New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-07
TO PRESERVE THE FORESTS.
COMMISSIONER HERMANN OUTLINES
HIS POLICY.
THE RESERVATIONS TO BE MAINTAINED-A
NEW PLAN FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS OK
TIMBER CUTTING.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE IRIBUNE.l
TIMBER CUTTING.

TIMBER CUTTING.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE IRIBUNEl
Warrington Oct. 9.-The annual report OF Com
missioner Hermann of the General Land Once
which has been finished and placed IN the names
o. the Secretary OF the Interior, contains some eX-
ceed!rgy importan: and interesting suggesuo.S
and recommendations which will be sure 10 excite
public attention. and several CT which II HpPio'V
by Secretary Bliss in his annual report and ny 'he
President In his annual Message TO Congress may
result IL some beneficial legislation haVi"s Dee"
for several years officer IN the puo.c i"',u Sr'
vice. and afterward representing an O'esoN N'''
IN Congress for dozen years, during whlch ne de-
voted rnuch thought and study 10 questions relat-
ing 70 the public domain. Commissioner Hermann
came into his new Office pretty thoroughly equipped
for the performance OF his duties ana II ala not
take him many months 10 discover the weak spots
and orobe many Of the abuses existing IN that
hrarcb NJ the public service, for many OF which
officials of the last Administration were responsible.
Before writing and submitting his annual
port. however Colonel Hermann determined TO
add 10 his stock OF information and facts by
tour OF personal observation ana investigation
through q number OF the Western States and Ter
ritories. The journey. which occupied six weeks
and extended the Pacific coast. fruitful
IN results, and when he returned 10 Washington
ton days ago the Commissioner was fortified by
an additional array OF facts which have added
materially 10 the value of his report. In CONVEX
sation with Tribune correspondent to-day, he
talked freely OF the tour and rs chief results.
What about the forest reseTva,ions"' Colonel
Hermann asked.
We'll I learned a good many new things about
them in my conversations with the officials who
have charge OF them. we'll with lumbernen.
nill-owners miners and the representatives or min
Ing companies actual settlers on the public domain
and many others and everything saw ana heard
strengthened my beliefs and convictions in favor OF
the policy Of preserving and maintaining the forest
reservations Not only will Il preserve and keep
stable the watercourses which feed our navigaole
streams. but in years TO come it Will yield hand
fome revenue TO the Government-one far exceeding
the Of maintaining IT, was delighted TO find
that opposition 10 the policy rapidly dying out
among prospectors. miners and others who had most
bitterly opposed IT, and among whom are now found
some Of It's stanchest friends and supporters
"W!u IL be practicable 10 maintain the policy and
preserve the forests from destruction by unlawful
;ntruders and by fire, without enormous expendi-
ture Of money!" asked the correspondent
II have no doub, whatever that point" was
the reply.
How do you expect 70 accomplish 4? VIII
portion Of the standing army be required?"
oh no; we shall not call for any troops l
have suggested plan. which is favored by the
special agents on the ground as Wei as py many
other experienced and practice! men With whom nom
haye on hs 51SSe 10 Be 0 i Is
ard Intelligent woodsnen familiar with the coun-
couples so to speak; BY giving each one a route
OF say eighteen miles siari,ng from thi sane ne
the end Of his beat and return, say in three or
f b95t da asv 70 w6 5ne bId s log al an
elevation whenever practicable. so that the view
Then propose, that each pa;rolman shall larry an
sIa end sP s . Pa gs OF do me th e line Of navel
When such trails are made they Will prove strong
od Woodsman knows BY personal observation.
Again. when fire is discovered that the pa,p4na man
. troll or extnguish. suggest that ne or they be
rs be required lOr tildt pNl-
pose such emergency force 10 he paid by the Gov
Hon many IAN pstroimen Would this system require
to cover all the forest reservations and how much
4 well. have estimated in my report that two
s9ectors or overseers and special agents in
charge. and that the annua! cost would amount 10
g day On many Of The reservations their SER
vices would not be required during. say, more tAan
"What was the result Of your observations as 70
che general condition Of the public lands seFYieeE
YES. except in one respect. and that exception IS
due 10 the fr Tee }be n5s DOMAIN THere Is no
doubt that the intent Of the law has been grossly
the ia2i Itself is TOO lax and il ought 10 be
nee applied 10 to recommend permit Go ,h1c
ing twenty-seven sections-l720 acres-of puonc
The second permit for the benefit OF the same par
ties protested against such an outrage anu mn
adopted. Permits ere not issued now 10 cover more
less IL can be shown that great emergency exists
which requires il. But the whole permit system
ought to be abolished: the law ought 10 ne re-
pealed. Then, If mining corporation or lumber
man or anybody else wants to cut timber on the
public domain let him be allowed 10 DO 50 uhleI
proper regulations, and on the payment OF lar
anpraised price. Under such system the pioneer
SETTLER who Is making farm and home can oD-
tain logs for his house ana other buildings ana LOT
fencinc as easily the big mining or lumber COM
panies can obtain what they REQUIRE As the mat
Ter now stands the actual settler who Is trying 10
hiild home, and for whose benefit the law was
I. whereas the opulent mining or lumber company
derives undersigned and undeserVed dement's IRON H.
WHY there are big lumber yards IN Helena MIS-
souia and other towns in Montana-and they eKsl
elsewhere than in Montana-Whlch are WhOlly sup
njied from timber cut Oh the public domain under
this free-permit system. and men who nave bought
timber land from the Government ana PAID LOT IL
are compelled to sell their product IN competition
with this free-permit product -
There is st!ll anot her apHse OF ne i!ee pe permit
Permit requires that no timber snail ne cut OF a
smaller diameter than eight inches, ana nave my
self seen within the last few weeks tens OF thou-
esnds az acres of land which timber once stood
tSsf hays been swept clean OF standing timber,
under the permit system. as a piaIie ineao2W. T.
s'To return 10 the forest reservations W nat is
beirg done 10 carry out the provisions OF the new
law which suspended until March 1888 the OPERA
them?'' asked the correspondent
@"syveu everything that can be done. Inc sur
,,o,,ors are going on with their work as rapidly as
nrrsSctcsbe and II will be finished within the time
pra $1,000 We shall then be able TO determine
ntSet lands If any 10 be segregated rom those
rma.s.aar,,s,ions / do not think there VIII be any
ffurtber difhculty about them. AS remarked 81
he outset there has been wondeTgui c1ange ,f OK
public sentiment In tnose States "''e1''u "'
the last few months