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Public lands--Government policy

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Memorandum from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

Memorandum from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt issues a directive to Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock stating that in order to prevent fraud that is now occurring with the acquisition of public lands in the United States, an authorized officer of the government will need to examine any issuance of final certificate, patent or evidence of title with the exception of the examples outlined in the memorandum. Hitchcock will be responsible for issuing these instructions to carry out the order.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock that he believes radical action is needed in the matter regarding public lands. Roosevelt feels that illegal fencing is takes public lands away from the public use, and will recommend that Congress pass laws for the government to handle these areas in the same way the forests are managed. Roosevelt wants government officers examining the situation. He also plans to ask for the power to supervise lands used for coal mining, noting that the current related laws “put a premium on fraud.” Roosevelt says that an unnamed university chancellor visited him to complain about damage to his school due to the current coal land-related laws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Memorandum from Hillory A. Tolson to Lawrence C. Merriam

Memorandum from Hillory A. Tolson to Lawrence C. Merriam

Acting Director Tolson has been consulting with an attorney from the Bureau of Land Management to determine the eligibility of public lands in the exchange program at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. He authorizes the program to continue under the Taylor Grazing Act and requests further information on the boundaries of the Roosevelt Recreational Demonstration Area.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1948-12-10

Creator(s)

Tolson, Hillory A.

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the stockmen of Wyoming

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the stockmen of Wyoming

President Roosevelt sends his greetings to the stockmen of Wyoming and hopes to work with them to solve their problems. Roosevelt notes that “the law gives me no alternative” with regard to removing the fences around grazing lands, but he hopes to protect and promote the establishment of homes on public lands and asks that the members of the convention advise him on the best methods for regulating the use of public lands for grazing purposes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene W. F. ReQua

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene W. F. ReQua

President Roosevelt thanks Eugene W. F. ReQua for the letter, and asks for the name of the government land inspector that ReQua mentioned, as he wishes to write to him privately and get all the facts. Roosevelt admits that he knows “how very much wickedness there has been in the Indian and public land work in the past,” but believes that the government is making progress in eliminating crookedness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Memorandum from Gifford Pinchot

Memorandum from Gifford Pinchot

Gifford Pinchot expresses his concerns on public lands, land settlement, and land reclamation in this memorandum. He proposes “better administration” by reorganizing the Department of the Interior and “better law” by repealing the Timber and Stone Act, revising the Homestead Law, and improving agricultural prospects on desert land through several proposed measures by the Department of Agriculture.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-1909

Creator(s)

Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

Letter from Jonathan Bourne to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Jonathan Bourne to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Bourne of Oregon forwards several letters to President Roosevelt that reflect public sentiment regarding the upcoming presidential election. Only one letter refers to the prospects of Secretary of War Taft, but even that one supports a second elective term for Roosevelt. In Colorado, business sentiment is against Roosevelt because of his policies regarding public lands. Bourne will dictate his thoughts to John W. Foster and will be advised of the president’s thoughts via the same.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-19

Creator(s)

Bourne, Jonathan, 1855-1940

Summary of reports regarding the Big Horn Ditch

Summary of reports regarding the Big Horn Ditch

This report summarizes allegations by Inspector Edward B. Linnen related to the construction of a canal in Wyoming which was fraudulently used to claim desert land as having been reclaimed. A second canal was constructed by the company which acquired title to the lands from the original company. In order to effectively irrigate the lands, the second canal had to be constructed in a materially different manner than the first, proving that the first project was a fraud.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-01

Creator(s)

Unknown

Instructions to special agents under the act of February 25, 1885 (23 Stats., 321), entitled “An act to prevent unlawful occupancy of the public lands.”

Instructions to special agents under the act of February 25, 1885 (23 Stats., 321), entitled “An act to prevent unlawful occupancy of the public lands.”

Commissioner Richards provides instructions to General Land Office agents on how to handle “unlawful inclosures and obstructions” on public lands. The relevant act from 1885 and a proclamation by Grover Cleveland, serving as president during the act’s passage, are attached to the instructions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-29

Creator(s)

Richards, William A. (William Alford), 1849-1912

Salt Lake Herald, September 19, 1903

Salt Lake Herald, September 19, 1903

Gifford Pinchot highlighted two articles in the September 19, 1903, edition of the Salt Lake Herald. The first, “Modify the Land Laws Is Congress’ Decision,” describes the debates and resolutions of the National Irrigation Congress held in Ogden, Utah. The fiercest debate was over a proposed resolution that favored the repeal of the timber and stone act, the desert land act, and the commutation clause of the homestead law. Instead, the Congress resolved to press for “modifications in raid laws as will save the remaining public lands for actual settlers who will found homes and live upon said lands.” The second article, “Resolutions That Were Acted On By Congress,” summarizes the various issues that were discussed in the National Irrigation Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-19

Creator(s)

Unknown