Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-06-17
THE CUTTING OF TIMBER.
Letter From Gov. e. A. Stevenson
To tho Secretary Of the Interior.
TERRITORY OF IDAHO,
Executive Department,

TERRITORY OF IDAHO,
Executive Department
Boise City, June 3rd, 1856.
Hon L. Q. g. Lamar, Secretary Of
the Interior, Washington.
SIR:-I would most respectfully
and earnestly request your careful and
personal attention to some facts as to the
working Of Commissioner Sparks recent
circular in relation to cutting timber on
the public lands in this territory.
There are about eight million acres of
mineral lands in Idaho, the most of
which is covered with timber, and it is
the only timber supply for other portions
Of the territory. 1t is also fact that
there are moro or less gold and silver
quartz leads and placer mining on every
square mile of said lands, and that the
lands ere more valuable for the mineral
contained therein than for any other pur-
pose whatever. There being no way to
obtain titles to thi, timber land or tim.
Der which was absolutely necessary to
the working aud developing of our
mines and the settlement of the agricul-
tural lands Of the territory. Congress
passed the law to overcome the difficulty
and to give the settler the right to cut
the timber for building, agricultural,
mining and other domestic purposes, to
be governed and regulated by your de-
partment. / have always thought that
the object Of the law was to encourage
the development Of the mines and the
settlement Of this vast territory. Indi-
vidual miners, ranchmen, or their agents,
do not own and are not able to own and
operate saw mills, and if they attempt
to cut and saw their own lumber on these
mountains it would add an additional
and unnecessary expense Of more than
one hundred per cent.
If individual saw.mill men, who I'm
derstand the business, are prevented from
cutting and saving the timber and fur
nishing lumber for fencing, building, and
mining purposes, at reasonable prices, to
the actual settlers of idaho, it would be
the hardest blow that could possibly be
inflicted. 1t would almost stop improve
ment and progress. 1t would destroy,
virtually, our mining interests 20 the ex-
tent Of millions Of dollars, and throw
thousands Of our people out Of employ.
ment.
l would most respectfully request the
modification of Rule No. 2 and 3 so as
to allow the timber to be felled and saw
ed into lumber aod sold to our miners.
farmers, and all others making perman-
ent improvement.
am personally acquainted with mos,
Of the men owning saw mills in this ter
ritory, and can truthfully say that they
are good citizens and wish to obey the
law; aud while they have invested in
many instances their all in mills to sup
ply at reasonable prices the lumber which
the miners, the farmers, and stockmcn,
and all other classes must have, they de-
pend on the liberal continuance of a
policy which has been the rule for more
than thirty years in all the territory west
Of the Rocky Mountains.
There are large tracts of land on
which grows the black or lodge.polc pine
which, when fully grown, is about eight
inches in diameter. 1t then dies and
stands dead, or falls and causes the i'm.
mense fires that sweep over this timber
country. After few years the burned
tracts are again covered with a thick
growth Of the same pine which grows to
about six or eight inches in diameter and
seventy to one hundred feet in height
making valuable posts and mining tim.
bers.
l would suggest that Rule No. 3 be
modified to read five inches instead Of
eight.
l would also most respectfully susses,
the propriety OF some method be adopted
whereby actual settlers could purchase
small tracts of these vast timber lands
IRON the government; for, unless some
just, liberal and reasonable method is
adopted whereby our people can procure
wood to burn, lumber for mining, fencing
and building purposes, all our labors AVID
hopes for years are wasted and
destroyed.
Very Respectfully Yours.
E. A. STEVENSON,