The Meeker herald., 1898-12-31
Forest Reserves.

crest tESS:f':.-.
No state is more deeply Interested in
the protection OF its forests than Colo
raGo.
The object of forest reservations being
to protect and improve the forests for
the purpose OF securing Il permanent sup
ply of timber for the people, and ensur-
ing conditions favorable TO a continuous
water supply.
The 1888 report of the commissioner
of the general land office shows that he
has been for several months, and is at
present engaged in inauguratins a
national forestry system, the initial steps
taken thus far in that direction con sis.-
{ ing in the establishment of various
forest reservations, and the placing of
graded force of forest officers III charge
of the same.
To this end the inaugurating system
of timber cutting that will ensure the
satisfaction of local demand for timber.
aud the devising parole system that
shall ensure efficient protection to the
forests from the scourge of fire, together
with determining upon plan to regu-
late the use of grazing lands within the
reserves, have largely engaged the at
tention of the commissioner Of the
general land Office.
His report very clearly shows that lie
is keenly alive to the needs of the lum-
Der trade as legitimate business, and
OF the large and important industry of
sheep raising. and is directing the work
with view to conserve the interests OF
both of these industries.
The report enlarges upon the fact that
the government should be liberal in the
way of securing supplies of timber for
public uses to meet the manifest needs
of the people, and at the same time re-
strain all unjusttiable despoi.ing of pub
lie timber lands. In this connection he
very strongly urges the repeal of the two
acts of June 3rd, 1878, (20th, statute IS
and so, as he clearly shows that these
laws are the most disastrous to the pub
lie interests. He says, efforts to con-
troll the use of timber are unavailing by
the fact that the acts OF June 3rd.. 1873.
auunorlZing the taxing of timber in GER
tain states and territories, from lands
subject to entry under the mineral laws,
operate practically as donation to the
public at large of all the timber on pn-
reserved lands in those states and terri
tories; while the additional act, Hp
proved on the same date, as extended
by the act OF 1892, affords a ready cover
for the requirement of the most vaIu-
able timber on the unsurveyed lands
throughout ali the public land states by
payment for the land at the mere nom
nal rate of - 80 per acre" These law
however, do not apply to the forest ra-
serve. aud therefore they are not tur
subject of spolidtton of timber rs ar-
the unreserved lands
Under the present parole system in
augurated in the forest reserve, I'll"
heretofore destructive operation by saw
mills has been largely averted.
A better understanding of the pGr-
people III the localities directly affected
to take deep and approving interest IN
the work Public sentiment has III the
past year undergone a marked change
in respect thereto, and opposition to
forest reserves is rapidly subsiding.
AS there is no federal statute relative
to game or fish, the laws on this subject
of the respective states control within
the several reservations. The federal
officers in control of the forest reserves
are made fully acquainted with the pro
visions of the state laws for the pro-
lection of game and fish, and today the
federal and state officials are cooperat-
ing together in the protection. of forests,
game and fish.
No wonder America surprises the
world. 1t sets its own pace in every
thing. 1t took England several hundred
years to get rid of the bad blood caused