The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-21

SEATTLE, SUNDAY, MARCH "a
WHO ARE BEST QUALIFIED TO
JUDGE.


The question presented IN the forest
reservation matter 10 who are the people
most qualified to Judge as 70 what Is best
20 be done for the interests Of the state OF
Washington, committee OF scientific gen.
siemen, who made single brief visit 70
the state last Summer. during the course
OF which they never SCI foot within the
limits Of the principal reservation In
question, or the citizens Of the state OF
Washington, including men sho have re-
ssded here for more than quarter OF a
century and who have traversed every
portion OF that reservation which has as
ye, been explored
The ostensible obtsc. OF the reservations
Il 70 preserve the forests In the interests
OF the people Of this state The seientihe
gentlemen who compose the forestry COM
mission have reported that In the Cas-
caae reservation there are large areas OF
forest land. and that the destruction OF
these forests by denudtng the mountain
slopes would seriously affect the volume Of
the rivers. and would also cause floods. be-
cause the destruction OF forests would pre-
vent the mountain soil from absorbing
the moisture When the SHOWS melt in the
spring.
The practical men, who know the topog-
raphy OF the country. say that In the first
place there are no forests within the limits
OF the reservation. except scantiiy dis
trsbuted and scrubby timber along the
mountain sides: In the second place. that
every single stream which arises within
the limits OF the reservation Is fed from
glaciers far above the timber line. and tha:
the forests consequently have nothing
whatever 10 do with the volume OF the
streams: IN the third place. that in this
equshle climate there is comparatively lit
lie snowfall. except In the mountains.
where the timber Is scattering; and in the
fourth place. that the real forest areas
OF the state now. with the exception OF the
Olympic peninsula. are all in private own
ershlp: wherever the timber Is cut of for
commercial purposes It's place Is almost
Immediately taken by an abundant second
growth. covering tina ground far more
denseiy than the original forest. and thus
even better than was the case before the
timber was touched. These are facts.
based on exact and practical knowledge.
arrayed against scientific theories. In
such contest. the emlnonoe OF the names
which may be arrayed In behalf Of the
scientific theory counts for h,tlo.
AZ the whole forest reservation scheme Is
osssnslbly IN the interests OF the people
az Washington. why are not their Wishes
consulted IN the natter Yet In tire whole
OF Western Washington. not one single
voice has been raised Ia support OF the
Cascade forest reservation as made. al
though the principle Of forestry preserva-
tion has proportionately as many friend.
smong the people Of Washington as can be
found in any community.
The truth Of the matter Is. as Judge
langley said az tae meeting Ia the rooms
e. ,he Chamber Of Commerce Friday even
ins. al the interests involved In the reser-
Nations. othe- than mining. Ere innnltesi-
mai II every acre Of The Cascade reserva-
sieE were uaier survey today. ana open to
eatry under The general land laws. there
are but very few isolated tracts which
lie wlthla It's borders watch could be
proved to carry sufficient timber 10 per-
ni1 ~ their entry under the timber pur-
CHASE law. and Il Is doubtful II a mhlman
ooasd be found who would be willing 10
pay the government price OF $3.50 per acre
for any single tract which could Re so
found, unless. Indeed. he had in contempia-
ton the building Of a small mill Immediate
Is upon the ground Tor the purpose Of sup
pIying The local demand for mining tim
her and for building In TIE Mining towns
adjacent 10 sach tract.
Yet TIE Eastern press. wAlch upaolds the
forest reservations, pers.ssaatly eilngs 20
abe aelasioa that tho people ~ Washing
ten arc ellnd 70 their owa interests In the
matter ana gaat ;hs Fe3eral Sovernneut
a. creating the forest reservations Is doing
as scOa against ear will our peop.s are
forced 20 combat this pre5galce. preeen.
ec!ved without knowledge - the existing
conditions. ana syveeornly held despite al
attempts . ennEAtsn the Eassegn prsss
upon the subject
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