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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 1915)
Tlir, SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTLAXD, JULY 18, 1013. PLAN TO DEVELOP GRANT LANDS TOLD Administration by Federal Government to Bring About Settlement Advocated. PROBLEM IS SET FORTH II. II. Schwartz W'ouSd Have All Acreage Classified and Sold In i'nrm Units, but Timber 'With held Ir'uU letails Given. BY H. H. SCHWARTZ. The newspaper discussions covering the Oregon & California grant have developed diversity of opinion and ad vice, not only aa to. what disposition shall be made of the lands, but also as to how that disposition shall be .ac complished. There has oeen assumption in some quarters that Congress can dis pose of the matter without consent of the railroad company; and there has been general assent that Congress will open the lands to settlement. Neither of these propositions ought be assumed. As to the first, the grant to the com pany, with its "enforceable covenants, carries mutual obligation, and the United States can no more ignore its terms than can the railroad company, and a law or amendment to the grant authorizing the United States to take over the lands upon payment of $2.60 per acre, without placing settlers there on, will violate the grant aa effectively as the act of the railroad in selling cer tain portions without settlers upon the land. The fact that the. railroad has violated the grant by selling lands at more than t2.5U without settlement does not warrant the United States in compelling the railroad to accept t2.50 without settlement. The railroad is entitled to have the lands settled, and thereby to receive the mended benefits of a population, and its consequent travel and tonnage, for which alone money is invested in the building of railroads. Also if, as some of the Government attorneys seem tq think, the railroad may be asked to ac count to the Government for any excess received in the sale price of lands sold, questions will arise as to the equitable right of the railroad to reduction of claims by reason of taxes paid upon values beyond its now assumed 12.60 per acre interest in the lands. Company's Assent F.asy to Get. We may as well dismiss the assump tion that Congress can effectually legis late new conditions in the grant with out consent of the railroad. Bo to legis late will merely Invite another 10 years of litigation, and failure in the end. However, the Supreme Court has defi nitely determined that the legal mone tary interest of the company in the grant . is limited to $2.50 per acre, hence it will not be difficult to secure the company's assent to legislation which rhall secure or accelerate the time of the payment to it of that interest. The real difficulties, as far as the people of Oregon are concerned, will begin when the way for securing legls lation is open. The basic danger, and the one present at every step, is that these lands may fall into the dead hand of the forest service. There is not only danger but there is probability that uch result may be realized. Already the National Forester has publicly in dicated that a "checkerboard" forest reservation is not impossible, and has pointed out that such reserves exist in the Southwest. He did not mention that they were acquired through land graft and are without timber, and used ex clusively for grazing purposes. Mr. Graves says he hopes to acquire half of the intervening even sections by ex change; a like hope will fit in Oregon. I assume there is no ne in Oregon, outside of the forest service and those who have some ulterior interest to aid, really wanting these lands to go into a reservation. ' Some Reanona Are Given. The reasons why these lands may probably become tied up in some form of reservation are many, and some of them are as follows: First, the service will endeavor to secure control of the lands. Second, a majority of Congress favors the policy of reservation, other wise called and assumed to be "con eervation." This is true because the East does not understand Western con ditions, and the Representatives in Con gress from the Western states are hope lessly in the minority; and some even of that minority have been placated and silenced by prominent committee as signments and by the subtle but effec tive influence of Pinchotism In the so cial and political atmosphere at Wash ington. Third, and most lamentable, is the concession by Qregon people and the newspapers that a large part of the grant is not agricultural in character. This last is error, and the sooner we get away from that error the sooner we will be serving our own interest. Because we must be right ourselves before we can hope to secure Just re sults, I wish to point out the error in assuming that Western Oregon lands are not agricultural in character be cause heavily timbered. The mere statement that the lands are heavily timbered is Nature's answer that they are agricultural lands, where not chiefly valuable for mineral. There is very little mineral land. Classification la Indorsed. In demonstrating that land is agri cultural It is not meant to Infer that the valuable timber now thereon should be handed over to whomsoever is nimble enough to make a first set tlement, lucky enough to draw in a lottery, or cunning enough to devise a law which shall defeat real set tlement and agriculture. The two propositldns are wholly distinct. Also, 1 agree that the lands should be clas sified: but the basis of classification should be to fix the order" in which classes of lands shall be settled and improved. . Western Oregon has a rainfall and a kindly climate which will produce every product of the temperate zone: a soli which will produce the gigantic forests with every conceivable tangle of undergrowth, vine. shrub and grasses. . will also produce, when the timber is removed, annually crops ap proaching in value the century or half century crop of outstanding timber. In addition It will bring to it population. Pities and towns, culture and wealth. To accept that the present standing timber shall condemn these lands to solitude and wilderness is to assume the character of the unworthy servant who hid his talent in the earth await ing return of his master. It is admitted that some of these lands are rough and mountainous. So are the dairy districts of Switzerland and the terraced and vine-clad hills of Spain and Italy. Some of the logged-, off lands of Western Oregon give dairy returns of greater value than the moBt favored grain fields of the central Ftates. The plow is not the only im plement of agriculture: and yearly planting is not the -only prelude to annual crops and farm wealth. The flock and herd came before the vine yard and orchard, and they in turn preceded the modern idea of raising grain and annual crops to be sold In m inartteia or tn n-orid vvhv an I Oregonian should assume or admit that inese lands are not agricultural in character and not fitted for settlement is hard to realize. Settler Cornea Eventnally. Rather, it seems, the thought Is that a law seeking to open such lands to settlement will merely result in their going into the hands of our timber holding capitalists by way of a fraud ulent or pretended" settlement. That such has been the result of present set tlement laws when applied to heavily timbered lands cannot be denied. Proof of it is found everywhere by merely comparing the number of homestead patents wjth the number of actual residents found In any heavily timbered township where the lands have been patented for five or ten years. But that is the fault of the old law being applied to new conditions! First in time is tjie first in right, and the reward Is to the alert and swift. These, ordinarily, are not real farmers. By a more or less perfunctory compli ance with the law for 14 months the "settler" acquires for HftO a quarter section of land worth, maybe, $10,000 for its timber, Ue Is not interested In the fact that the land when cleared may be worth even more. His real habitat is tiie city and town, and eufr ficient unto the day ia the profit thereof; and so he sells to a standing timber Investor. This takes the land out of the settlement class until such time as the land may be Included in a profitable logging uhance or hoJding company, according to the Interests and ideas of the timber man. After that the real farmer may come alon and slowly dig out the stumps. AH this is not without gpod. how ever, for the alleged settler usually spends to good advantage the mono received for the lands, and the Investor pays his taxes annually, and ultimate ly the timber is removed and a farm established. But the last result, first In Importance, is long delayed, and as a consequence the larger interest of all concerned, particularly the people In aggregate, is unreasonably deferred and only haphazardly attained. Proper Law Possible to Draft. With so considerable an area of land as a basis for action, can a law ' be passed which will induce speedy set. tlement, insure permanent settlement, eliminate th- speculative timber values from the inducement to settle, and at the same time secure to the State of Oregon and the Federal Government in directly, yet in increased amount, the actual value of the standing timber? I think such a law is possible to draft and with proper effort possible to enact. The basis of a campaign for such a law should be the proposition that a. resident family and annual crops or livestock increase upon 160 acres of land is of more benefit to the people than any possible amount of standing timber thereon. This being true, it.fol luws that if settlers- can be placed upon the lands and a sufficient por tion of each settlement claim cleared and cultivated to -pass the land into the improved farm class, by an expen diture of a portion or all of the stand ing timber, the state will have gained, and comfort and happiness be brought to thousands. Can this be done without the risk incident to lending public money or property to the insolvent and possibly, in instances, the Improvident and Incompetent? I think, it can Pe done. Assuming that satisfactory adjust ment may be made with the railroad company, I present herewith, with some diffidence, my own Ideas, in a tenta tive way, of a law which will make cultivated farms out of the present w-ilderness. I am pot unaware of con flicting interests and their ability to command brains capable of pointing out objection; neither do I assume that no objections can exist In fact. But I believe such objections aa do exist are not of sufficient merit to condemn the general lines of the proposed law. Plan Is Outlined. My plan is that the Unds shall be taken over by the United States for purposes of administration; compunsa. tion. present or proportional upon sales, to be paid the railroad. Second, the lands should be examined in the field by a corps of timber and soil experts drawn from tlje Department of Agricul ture, the known mineral lands exclud ed,' and the remaining lands classified Into acreage farm units with a mini mum of 44 acres and a maximum of 320. and these units to be wholly de pendent upon the soli possibilities tak en in conjunction with elevation and topography, and the farm-unit acre age to be fixed by what in best judg ment will support a family, plus rea sonable additional return's to insure to the family independence in old age. In reaching these units presence or ab sence of timber, as such, should not be determining factor, for the reason that the timber shall not go to the settler beyond his license to use with- EMPLOYES OF POSTOFFICE TO VILLE. f A H" M .... . . . -..,....,,. . -? t t. y - - . , ft1'- - I -'' ': . - .. : r t . ; ; - - .; ' OFFICERS OF" TWO ORGANIZATIONS OK POSTAL WORKliKS. Special trains will leave the Union Depot this morning at o'clock filled with Jubilant postofflce employes, who will hold their annual picnic at Bonneville. - The Postofflce band, composed of both clerks and carriers, will contribute music for the picnic. Races for the women and children will be part of the athletic programme. Dancing will be indulged in from 2;30 until S o'clock. The noon luncheon w-ill be served at the park grounds. Much of the success will be due to the Postofflce Boosters' Club, whose membership includes the entire staff of officials, rieort '. Davis is chair man for the picnic By Ray Barkhurst Portland's Leading Tailor 'X m TrJ!?T&i?o st.ndxa.r,d.of workmanship always maintained by skilled mechanics in MY OWN WORKSHOP RIGHT ON THE PREMISES will still be adhered to. The BEST cf LININGS and TRIMMINGS, as usual. AND THE HAND-PADDED, SHAPE-RETAINING, UNBREAKABLE COAT-FRONT. ANANSASKi NaS gvZSx'SkS&E' A"VAYS GOES A BARKST SH RAY out waste such timber as may be need ed to support his improvements and im prove his land by the use thereon thereof. In addition to fixing the farm units, the examiners should take note of the quantity, quality and maturity of the standing timber, and also of the market possibilities am", accessibility of the lands for settlement and agricul tural purposes. With this data avail able, the lands should be placed Into three classes. The first class to be im mediately available for sale to actual settlers; the second class to be mo avail able when the first class la practically exhausted, or new conditions suggest inclusions of parts thereof in the first class; the third class, as to particular farm units, to be available for settle ment when the timber on a reasonable acreage of any farm unit shall have been removed. 'With this preliminary data on hand, the administration of the lands should pass to the General Land Office. Lands settled upon should be sold to settlers at 12. 50 per acre on time and without interest, and the fee withheld HAVE PICNIC TODAY AT BONNE c C. l, erscc n 0rniji 82, At st C ... ' ' rm4 V-iT i-,. ..in, . -.---I i $30 ARKHU until payment i made and other con ditions of the law complied with. Ac tual residence for five years and a minimum amount of Improvements and acreage cl tared and actually cultivat ed should precede final patent convey, lng the fte. Finally, and most important, the sale of standing timber and the receipts from sale of the lands to settlers should be used as a revolving fund to aid the settlers In clearing the land and securing reasonable credits from their country merchants and bankers for uses incident to ordinary farming. This can best be accomplished by actually paying the settler from time to time, probably annually. certain amounts within fixed limltn. for the acreage of land he has actually cleared and reduced to bona fide cultivation. Thus he Is not a borrower from the Government, and is paid only In pro portion as he has actually earned. If he defaults and abandons tlie land, the Improvements already made will be the sure inducement to another to take the land and carry an the work. The sums so advanced ought not be treated as a charge upon the land nor consid ered as a gift to the settler, but rather aa the equivalent, equitably distributed over the entire grant, of the aid set tlers otherwise In theory received from the-sales by them, of standing timber upon lands difficult to clear by reason of such timber and forest growth, sjuch cleared-land payments to settlers should not exceed a reasonable proportional acreage of his total farm unit; it be lns proper that every farm have a wood lot and pasturage, not necessary to prepare for grain, fodder, garden, vineyard or orohard. Neither should the amounts thus paid the settler for cleared lands be Iarire enough to make the mere clearing of land profitable in itself: but it should at least furnish the possibility of and the Inducement to ke,-p up the work of Improvement until the lend reachea such a stnge of productiveness and profit in tilling or grasin;; that its future as an Improved and going farm is assured. Thereafter the land Itself will insure Its occu pancy and profitable use. Dearrt I-aad Settler Aided. The United States is today selliryr Oregon public lands and public lands In other states and using the motvey. to the extent of almost 190,000.000. in aiding settlers to establish, themselves upon desert lands, lending the money, as it were, to such desert land settlers on 20-vear repayments without Inter est. The waiving of interest Is equiv alent to a gift of the whole principal. The desert laud settler finds his land laid off in farm units, water at his door, and nature lias cleared his land for him. Practically all of this Is paid for with lands In the timbered states, and most of such timbered lands, falling into the hands of great hold ing companies, are kept in a state of nature, producing merely the annual taxes a nil preventing settlement and population. There Is no reason why the timber upon the railroad grant sftould not pay In part the cost of pre paring such lands for permanent homes and annual profitable use. By this method Oregon may. In a small meas ure, secure some of the value she has contributed to the upbuilding of the desert states and induce some of the settlements and population our soil and cltmate warrants, but which standing timber and archaic laws prevent. Nor Is it necessary that the State of Oregon forego its accustomed taxes in the present in order to secure the larger future beneftt In the final set tlement and" cultivation of these lands. In the sale of timber upon the Na tional forest a percentage of the pro ceeds now goes to state uses. A like provision could be made covering the sale of'tlmher upon the granted lands. Could the Congress be Induced to turn over the lands to the state after settle ment with the railroad, administration of the lands along the foregoing lines might result In an annual return far in excess of anything It has ever re ceived by way of taxes. There are three things the people of Oregon should bear in mind. One Is that, when Congress meetK, both the railroad company and the Forest Serv ice will be ready with concrete Ideas, bills in friendly hands, and astute and able counsel and lobbies to present d $35 an I am going to make this the greatest Sacrifice of my whole business career. A NO PROFIT SALE. JUST TO KEEP MY TAILORS BUSY, I'll give you the largesfand choicest line of ALL-WOOL FABRICS you ever saw to choose from. Not Summer Suits alone, but THE CREAM OF THE MARKET of my new and just arrived Fall and Winter Fabrics including: BLUE 17-OZ. SERGE; HEAVY-WEIGHT WORSTEDS in all shades of gray or checks and plaids in multi colored effecia; HAIRLINE STRIPES; CHEVIOTS in blue, black and gray; And GENUINE SCOTCH TWEEDS in every known shade and weave that vou can think of, my stock contains, and goes in this sale, POSITIVELY, ABSOLUTELY and TRUTHFULLY, I carry the largest, newest and most up-to-date stock of real Woolens in this citv. ,.jLyiSIT T0 MY STORE WILL PROVE THE ACCURACY OF THIS STATE MENT, POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION their views. Those who know anything of legislative bodies know the advan tage of such preparation and assist ance. The third fact Is that there are powerful factors In and out of Oregon w hose Interest it is to see that as big a block of these lands as possible shall be denominated "timber land, un fit for settlement." and ro sold and kept off the market In aid of an in flated and already sagging combina tion of standing timber; or. that fall ing, ask to have them Included In that monumental graveyard of Western prosperity known as the National For ests. Hut if we have faith in the ability of real farmers to succeed if given rea sonable chance, and are ourselves rea sonably represented before Congress. regon may hope In this one instance to keep its own and care for Its own. And, finally. I believe that any Fed eral administration of these lands should be through the General Ijind Office and not through the Forest Serv ice. My reasons are that the Forent Service is. in Its control, dominated by KaMern crusaders aflame with the con viction that our standing tinther must be preserved for present fupervlslon and future consumption. With thexe convictions It never can and never will understand the needs or the view point of the people of Oregon. On the other hand, the l.and Office and the Interior Department proper are filled with Western men largely in real sympathy with actual settlers; ami it has no conflicting or adverse interest to serve or consider In enforcing the laws, or in reaching a Just understand ing of the needs and the difficulties of the pioneers upon the land. It has a thorough local organisation, equipped with all the machinery necessary to do the work In view, and officered by men who have spent their whole lives here In tho West. We should take counsel of experience and see to It that we not only secure legislation neces sary, but that administration thereof is placed in hands not hostile to the purposes of the law. ALSEA HAS SI 5,000 FIRE Heavy Ix to Oddfellows Iodge I Covered by Insurance. CORVALLIS. Or.. July 17. (Spe cial.) The inland town of Alsea. Bn ton County, suffered a heavy loss by fire last night. D. D. Lonehbottom and the Oddfellows' lodge were the only losers, but their losses will total 15,000. The fire originated near the flour warehouse of the Longhbottom store, and spread quickly, the town having no fire protection. The properties were both insured. T0RPED0-B0ATJS WANTED Governor Akks Xavy Department for Craft to Aid Militia. A little torpedo-boat, fully equipped for discharging torpedoes of the type now figuring so prominently In the war, may become the property of the Oregon Naval Militia for permanent service beside tho cruiser Boston in Portland's harbor. A request has been mado to the Navy Department by Governor Withycombe for such a craft for the Oregon Militia. Henef lei-Montgomery Nuptials m?f. The wedding of Miss Monica Mont gomery, dauxhter of Rev. - and Mrs. A. J. Montgomery, and Francis Wilson Beneflel. 110 Eat Twentieth street, will take place at the Mount Tabor Tresbyterlan Church. July 27. it was announced yesterday after It wan learned that a marriage license .had been Issued to the young couple. Miss Montgomery's father has charge of the extension work of the Preshvterlan Church In Portland. Mr. Beneflel Is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Beneflel. C4)lBB5t51 CmHM0 aflll I IllJfr ftBjsaaaataaaBaaSMMMfl C pMaSalhaSa-ltaaael Suits to PORTLAND'S LEADING TAILOR CORNER SIXTH and STARK STS. BIBLE CONFERENCE HEAR I'MTKI) l;V.A(.i:l.l('AI. ,ATHKRI(i TO im AT Q11X4IIV 1'ARh. Chancellor A. A. Winter ! Open Srm aiosis Taarsda? Rrr, t. '. Pollaic and Others, neak. The annual Bible conference and camp meeting of the Vnlted Evangeli cal churches if Oregon will opt n next Thursday night at the campgrounds ut (Juinaby Park, near Salem, to close AuRu.t i. Opening rervice will be conducted by lltv. C. C. Poling, of Portland First Church, and Rev. S. s. Mumey, of alein, presiding elders. Rev. F. 11. Ntrff. Kev. Mr. Poling and Chancellor A. A. Winter will make sev eral addresses. July 2 3 the conference will be opened by Chancellor A. A. Winter. A. It. Schmallc and C. P. Gates will pi-nk. In the afternoon 8. S. Mumey. M. J. Ballentyne. N W. Phelps and t;. U I-ovell will i.peak on phases of "The Threefold Work of Christ." Chancellor Winter 'will deliver tlie opening address July 24 on "The Psv chology of the ChrUtlan Life." Dr. C C Poling will jpt-Hk, and there will be a general discussion. There will bo children's hour In the afternoon conducted by S. S. Mumey. Rev. Mr. Neff will deliver an eddre.- on "Modern Hclence and Othr Cults Are They Christian or Anti-Christian?" H. 11. Farnham also w)l speak. C. P. r.ate.-. A. R. Schmallc. B. S. Mumey. E, Singleton. F. A. Phelps and V. L'rbino will be among the sp.-akcr July t. O. R. Stover. F. E. Fisher and W. S. Plowman will be heard July 2T. Q. E. Ersiine. S. M. Wood, A. P. I.y ton and M. D. Phelps will speak July 28. There will be general discussions July I and SO in the forenoon, and the Women's Missionary Society will hold Its annual convention July SI. In the forenoon. The Keystone lengue of Christian Endeavor and Sunday School Convention will be held In the after noon. The general committee of arrangement- I composed of C. C. Pol Ins. C. C. Winter and S. S. Mumev. YOUNG TREES GROW WELL Reforesting- Work on Mount Ilebo Is Rnece-sful, (Government TJeporls. The District Forester t Portland announces that a report has Just been received from the local National Forent officer, on the Spring planting on Mount liebo In Western Oregon, where on approximately 1000 acres, ac cording to the report, the results have been unusually good. It la an established policy of the For est Service to reforest by planting small trees or by sowing seed on several thousand acres of denuded land within the national forests every Spring, and the present season's work has been in accordance with this plan. While Douglaa fir was the species most I'.rgely used in the Mount Ilebo plant ing, other species also were planted. The weather conditions thus far have been so favorable, that less than 10 per cent of the trees have failed to kTow. If the trees continue to do aa well throughout this their first sea son, the results will mean exception ally successful planting for the Spring of 1915. DR. RINEHART WINS SUIT Money Provided for Kducatlon by Grandslre Declared Gift. Money which Dr. J. Carl Rinehart received from his grandfather while he was going to school was a gift and not a loan, according to a de cision by Circuit Judge Gantenbein Order yesterday morning. Dr. Rinehart was widely known In athletic circles as KaC Rmehart while he attended school. The suit was brought by Ifarvey Rinehart. uncle of the youi.g doctor, and adniiniklrator of the estate of his grandfather. James II. Rinehart. It was alleged that Dr. Rinehart had received a tutal of mil from his grandfather for the purpose of completing his edu cation. The uncle averred that this as a loan. Dr. Rinehart hM that it was a series of sifts. The doctor won. young BEET SUGAR PLANTS BUSY Kxpert Is Impressed With Willam ette Valley Opportunities. OREGON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Corvallis, July 17. (Special.) The out look for the home-grown beet sugar industry is mure encuursalng to grow ers of America than evtr before, ac cording lu Clifford Willis, editor of the Northwest Farmstead, who has been spending some time at the Agri cultural College Investigating market iiiij production conditions of Oregon. Many of tho largest manufacturers re port that they have contracts up to their full capacity, to be filled by local growers of sugar beets. Indeed many of them were compelled to turn down scores of applications for supplying raw material to their factories. Experience has improved cultural methods, more economical handling and manufacturing has been brought about, and the effect of the European war has developed sufll'lently to neutralize un favorable tariff legislation, according to Mr. Willis. He is greatly impressed with the possibilities of the Willam ette Valley for extensive sugar beet production, which he considers unusu ally promising. Mr. Willis is the suc cessor to J. E. Larsen. now college ex tension agronomist, who relinquished the position to come to Oregon Agri cultural College. ALASKA SPRUCE IS TESTED Fitness for Vse on Hallroad. North llelng determined. in Extensive tests are being made on Alnaska pprucc to determine its fitness for use lit the construction of the Alaska railroad. In the form of ties and bridge timbers, at the forest products laboratory at the University of Wash- li.vston. The timber which ia to be used in bridges Is subjected to what is called the thumping test In the demonstration of the value of certain kinds of timber for construc tion purposes more than 2s00 tests have been mado on western larch. TOuO on Douglas tlr and 90) on western yel low pine. As a result of these and similar tests In other Government laboratories, the safety factor in the construction ef big buildings has been increased with a corresponding de crease In expense. DAHLIA CARNIVAL PLANNED Vancouver to Have Beauty Center During September Fair. VANCOUVER. Wash, July 17. Spe cial.) Vancouver la to have a grand Dahlia Carnival during September, when the sixth Clarke County Fair Associa tion will stage the Columbia River In terstate Fair and Wild West Show in connection. It Is planned to have a beauty center similar to that worked out so success fully In Portland at the Rose Carnival. Some wide street downtown probably will be used for this purpose, and will be brilliantly illuminated at night when the crowds will be the largest. Many prlxes for the best dahlias will be given, and there will be many spe cial features which a' now being worked out.