Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-08
SINGLE COPIES TWO CENTS.
Tuesday, April 8. 1854.
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRnCTIo;

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRMCTION
In his last annual message to Congress the
President recommended the establishment OF
great forest reservation in northern Mon.
tana. He called attention to the fact that in
many portions Of the West the pursuit OF
general agriculture is enly made practicable
by resort to irrigation. while successful irri-
gatien would itself be impossible without the
aid afforded by forests in contributing 10 the
supply Of water. Important tributaries 81
the Missouri, the Columbia and the Saskstch.
evan rise in the mountains of Montana. near
the northsrn boundary of The United
States, between the Blackfest and
Flathead Indian reservations. This region
is unsuitable for settlement, but upon the
rivers which Aow from it, said the
President, depends shs future agriculture
Development Of q vast tract of country.
Senator Edmunds has introduced a bill
looking toward the carrying out Of the Pres;-
DENTS recommendation. The bill proposes
to withdraw from sale all the region south OF
the northern boundary between the Blackfaei
Indian reservation on che east and the shores
of Flathsad lake and FIathead river on the
west. The southern boundary of the pro-
posed reservation is the Sweating House
river, a small stream flowing to the west into
Flathsad lake. This rsgisn, which embraces
probably more than six thousand square
miles of territory, 1t is proposed to dedicate
and forever set apart as q national forest
reserve for the preservation Of the natural
forests protecting the hsadWstars Of the Co.
lumbia and Missouri rivers. II is made un-
lawful for any person to establish any settle
ment or residence within the proposed ressr-
vation, or to engage in mining or numbering
occupations within its 1isafts.
It is not a moment too soon for the intro
duction of such bill. The matter IL Of very
great Importance, and it should receive the
prompt and careful attsntion of Congress
Az the New York Suu says: The dedication
of this great region as national forest is a
wise and noble measure. Fortunately, this
can still be done without incurrins the active
opposition of interested parties. No injustice,
real or fanoied, will be INFLICTED upon any one
by the withdrawal of this unoccupiad and
unsettled region from the market, and these
forests, with 9 little care and some wise prs
cautions, may yet be saved from the fires
which follow the occupstion and settlement
of all this dry interier region. and which are
fast lickinR up the ferssts which oncs cover
ed the Rocky mountains with noble frs aad
pines and spruoss.
The European governments have learned
to take care of thsir forests. Il has bean
found in the old vorld that it does not pay
to recklessly cut down trOss, and il 10 begin
ming to be perceived even in this country
that there is such thing as making too free
with the forests. At the present rate of de
struction the Indications are shat it will net
be long before the people Of this soantry will
bitterly repent that more attention has not
been paid to preserving our forests. II Is
possible that with energetic work we may es-
cape the worst consequences of our reckless
ness, but in order to do 50 something will
have to be done Immediately. and q great
deal soon. There are, 1t is pleasant to note.
some signs that the people are really waking
up to the importance of the matter.