The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-22
srrnxn IN rms Fonrst nEsnnrss.
Ths Need % Fre,se,s.< Il .us way Meas
nres for TIE rerpose ueNs Failed.

| ures Nor Use EurrOso nave Eruens
WASHINGTON. April 21.-Among the most i'm
portant statutes ever passed for the preserva-
tion Of American forests was the act Of March
3. 1901. empowering the President among It's
provisions. to set apart for public uses tim
| bersd areas Mt the head waters OF rivers in the
western States and Territories. Under that
act Mr.. Harrison created no fewer than seven
teen forest reservations In Arizona the
Grand Canon forest reserve contains 1851
$40 acres. In California, the great Sierra re-
serve contains 100000 acres. the San Der
nardino. 737, $50; the San Gabriel. sos. 500 /;
the Trabuco. 1920. In Colorado. the White
River reserve contains 1,19O.080 acres; the
Battlement Mesa, S5S, 240; the South Platte.
eS3. $50; the Pixies Peak. 1874. 800; the Plum
Creek. 179.20o. In New Mexico. the Pecos
River reserve contains 1.o40 acres In
Oregon. the vast Cascade Range re-
serve contains 44o2.S00 acres the
Bull Run. 142.090 acres; the Ashland.
500 acres In Washington the Pacific re-
eerve contains 00T8So acres. In Wyoming.
the Yellowstone Park reserve contains !. $780,
04o acres. Besides these we find In Alaska
the Afognak forest and FISH culture reserve.
whose area IL not officially reported. Should
the Yellowstone and Yosemite parks be added.
this great aggregate would be swelled by
millions more Of timbered acres, but taking
the sixteen tracts. exclusive of Afognak. cre-
ated under that single act OF 1901, we ind
them amounting to more than 1900 600
acres These figures. 1t Is true. represent the
entire estimated areas within tho boundaries.
and any lands therein that have been lawfully
appropriated must be excluded from the cal
culation: but with all allowances, the acreage
thus set apart for preservation lie enormous.
But the work thus widely and fortunately
begun is not complete. The designation OF
WHARF thav N t
marked or indicated as such. especially where
they have no guards nor keepers, will not OF
itself insure them against trespass. Some OF
the reserves contain magnificent scenery. and
all have noble and valuable trees. The Gem
eral Land Commissioners long ago SGT forth
them. Lumbermen. prospectors. and sheep
herders do not respect tho law and the ques-
ton arises as to how the needed protection
The FIRST method to suggest itself is that OF
employing detachments Of regular troops to
guard ed tho Yellowstone. Yosemite. Grant. and
question whether troops could be spared for
the purpose. doubt has arisen as to the le-
on referring the matter recently to the legal
authorities OF the army. decision was rem
Ss SuthorS would SS oS
However, In the present Congress. bill was
had 1t become law. this obstacle TO protec-
ton would have been removed But it en-
different. provision. authorizing the Secretary
Of the Interior to make rules to utilize the
the highest bidder. in sealed proposals. after
due appraisement. as hereinafter provided. at
An amendment re on ended by the House
committee provided that the Secretary could
on M
provisions OF this act. provided that shall
be Mrs, shown that such cutting will not be
bate. some members, protested that This was
ests was designed to avoid. In defence OF the
measure II was shown that the Secretary OF
free permits for. cutting trees In the reserva-
lions and on other public lands. and was ac-
urged that the pending measure was designe cd
70 allow the Government to profit 10y priv
Urged thas cans is
snrily damage to q forest, but. II done Judi
:lously under skilled supervision. may even
$3.50. 600 year could be derived from the sale
OF surplus timber In no sense required Tor for
where areas so vast are set apart. It may he
unjust to neighborinC settlers 70 prevent them
taStufins purposes without. Saul ing It from
long distance. which would make It unduly
Tho upshot Of tho matter was. however. that
the opponents Of the bill fought 1t SO vigorous
preferred to leave the res po iblity OF Issuing
free permits to tho Interior Department, rather
than to authorize q general system OF timber
cutting like that which was proposed By the
bill. Whatever the merits OF this view, the
feeling which prom pts 1t is clearly commend
able. Nevertheless. as the bill has been
withdrawn. there 10 no i'm ediate prospe Of
authorizing the detail OF troops to protect the
forests. 1t would seem desirable. now that the
open air and camping season is at hand. to In
measure, and little opposition TO It could be
expected In either branch OF Congress.