The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-09
Protect the Wood Lands.

General Land Commissioner LAMoREUx
desires Secretary LAMONT to detail detach-
ments OF the regular army in order to pro-
tect from depreciation tho great forest re-
serves set apart under the authority con-
ferred by the act OF March 8. 1891.
There are fifteen OF these timber reserva-
tlons. The largest, the Sierra, In California.
includes over 1000. 900 acres while others In
the same State are the San Bernardlno. 737.-
600; the San Gabriel over $4,000 acres. and
the Trabuco, nearly $4,000 acres. In the
State OF Washington is the Pacific res
ervation. over 100000 acres; in Ore
gon. tho Bull Run. $4,000. In Colo
RADIO are the White River. 1.19s.ooO acres +:
the South Platte, over 6s3.OOO the Battle
ment Mesa, over $4,000; the Pixies Peak.
1S4,32O. and the Plum Creek. 177.70O. Adj
| joining Yellowstone Park Is tho Yellow
stone reservation, 1885, acres. In New
Mexico is the Pecos River. sll.O49. In Ari-
| zona is the Grand Canon OF the Colorado.
| 1,s50,000. In Alaska is Afognak Island.
Excluding this last. which requires no
military protection. and also the Yellow
stone reserve. which can be taken care Of
by the present park guard, we have an ag-
gregate OF moro than IL SOC. 900 acres. These
reservations include many millions Of mag
niflcent and valuable trees. and also some
OF the most majestic and charming scenery
In America. The complaints received at the
General Land Office are that wanton depre-
dations are constantly committed upon
these reserves.
The Interior Department has received
from Congress no appropriation for tho
protection Of the timber areas thus set
apart. and accordingly it now appeals to
the War Department to furnish police
force. Whether this request can be COM
piled with remains to be seen; but the
work Is OF a sort familiar to the army. Yo-
semitic Park and Sequoia Park are now
guarded by detachments Of the Fourth
Cavalry. and Yellowstone Park has q regu-
larly established post. garrisoned by troops
OF the Sixth Cavalry. In these cases the duty
has been formally imposed upon the army.
Ten years ago Congress provided that the
Secretary OF War should. upon the request
OF the Interior Department. detail troops
to prevent the destruction OF game in yell
lowstone Park and to preserve its natural
features from injury. Since then Yosemite
and Sequoia parks have come under SIM
liar protection, and now two troops Of cav
.
merly. are assigned to Fort Yellowstone.
The reports Of Capt. HARRIS. Capt. BoU-
TELLE. and Capt. ANDERSON. who have sue
cessively acted as superintendent Of yell
lowstone Park. show conclusiyely the value
of the services rendered by the troops, not |
only in preserving order and protecting the |
game, but In preventing or extinguishing |
forest fires and in keeping out the wood |
choppers. Like results have been secured |
by Capt. DoRsT and Capt. WOOD In Yosemite |
and SeQuoia parks. Sawmills. In some |
parts Of the country, have been largely sup
piled with material through ravages in the |
public domains.
Apart from the disfguring of majestic
caused by these depredatlons.
the destruction OF the water supply
through shearing the mountains of their
forest coverings Is a serious calamity. The
woods hold the SHOWS and regulate their
melting into the water courses to the best
advantage. The value Of the trees to the
Government for future sale is also great,
and 1t constantly increases.
1t may not be practicable to guard thor
oughly all the new forest reservations, but
1t least some OF them could be so protected,
Ind particularly those that arc not far dis
ant from the forts. 1t is sometimes the
custom to take out garrisons here and there
or camp and for practice man9uvres In the
and substitute might perhaps
20 found in this guard and scouting duty.
Congress could also provide a remedy for
he existing lack of police protection on the
crest reserves.