The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-08
WESTINGHOUSE TIMBER AND LANDS

It is reported that the State Treasurer
has received a government draft for
25,376. %, representing per cent. of the
money received by the government from
the sales of public lands in this state for
seven months of last year, and it is esti-
mated that this states per cent. of such
sales for the current year will amount to
$4,000, which will go to educational en-
dowments, and by many is regarded as a
magnificent gift.
But is the policy which limits to s per
cent. this states interest in the valuable
timber and lands sold within its borders
to be regarded as just, much less generous
treatment of Washington by the general
government According to the above
statement, the sales of land in this state
for the first seven months of last year
amounted TO s507, $3.50, and during the
current year viii amount to one million
dollars, or over million and half in the
two items, and it is paraded as an act of
"munifcent generosity" that the state in
which these lands are located has appor-
toned to it about s75, 900 of this vast total
The balance, it is to be presumed, is with
like munificence to be distributed among
other states, in many of which all of the
public lands have long since been sold,
long before Washington became either
state or an organized territory, and from
the proceeds of which this state received
not one dollar. This, manifestly, is neither
generous nor just. 1t is policy TO the re-
vision and correction of which our repre-
sentatives in both branches of congress
might very properly address their best
efforts.
The lands of this state-especially the
western portion of it-are densely tim
bered and chiefly valuable, or at least sal.
able, on that account. 1t is to the inter-
est, primarily of this section, but ulti-
mately and largely TO the whole country.
not only to the people now living, but to
a remote posterity, that this timber shall
be managed and disposed of with judg-
ment and wise discretion, and that it be
not ruthlessly destroyed and recklessly
wasted. That the latter is the effect OF
the present policy, is beyond dispute or
question. The total proceeds of land sales.
which at present rates must soon exhaust
the unsold domain, bears but an insignia
cant relation to the value which would at
tach within very few years to the timber
that is annually destroyed or wasted IN
der the present policy.
II these lands were transferred to the
state for wise care and disposition every
consideration of local interest would
prompt the authorities having charge of
them TO preserve the forests from wanton
destruction. and to adopt judicious rules
for removal of the timber only for useful
purposes and under such limitations q.
good Judgment and a regard for the public
welfare might dictate. The timber-con.
Stunning and Embarrassing public of the
whole country, now and for ages 10 come
would profit by this course far in excess If
the paltry sums distributed to each state
under the existing system. Nobody wonls
be injured. Everybody and all sections
would be enormously benefited.
And the state of Washington, by TINS
attending to and conserving the interests
now and in the future, of all in the whole
country who are interested in forest pres
ervation, would fairly earn the entire net
proceeds, which would abundantly sup
port, not only her educational institu-
tons, but her state government as well,
without any resort TO taxation. The sug-
gested policy is so pslpably the sound !;
the reasons in support of 1t appeal so
strongly TO the welfare of the whole peo-
pie, that il would seem simple and easy
task to procure legislation favorable to its
| adoption.