The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-09-24
COUNTY WASHINGTON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER "a 1897
The Forest Reserves

The Port Angeles Leader has an ex
tended interview with Special Res erve
Agent G. Penchot of Washington, d
o., who has been through the Olympic
forest reserve, and the following ex-
tracts from his talk will be OF interest
to our readers:
GAS is perhaps known. 1 am here at
the instance OF Secretary Bliss to ex-
anime and report upon the matter OF
the Olympic reserve. One OF the first
objects of my visit is to set the public
at rest regarding the alleged sinister
purposes OF the reserve and to assure
the settlers that it is not the intention
OF the government to infringe on the
settlers; but that, on the contrary
what has been done and will be done
is considered to be of direct ben eft to
the settlers here as we'll as to the pub
lie at large"
II have talked several times with
Secretary Bliss in regard to this re-
serve matter, and know that he is con-
slderate of the interests of the settlers
who will be directly affected by the
provisions of the reserve. There is
nothing for the settlers to fear. You
are aware, OF course, that the reserve
order is not now in effect, having been
entirely suspended until March first
next. When it again becomes effec-
tive, any settler who feels himself az
grieved has the option of selecting
from any other government lands
open to entry, in lieu of his claim, an
equal number of acres, and have his
time counted thereon. For instance,
il man has resided on his claim five
years, he may Immediately make proof
upon the land received in exchange
for it. The existing rights of settlers
will not be curtailed. Every settler
who has filed on land or does so before
next March may get title to same and
own the land, and every stick of tim
Der upon it, and do what he pleases
with it. 1t he has not enough timber
for his own use he may take free 500
worth from the government reserve.
1t is the intention of the department
to build good roads through the coun-
try and station officers at convenient
points to look to the preservation of
timber. The roads will be public roads
and will certainly be benefit to the
country. So also will be the preserva-
tion of the timber. At the rate our
timber is being destroyed under pres
ent conditions there will be but little
left by the time the country is open
ed, and in the timber is the wealth of
this country. The fallen and decay
ing timber on the land belonging to
the government will be appraised and
sold at stated intervals. Prospecting
and mineral claims will be permitted.
OF course an important object OF the
forest reserves is to guard against the
floods that would follow the depletion
OF the forests.
ave have asked for an appropria-
ton of $500,O00 to complete the sur
vey. and if Congress gives it to us the
survey will be made next summer. All
bodies of land settled upon or adiudged
to be agricultural, including as much
as nine sections, will be surveyed in q
body. The most difficult question is
the determinati N of what constitutes
agricultural lands where all is heavily
timbered. There is far more timber
in the Olympic reserve than all Tie
others in the State.
"You may say to intending settlers
that no one need hesitate to file upon
land here. The reserve, If it again in
cludes the Quillayute valley, will be
no detriment.