The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-07-14
The National Forest Reservations,

The great national forest reserva-
tons that were recently established by |
presidential proclamation surround and |
project the headwaters of great rivers. |
1t is immensely important for the in
terests of the entire country that these
forests should be preserved and main.
tanned under a wise forestry policy.
There is too prevalent an anarcbistic
notion as to the relation of individuals
to public property. That anybody, by
virtue OF individual membership in the
body of the public, has an inherent
proprietary right to enter upon, seize
and convert to private use any portion
of said public possession that one may
choose. This view, unfortunately, OBJ
tains with very considerable element
in our Eastern municipalities in rela-
ton to the disposition of public funds
and the use of public property, as we'll
as in the wilds of the West. But un-
der all conditions and circumstances it
is equally subversive of public rights.
AS to the public forest domain, the
unrestricted entrance thereupon with
license to cut and destroy timber at
will by the comparatively few who
might profit by so doing, means the
speedy conversion of most of these for.
est lands into desert wastes, and there
| by not only the loss of the immense
values represented in forest products,
but the impoverishment of millions of
our people engaged in agriculture, both
| by the aggravation of calamities by
flood and by the scarcity of water for
irrigation purposes at times when it is
most needed. 1t would be strange if
the object lesson conveyed by the re-
cent great floods in the Mississippi Val
ley should pass UNDECIDED.
The proclamation of these reserva-
tions was done in consequence of the
recommendations of the distinguished
commission of experts from the Ma
tional Academy of Science selected to
investigate the subject by request of
the secretary of the interior. This in
vestigation was conducted by Profess
sor Charles S. Sargent, Henry L. Alb
bolt, W. H. Brewer, Arnold Hague
and Clifford Pinchot, and their con.
illusions were reached after months of
careful study of the localities in ques-
ton.
1t has been charged that the action
of this commission was arbitrary, and
that its recommendations ignore all To-
cal rights and interests, greatly to the
injury Of industrial operations and de-
velopment. But the contrary is the
case. The property of no one but the
! government is threatened. The letter
addressed to the secretary of the in
terror by the National Academy's COM
mittee on April 5, lately published by
Garden and Forest as matter of rec
ord, shows how carefully the rights and
privileges of actual settlers in those re-
gions have been considered in the pro-
posed legislation, which it summarizes.
| This legislation, in brief, if enacted,
will provide for details of troops to pro-
tect the reservations until permanent
forest service can be organized; the Or
ganizatlon OF permanent forest bu-
reau to administer, maintain and i'm
prove the reservations; the appoint
ment OF commissioner to make topo.
| graphical surveys of the lands and de-
termine what portions should be per.
manently reserved and what portions
should be reopened to entry and sale.
1t is also proposed to authorize the
secretary of the interior to make the
necessary regulations for the protection,
growth and improvement of the forests
in way that fully guards the interests
of settlers and all others concerned,
including the right to locate mining
claims and cut timber necessary for
legitimate mining operations. In
short, the interests of individuals are
thoroughly secured by the proposed
legislation, while those of the nation
are amply safe-guarded as well. If
congress really considers this subject
with the national welfare at heart the
proposed legislation will be enacted
Boston Transcript.
Topopu-N pom do soldiars euar