The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-19
OUR FOREST RESERVATIONS.
san Francisco Chronicle.

San Francisco Chronicle.
The argument which led congress TO
authorize the executive as IL did some
years ago. 10 withdraw from sale parts OF
the forested public lands was that the
cutting away OF timber lessons the rainfall
and Is partially the cause or sudden and
devastating foods. In the Eastern states
both these theories find wide acceptance,
though IL cannot be said that the first one
has proved Its way. Undeniably, however.
the second one is true. In places where for
esta have given room 20 farms and great
bodies OF February and March snow are
directly exposed 10 the melting warmth OF
April. freshets Of a sudden and therefore
destructive sort are inevitable. Were II
possible 10 leave the watersheds OF the
East IN the hands OF nature. VS. DO not
doubt that the results would be a5van-
tageous 20 people living beside valley
streams. But, whatever might have been
done once the tine Cor such an undertake
ing has now passed. and the Yves. has
been left TO alone receive the benefits or
evils Of the application OF the forest preser-
walton iaws-particularly that part Of the
West comprised within the lines OF the
Pacific slope During the Harrison aa-
min3stratiou 1900 90 acres OF forest land
were reserved ana lately President Cleve-
land segregated n go aoo more Thus an
empire has been set aside in the form OF
great national parks from the sphere OF
use ana progress.
we believe that This policy so FAR az the
interests ~ the Pacific coast go IS III
advised Assuming for the sake of srE7i-
-nent that the denudation OF forest land
diminishes the rainfall in some localities
there g. no reason 70 believe that II would
do 80 here So long "a cool winds sweep
landwsrd from the Pacific and meet warm
currents. and so long "a grea; mountain
ranges stand to compel condemns ton, there
NIL 10 "a zs
or 10 trees. Square leagues of forest more
or less would make no difference.
Then IS 70 the retention OF snow Tor
slow and safe process 81 melting In the
East when a ''clea ring IS made the re-
suit e a farm Here & IS IN the great ma
forftv OF cases. a second growth. which
answers ire meteorological purpose as well
ne ire original forest. Reforests don IL az
rspi9 - California re anywhere IN me
world outside the tropics. Thsre are te-s
o. Thousands % seco14-Erowth redwooss
tAst have become. III twenty-five years.
larger than the naples ard hirches ~ tha
East Thus when ne big reawooaS are
taken cut tire undorhrash or cAaparrai
makes rapid start. re land rot being r.
rnire1 f1T agriculture ard the snow fs
hef and shaded as before. Even ~ me
foods were the rexult the 6ama-e could
- raore essiiv Sorne s1an sn enhanced
P~lee f0~ h1rff9f-r naterfaa ard ~rewooH
segregation policy. aside from TIRE a}s-
leagTFat - settlers who have gone uvcn
ire land - good faith e that mines IN
these so-csiiei parks cannot be utilized
No "treSDassers'' % arr calling are a.
lowed IN one - re reserved tracts q
WaeAfarfor tee T5aN-s' wealth Inns made
o1ava4}aAis S. known 70 o. great ana NAV
easily EARN out 80 he enorr Gus. TIE same
= t~1e - reserved Beauties here sra fn
ffTaSs~ Co.'s. sf3ve~. ccnoer. ra4i iron
iesf and many ether materials a-e thus
}acsN3 ur. ara fer 20 other reason than
that tAe wisescres - tss National ArAs-
sssls> - Sef~1ces, Who Nominated re a--f-
are theorists Rs10 reported = schema ~
forrest reser7rB -i7rS fn tha weze believed
that what Soaia have been wa} Ter one
Fsrt - tae r74ctrv wU1fa - Ae<t Or al
HHEs - save UV fTewr Ta0fs-wN{sA W.
weuiA ore Cav lropouna fo- irrigation aas
QcSaT IN sny sveni-~ehHY r~nrsosss roe s-fw
90 make aurao@F AT ar~wceyf asxh b..
mineral wealsh uaavaiiatTe
- adds % the ssrEe % En- flt=+.~~ whf~A
Western men Zee over this ventura -
forest nreservasiec thar al ne govern
aseHt SEEKS - - wright h~ So-s -t.s 80
lass advantage 70 tie ggs2le II xs a.. Z,