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Show ISMOOT'S NEW ROAD BILL Inimdueinc a bill In ih I en tie, Senator Smoot has marie the first step in an effort to provide a road fund in western states to be derived from the ale of public lands. The bill in part provides ; That the BeOfetAf? of the interior be. and he is hereby, authorized and directed to withdraw from sale or other form of disposition under he public land laws, and set aside as state road lands, 10 per centum of the uinwilhdrawn. unreserved and unap proprlated public lands within the -cveral states wherein are situated 10,000 acres or more of public lands; provided, that the surface of the lands to be so withdrawn and sot aside shall he chiefly valuablo for grazing and raising forage crops, shall not contain con-tain merchantable timber, and shall not be susceptible of irrigation from any known source of water supply, and be of such character that 640 acre or more are reasonabh re quired for the support of a family. "That the areas so withdrawn and set aside aa 9tate road lands shall be sold under the direction of the secretary secre-tary of the Interior at public outcry' at not less than $1.25 per acre, in such quantities, at such times and places, and after such notice as the seere tary of the interior may elect to pay all cash at the time of the sale, or 10 per centum cash and the remainder in nine equal annual Installments, with interest at the rate of 4 per centum on such Installments " The revenue from the sales are to be placed to the credit of the public land fund of each state. This will allow cattle and sheep owners to buy up large areas at comparatively com-paratively small cost, but will keep the revenue within the stale -where I the sales are made and help build and maintain roads. |