The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-02-29
THE CASCADE FOREST RESERVE
Citizens of Eastern Oregon Asking That
it be Thrown Open.

Citizens OF Eastern Oregon Asking That
it be Thrown Open.
The closing of the Cascade Range
Forest Reserve to the stock raisers of
Eastern Oregon. preventing them from
ranging their animals within its
boundaries, threatens to virtually an
nihilate one of the chief industries of
the Inland Empire, and those engaged
in stock raising will make vigorous
effort to have the order of the depart
ment of the interior closing the reserve
rescinded. so as to admit of stock being
ranged thereon. To accomplish this
end they had prepared the following
petition, which is being generally
signed, and will be forwarded to the
department:
''To the Hon. Hoke Smith, secretary of
the Interior:
"We, the undersigned petitioners,
respectfully represent: That we are
citizens of the United States, and of
the state of Oregon, residing in that
portion of said state lying east of and
contiguous to the Cascade Mountain
range; that the section mentioned is
devoted almost entirely to stock-rais-
ing. and being remote from railroads
and markets, said industry is the only
one to which the country is adapted or
for which it can be used. That the
plains of Eastern Oregon, or at least
of that portion herein mentioned, are
arid, and cannot be utilized for pastur-
age during the summer months. That
heretofore, and eyer since the growing
of live stock in said section was begun,
those engaged in that industry have
bee accustomed to pasture their stock
upon the eastern slope of the Cascade
mountain range during the summer
months. That the industry has stead
lily grown until it has become of vast
proportions, and is the means of liveli-
hood of great number of people.
That by reason of the convenience of
the Cascade mountain pastures, a
great number of steckmen have located
government lands, near said mountain
range, and have made valuable and
permanent improvements thereon.
building themselves comfortable homes
and barns and enclosures for the proper
caring for their stock during the win
ter months. That the establishing of
the Cascade Range Forest Reserve has
not only deprived them of the afore-
said summer pasturage, but as it rem
ders their business impossible, vir-
tually contiscates their lands, improve
ments and homes, since they are
valuless without the usual summer
pasturage. That as almost the entire
population of the section of country
PANIED is dependent directly or indi-
rectly, upon the stock industry, the
closing of said Cascade Range Forest
Reserve to pasturage by stock will re-
suit in financial ruin to almost the
entire population thereof; and will
cause the abandonment of many homes
and much valuable improvements.
That the people of the Willamette
Valley and those residing on the west
ern slope of said Cascade mountains,
are not interested in or affected by
conditions on the eastern slope thereof.
Wherefore your petitioners respect
fully pray that you so modify the rules
aud regulations provided for govern
ment and management of said reserve
as to permit the pasturiug of live stock
on all of said reserve, except that por-
tion lying north of the Barlow wagon
road west of the summit of the Cascade
mountain range. And your petition
ers will ever pray, etc.