Evening star., 1897-05-26
TIMBER LAND AND CLIMATE.
Report ON Forestry by a Committee q,
the National Academy of Science.

Report on Forestry by m COmu,ittea NJ
the National Academy of Science.
The President has sent to the Senate the
detailed report on forestry made by the
committee of the National Academy of
Science at the request of the Secretary of
the Interior. The general conclusions of
the committee were announced in an ab-
stract furnished by the committee some
weeks ago.
The report goes into details as to Euro
pean experiments regarding the influence
OF forests upon climate and stream flow,
and says the figures demonstrate a consid-
cradle progressive reduction in the mean
annual, the flood and the lowest water
levels upon all the chief rivers draining
central Europe Millions of dollars have
been expended during recent years in Eu-
rope III checking the force of floods due to
denuded mountain slopes by the construc-
ton OF stone dams and river beds and
planting sod and trees. The committee
predicts that similar expenditures in this
country must follow the destruction of
mountain forests if the narrow valleys of
the west are to continue habitable Fire
and pasturage are cited as chiefly threat
ening the reserved forest lands of the pub
He domain, Illegal timber cutting damage
DeinS comparatively insignificant. The
committee says that the government in
permitting free pasturage on the public do
main TO sheep owners in the public land
people elsewhere, who must own or hire
pastures Traces of depreciation were Wis
Idle Ill all the reserves visited
The seSregations of these great bodies of
reserved lands cannot be withdrawn from
all occupation and use. but should be man.
aged for the benefit OF the people of the
Whole country, not for a class or section
AS TO this the report says that under a
strict Interpretation of the Interior Depart
ment forty million acres of land are thus
theoretically shut out from all human oc-
cupation or enjoyment, a condition of af-
fairs that should not continue. Land more
valuable FOR its mineral deposits or agri-
cultural crops than for it's timber should
De taken from the reservations and sold to
miners and farmers, mature timber should
be cut and solh, settlers within or adjacent
10 the boundaries unable to procure it in
other ways should be authorized to take
such material from reserved forests as is
necessary for thei- needs, and prospectors
si.CGid De allowed to search the forests for
minerals.
This general scheme OF administration of
fCi'St reser-es Is submitted: ! forestry
bureau, under a director who is TO he ores-
iceht OF an advisory board, consisting Of
himself, an assistant director and fou- .or-
est inspectors. IL also provides that the
bureau SHOULD have a disbursipg officer
clerks and legal advisers: twenty-six head
1oresters. twenty-six assistants. to consti-
thte permanent corps: two hundred rang
ers and various assistant rangers, the sal
ary roll calling for an annual appropriation
OF S-5O.OO, with appointive preferences
given West Point graduates. To provide
Tor the survey of all lands reserved or to
be reserved. board of forest lands is rec
ommended- Holders, corporate or individ-
uai. OF lands in the reserves arc to ex-
Change them for equitable holdings out
side
As to the unreserved forest lands, the re-
port urges Withdrawing from sale and
entry lands more valuable for timber and
for other purposes, and suggests that after
survey those tracts less valuable for for
ests be opened to sale and entry and the
remainder held permanently for the gov
eminent.