navy, and subjected any vessel transporting sucli timber without proper 

 luitliority and for any other i)urpose than for the use of the Navy, to eou- 

 hscation and the master ot the vessel to a fine. 



This act is the one under which, up to the present time, all the pro- 

 tection they have had has been secured to the public forests, the Su- 

 [)reme Court having construed the act (9 How., 351) as authorizing the 

 [)rotection of all timber on the public lands, and punishment for tres 

 pass upon the same. Under the act of 1831, the Treasury Department 

 undertook a i^artial oversight and i)rotection of timber on the public 

 lands through its ordinary agents. In 1855 this oversight was trans- 

 ferred to agents of the Laud Department, registers and receivers being 

 instructed to act also as timber agents, but without any additional 

 compensation. Where trespass was willfully committed, payment of 

 stumpage was demanded or the timber was seized and sold and the 

 proceeds paid into the Treasury. Where the trespass was committed 

 ignorantly, actual entry of the land only was required, with i)aymeiit 

 of the usual entry charges. 



The first api^ropriation for the payment of agents specially employed 

 for the protection of timber on the public lands was made in 1872, when 

 $5,000 were appropriated. A like sum was appropriated annually 

 thereafter for five years. In 187 8, to meet expenses for suppressing 

 depredations upon timber on the public lands, $25,000 were appropri- 

 ated. Subsequent appropriations for this purpose are noticed in another 

 place. 



The following synopsis shows the course of legislation by the Gen- 

 eral Government in behalf of the forests and timber lands since the 

 passage of the act of 1831. 



It will be noticed that, with the exception of the acts of 1876, 1878, 

 1880, and 1883, none of the many bills which have been proposed have 

 be«u given the form of law. But the failures to secure legislation may 

 be as instructive and as important in a correct history of forestry in 

 our countiT as the record of successes. This will justify the somewhat 

 extended, though not exhaustive, list of bills here given : 



Action taken. 



Referred to Committee on 

 Public Lands. 



Passed in House. In Sen- 

 ate referred to Commit- 

 tee on Public Lands. 



Eeferred to Committee on 

 Public Lands. 



Eeferred to Comniittee on 

 Agriculture. Keported 

 favorably. Failed of pas- 

 (siigQ^gl yeas, 87 aajs. 



Year. 



Congress. 



House in which 

 originated. 



1871 



41st, 3d sess. 



H. R. 2930, 

 Sargent. 



1871 



41st, 3d sess. 



H. E. 3C05, 

 Sargent. 



1871 



42d, 1st sess. 



H. E. 274, 

 Garfielde. 



1872 



42d, 2d 8es8. 



H. E. 2197, 

 Haldcmau. 



Object of bill. 



Por the sale of timber lands in 

 California and Oregon. 



To authorize the sale of timber 

 lands in California, Oregon, and 

 Washington Territory, not ex- 

 ceeding (340 acres to one person 

 or association, without resi- 

 dence, at $2.50 per acre. 



Same as the preceding 



To oncoui'agc the x)lantiiig of trees 

 and the preservation of woods 

 on the ])Ubhc domain. * (Tbo 

 jfir.it rrai and conspvclicKsive [9V- 

 B,-5(.rv biiJ.) 



