The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-11

SA1-@se. AEg- <E. ->~cs
70 the Ecs.er. To one who Is familiar
WITH ths history and ohtecs Of the recent
Ioeat:oa 81 forest reserves n this sTafs.
the interview with Mr.. Henry Gannest
ard his clear statements" as pGblssaea
In yoEr paper 1z me 8 instant, Is, 70 say
fas least. amusing. Re says snat lns
settler whe has = hoE,es-ea. claim @na
las already filed o. the same is perfectly
safe IN hss property rights If not safer
than before there was any reserve
WI Mr.. Gza.ett state for the tnfor-na-
Ion OF the seemingly ignorant people
az this state whs-e such claimants can
file before a survey ts made and the plat
filed n the local lard office During MS
annual trips 10 this Coast for the pas,
five years he must have become faor-
oughly familiar with this forest reserve
work. and evidently knows jast what the
people iced for their good. The old war
cry and principal stock IN trade Of the
lobbyists in ard about the halls OF con-
gress, WING have been so active - their
efforts 70 secure the necessary legislation
and executive 2rociana:.ons creating
these forest reserves has been taat the
mill companies are stealing the govern
rnent timber. hence the great necessity for
these forest reserves. VIII Mr.. Gaanett
tell ma how much government timber the
MIL companies have stolen during MS an
nuai visits TO this state,
Two important itsns OF Information 90
have been made pabgc TO the seemingly
ignorant people" 0. Western Washington
by Mr. Gannett. namely, just how long
the timber supply Of this state will last
the people OF the United StateS-only four
years. Is there no timber in the United
States Mr. Gannett. except what IS IL
Western Washington Why did you not
say the world instead OF the United
States?
1tc az
brilliant spark Of information IN this. that
II the eastern method OF cutting timber
Was adopted here, the supply would last
eight years. |. e. If all trees between one
and two feet in diameter were cut, the
product would equal all the larger trees
IN this state. What a revelation.
have been a resident Of Western Wash
ington for over twenty-five years. and
many years ago became familiar
with such statistics as Mr.. Gannett has
given. as TO the supply OF timber in this
state, and beg leave TO inform him that
ne will not live long enough TO see the
timber exhausted in Western Washington.
even under the present wasteful method
OF cutting It, II Mr.. Gannstt will only
continue his annual visits" 10 this coun-
try in the interest OF science he will learn
that the Douglas fir will persistently re-
produce Itself, and that every twenty-five
years the growth Will exceed that of trees
a foot in diameter. The people of this
state are Tot So much excited over the
location of the forest reserves as they are
Disguised with the false pretenses held out
by those most interested in securing their
location, sEch as the preservation OF the
timber. water and suppression OF forest
fires. etc.
Now. all this sounds very fine to the
ears OF people in the East, who have been
SO persistently educated to the belief that
the Yves. is settled by 4 pack Of timber
thieves and fire bugs.
Now, why not be frank and state the
facts which have brought about these
forest reserves in the West? /. is well
known to every congressional representa-
tive from the Western states that the
geographical survey promoters have been
very active for the past ten years in en-
Iarging and extending their fed OF oper-
ations. outside of what was at nrst claim
ed as their original design. The rapid ex-
pansion of this bureau OF the interior de-
partment with its ten or twelve divisions
and over $50 employees, has rendered X Ab-
soluteiy necessary TO increase the field
OF its operation correspondingly with Its
office growth. Geological surveys alone
are generally barren Of such important re-
suits as would enlist the necessary intu-
ence TO secure large appropriations: hence
the necessity of including more extended
fields, such as typographical surveys. for
est reserve surveys, photography, elgi-
neerng. photography, geography and even
q coYetous attempt several times 10 absorb
all the public land surveys in the United
States under the pretense OF advancing
the interests OF science. No other two
words In the English language have been
so often misapplied as science and religion.
The forest reserves in Western Washing
ton afford the most enjoyable places for
q summer outing.
Now, II Mr. Gannett can only apply the
science Of his numerous bureaus to the
suppression OF the destructive timber
fires in this country. he VIII meet with
hearty cooperation on the part OF the
people | would offer as a suggestion the
organization Of n hose cart an! sprinklng
brigade for each reserve, With headquar-
tiers near some mountain lake well stocked
with trout as 4 source of water supply
and entertainment for the employees.
The very though. Of having the fires in
this country so easily extinguished. and
the assurance Of the clear atmosphere
which Will fellow such efforts VII make
every heart glad.
You may depend upon Il, Mr.. Gannett,
that the people Of Western Washington
VIII vote y1u hero If you Will inform
them through some Of the numerous scien-
tie divisions of tn bureaV Of geological
surveys how 10 suppress the destructive
forest ssres in this country during the dry
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