The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-13
GOOD woaK BEING DOVE.

TIE people OF Washington are thor
o1shly aroused over the question % the
forestry reservations and are taking
prompt steps to see that such showing
Is made TO congress as will induce favor
able action toward reopening OF the res
ervations. at Whatcom. Everett and
other places fnn data is being socamu-
lated. showing the magnitude Of the min
Ing interests within the reservations and
the absence OF timber thers-
The two memorials which passed the
legislature. without dissenting vote, Ger
tainIy should have some weight with con
gress. when II Is considered that the
makeup OF the legislature 10 such as TO
clearly show that the members cannot be
suspected Of much sympathy with the big
lumber corporations. or any other corpora
ton. for that matter.
"A particularly strong document Is the
memorial prepared by the committee OF
the Chamber OF Commerce and which was
adopted az 4 mass meeting OF citizens BeId
Al the Chamber OF Commerce las. even
ing II briefly shows the size. devel-
opmen, and commercial importance OF
the state. and caustically reviews the
proceedings hse ~ which the for
essry Withdrawals were made II Is
then pointed out that these reservations
embrace nearly the entire mining country
OF the state OF Washington, and. II allowed
10 stand. the chief Industry OF the state
wl4l be niotted out.
The memorial shows further that there
is no valuable timber within tiese ressrva-
tlons. that what timber there is upon them
is OF All inferior class which no mill owner
would take as gift. even IL 1t wers Access
slble: that no corporation, syndicate or
person has or ever had any designs what
ever upon the forests embraced In the res
ervatIon limits, for the simple reason that
they are worthless for commercial pur-
poses.
1, Is also shown that such rivers as are
In the reservation are fed purely by gIa-
GERS arising far above the timber line.
and would be absolutely unaffected IL all
the timber was destroyed: that the rsser-
yations are only valuable for mining. and
what little timber there Is In the mount
aims. Furthermore. wherever timber has
been cut down in this section Of tho coun-
try It's place has been taken by a more
luxuriant growth than was originally upon
the ground. Thus neither OF the two pur-
we're theoretically made have any spplica-
ton to the conditions which exist In West
ern Washington.
Had the department OF the interior pro-
ceeded In exact accordance with the rules
which the secretary OF the interior him
self prescribed 10 govern the making OF
such reservations as this. all OF these facts
would have been in the possession OF the
department and the reservations would
consequently never have been made. And
this Is the legitimate complaint which the
people of Washington have. The reserva-
tons were made not only without due. or
in fact any. knowledge OF the existing con-
ditions. but blindly. hurriedly and surrep-
titiously. no that no opportunity for the
presentation Of the facts in the case could
be had
Had II been known that the reservations
were in contemplation, all OF the work.
after the fact. which the citizens OF Wash
ington are now doing to place the facts a.
they actually exist before congress would
have been done long ago. But no citizen
OF Washington was consulted IN the mat
ter or given hint as to the possible action
!. "a .H..N.a
that no citizen OF Washington familiar
with the subject has yet raised his voice
In favor q the forest reservations as made.
The circumstances which are made BY
tho various chambers Of commerce and
boards of trade 20 these forest ressrva-
tions are not Inspired by any selfish mo-
lives. The interests Of the members Of
these bodies in the matter IL simply the in
direct Interest which al citizens have IN
something which Affects the welfare % ths
enure stale. the broad interest which al
have In a matter which may result in ar
resting TIE material development; % the
state AZ thus particularly critical period o.
10 growth.
j. - yratifying - observe thst some %
re states delegation Tn congress sre alive
% The necessity - prompt action and ara
doing What they can % procure g. seua-
Ter Wilson has already laid TIRE matter hs-
FORE the secretary e the interior and ths
president. and = prepared 10 make good
80 q al data furnished hiru In the mat
ter n the matter lay vitA ths president
alone. 70 e. Qlits certain that revocation
q tie Nitharawsls could promptly be had
TIE better opinion. however. seams 20 be
that IS tie Withdrawals we're made IN pur-
saanee % . special statutory authorize
ton. q vii require oongrcsslonal action %
set them aside.