New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-16
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vaTJoyAL FOREST PRESERVES.

NATIONAL FOREST PRESERVES.
The subject of forest protection has long
been recognized by thoughtful men as one OF
National Importance. In his last message the
President felt constrained to call the attention
If Congress to the necessity of throwing some
safeguards around the forest which still clothes
large portions OF the National domain. In dis-
cussny this recommendation The TRIBUNE
argued that portions OF the public lands about
the sources of the San Joaquin, Sacramento
Columbia, Missouri, Rio Grande and other I'M
nortant rivers heading in high mountains,
should be held in permanent forest, against hfe
and flocks and all cutting except under nxeu
restrictions, in order to insure the Integrity OIL
the streams and of the valleys through when
they flow.
Conflicting interests will make it difficult In
many cases to say just where these re-
serves should be located. But recent ex-
nlorations of the mountain district north
of Flathead Lake point to this region
~ one at least where the policy or Ma
t;o,al forest preserves can I've successfully car
ried out. 1t will be many years before the
loyger can proftably invade these remote and
almost inaccessible woods. correspondent
who lately traversed this region describes II az
wild and broken beyond any possibility Oh
being subdued to agricultural use. ltcan never
be n grazing land. But it has an nestmapie
value as furnishing the water supply OF one OF the
main feeders of Clarks Fork OF the COLUMBIA,
and this value will increase every year as the 1or
ests disappear from the sources OF other streams
tributary 10 the same river The mountains,
too. are lofty aud preciptOus. and all the
streams which gather in the western ranges, as
well as those which flow eastward from the
crest of the continental divide into tributaries
of the Missouri, would be converted by suddenly
dissolving snow into desolating torrents hri-
CATION is necessary to permanent agricultural
succoss in northern Montana and II an equaoie
supply of water is To be maintained III her nu-
merous strea u.s. and if her valleys are not TO De
buried under her wasted mountains, the protect
ing forest grow tn about her river sources must
be guarded against every danger
This entire mountain region is now an un-
trodden wilderness. There are no precious
metals here to excite the hope or ambition oil
the prospector. There would he no press
ure of adventurous emigrants from the
East il the boundary of tho reserve shouiu
extend along the foothills OF the mann
divide, from the North Fork OF tie GUN
River to the Northwest Territory, Tor the
Blacllfpot Indians hold that frontier. 1he
Flathead River would form its natural western
limit. Here would he an area OF 5,OOO Oh
more SQUARE miles which could be set apart fOI
the storage OF moisture without interfering with
any existing right, and the annual cost OF nain-
tanning it, SO as 90 accomplish the.mOst bench
rent results, would We triae. The country
needs no more National parks. There is no rea-
son why the Federal Government should make
any further provision for the delight OF summer
tourists But this forest reserve would serve
its purpose none the worse because 1t contains
some of the grandest scenery on the continent
Ii has no sporting mud or boiling water, no
mnrvcls of Oriental cOlor-no sensatlOns-but "
eouals Yellowstone Park in all the elements
which make mountain scenery impressive
| Resides this, the witness of the typical Rocky
| Mountain landscape is soiteDed here by the
| green of the rich underground and the varied
! fora of the western coast.
But all this is incidental. \ great game pre-
serve. where the elk and mountain goat cOnld
live and multiply unmolested, Is not essential
TO the countIy's prosperity. Scenery can D'
allowed as general thing to take care OF
itself. But the destruction of river is n
| national calamity IL Is the duty OF New ork
| To protect the Adirondacks because the lud-
son is the possession OF the people OF the State
| And if the vast regions watered by the stream
which rise in the high mountains of the Yves
are TO remain habitabe, adequate areas mus
| be held in forest forever.