The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-12


editors OF the Portland Oregonian: DIR. q.
E. Hockey. Of Portland. and w. F. Per-
kins, Mr.. Mills private secretary. Mr.. Hcl-
man and Dr. Hockey Joined the party al
Portland. where Mr.. Mills came on busi-
ness connected with his department.
Mr.. Mills visit to Seattle and Tacoma
was Of combined business and pleasure.
While here he conferred with several prom
inent business men relative TO the DISPOSE
ton of timber lands owned by his COM
pany and left for his home In San Fran
cisco last night.
Mr.. Mills has for long time been very
prominent in railroad circles In California.
Until very recently he was one OF tho
directors OF the Central Pacific. He has
paid special attention to the development
OF the horticultural and agricultural inter-
ests OF California and the encouragement
OF immigration. He Ii one OF the princi-
pal promoters Of the California exhibit At
the Paris exposition In 1900 and a Arm be-
lever In the future OF the Pacific coast
states.
1ect OF timber culture. He believes that
the public mind Is not sufficiently aroused
to the necessity for the preservation Of the
great forests OF the Pacific coast, now
rapidly falling before the merciless Ak Of
the lumbermen. He regards them al =
source OF unbounded wealth II properly
cared for and in an interview yesterday he
advocated the establishment OF national
forestry system by the government. He
believes that the government should with
draw from sale all timber lands now un-
disposed OF and manage them In the future
for the benefit Of the people.
Believes In Expansion.
He d also an enthusiastic expansionist.
He believes that the United States not only
htlf IA IN
Philippines; that the nation's course has
been marked out by the hand OF destiny
and that 1t must be followed. He ID te-
lever In the theory OF evolution and ep-
plying i 70 the expansion problem he
comes 10 the conclusion that not to ex-
pand Is to contract. and that q nation
that Is not growing is dying. Upon the
development OF the insular empire acquired
from Spain by conquest he bases predictions
OF great era OF prosperity for the Pacific
coast.
Never have 1 known a greater demand
for timber lands" said Mr.. Mills yesterday
Portland and the Sound. I'm the month
90 acres and while In Portland yesterday
found FOR our sns
ut Is not likely. however. that our COM
pany will sell all its timber lands The
price at which they are held Is too high
land parties. The offer merely indicates
the phenomenal demand for such lands a.
the present time. As a matter OF fact
better returns than the purchase of TIM
Der lands in any localitv. The profit to be
made by such an investment is far su-
perior to the probable interest increment
cific coast comes from all parts of the
country. especiall-. from the forest-de-
fruit the aasas 81 aes s
alone creates a demand for millions Of
feet of box lumber annually.
The railroad. ars also large consum-
each mile Of railroad. and there are 800. 900
miles OF railroad In the United States.
Under the railroads Of the United States
than was used In the erection OF all the
wooden buildings standing in the United
states nifty years ago. and the annual
alone Is now greater than was the annual
consumption OF timber for building pur-
poses az that time.
been an enormous increase IN the area of
irrigated lands In the southwest. and this
has had an influence toward increasing
the demand for timber There Is little or
used In the building OF houses. barns.
fences and other structurea must come
from the outside.
F0rest Lands Being Denudea.
"Ali these demands tend to enhance the
value OF timber lands. and to assure the
prosperity of the Pacific coast states that
have large areas OF forest.
Few people realize. however. the ra-
pidity with which the forest lands OF this
section are being denuded. The dessruc-
ton Of standing timber coming under nay
observation within the past sixteen years
part the land cleared OF its timber 10 OF
small value for agricultural purposes.
1T Is my opinion that the govssnmen.
Its unsold timber lands ana cultivate
them systematically. Under this system
the trees which have attained their
into lumber without in the least impair
ting the value OF the forests. and at the
end OF hundred years they would be
just as productive OF timber as they are
today. II is the slaughter of young trees
that Is 10 be deprecated
Upon the expansion question Mr.. Mills
has views just as pronounced and orig
"a Is a popular error" he said, FOR
people to say. tina, nation is = human
much natural organism as Z plant or
An animal. II is q principle of organic
chemistry that whatever II living must
II ceases re live. and this principle is we'll
applied 10 nations.
People are fond Of saying that I, Will
policy OF expansion Suppose yea and
are In forest and We stand before a
tree ] say to you that this tree IL an
organism and II therefore bound 10 grow.
Would IL rot seem foolish IL you were
TO say 70 me. Yes. but II IL grow. II will
XIII 81 The idea 10 absurd. Nations are
not human institutions and their destf-
MES sre under 10 human control. Il Is
the destiny OF the United States that IL
shalt acquire the Philippines. and acquire
them IL VIII
Means Mach To This Coast
People are inclined. I srd. 10 regard
territory acquired In whatever manner III,
the light of tts condition when acquired
As q matter Of fact ali territory We ae-
auire IL to be regarded simply as raw
material. IL lies with us 60 develop fts
possibilities What are the possibilities
of the Philippines We car only guess We
know that they are very rich. but 20.
four hundred years they have been de-
MED the primary requisites 10 the deyeE-
apment Of their resources. a stable gove
eminent ard xeeasrtsy Of propertY f1Eh,x