The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-03

a body of trained forest guards or ran gers can be organized. It does not be- lieve that it is practicable or possible to protect the forests on the public domain from fire and pillage with the present methods and machinery of the govern ment
 In answer to the second question sub mitted by the Secretary of the Inetrior, "How far does the influence of forests upon climate, soil and water conditions make desirable a policy of forest con servatism in regions where the public domain is principally situated?" It Is the opinion of your committee that, while forests probably do not increase the precipitation of moisture in any broad and general way, they are neces- sary to prevent destructive spring floods, and corresponding periods of low water in summer and autumn when the agriculture of a large part of western North America is dependent upon irri- gation.
 The answer to the third question, What specific legislation should be en- acted to remedy the evils now confess sedly existing?" will be found in the se- ries of proposed bills appended to this report. They present the following rec concentrations:
 (D That the Secretary of War, upon the request of the Secretary of the In- terior, shall be authorized and directed to make the necessary details of troops to protect the forests, timber and un- dergrowth on the public reservations, and in the national parks not otherwise protected under existing laws, until a permanent forest bureau in the Depart ment of the Interior has been author ized and thoroughly organized (See bill No. 1)
 CD That the Secretary of the Interior shall be authorized and directed to is sue the necessary rules and regulations for the protection, growth and improve ment of the forests on the forest, re- serves of the United States; for the sale from them of timber, firewood and fen | cing to actual settlers on and adjacent 1 to such reserves, and to the owners of mines legally located in them for use in such mines; for allowing actual settlers who have no timber on their claims to | take from the reserves firewood, posts, | poles and fencing material necessary l for their immediate personal use; for allowing the public to enter and cross | the reserves; for granting to county commissioners rights of way for irriga- | ting ditches, fumes and pipes, and for reservoir sites; and for permitting pros | pectors to enter the reserves in search of valuable minerals; for opening the reserves to the location of mining | al 1n ,,oan ho Jo and for allowing the owners of unper. fected claims or patents, and the land grant railroads with lands located ir the reserves, to exchange them unde, equitable conditions for unreserve6 | lands.
 (3) That a bureau of public forests shall be established in the Department of the Interior, composed of officers specially selected with reference tc l their character and attainments, hold. 1 ing office during efficiency and good be. havior and iiberally paid and pensioned /. (4) That board of forest lands shal be appointed by the president to deter mine from actual typographical survey! to be made by the director of the Geo logical Survey what portions of tn, public domain should be reserved per
 manently as forest lands and what DOT
 tions, being more valuable for agricul
 ture or mining, should be open-to salt and settlement. s D
 (5) That all public lands of the United 1 States more valuable for the production of timber than for agriculture or min ing shall be withdrawn from sale, set clement and other disposition and hel( for the growth and sale of timber. (6) That certain portions of the Rain | fer Forest Reserve in Washington ant
 of the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve II Arizona shall be set aside and governed
 as national parks.