The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-09-29
The Forestry Reserve Outrage.

The result of Senator Fosters busi-
ness energy has been shown the pas.
few days while he has been at the ma
tional capital. He has secured action
on several important matters, In which
the people of various. sections of the
state are interested and has shown
what personal attention will accom-
plish.
Perhaps no one thing which has
been secured by Senator Foster will
prove of more benefit to the interests
! of the state than the resembling of the
prohibition of sheep grazing on the
Mount Tacoma reserve. In this Sem
ator Foster had the cooperation of
| Congressman Cushman and Jones,
backed up by the Tacoma Chamber of
Commerce and Business Mems associa-
tion and State Board of Trade and the
Sheep Growers association of Eastern
Washington.
There is another equally important
task to be performed by the Washing
ton delegation, and as in the other
case, they can be assisted by the Taco
ma Chamber of Commerce. This is
an undoing of the wrong that has
been done to the people OF Clallam
county by reason of the forestry re-
serve order
A year and half ago The Ledger
repeatedly pointed out the injustice
that had been done in Clallam, Jeffer-
son, Snohomish and Skagit counties
by the forestry reserve boundaries
taking in hundreds of acres of agricul-
ture lands. Hundreds, if not thou
sands of settlers, many of whom had
lived on their homesteads for years,
and had expended much time and
money in improvements, were by this
order deprived Of their homes aud the
Improvements they had made, with
only the consolation that they could
take other government land in lieu
thereof.
In Clallam and in Snohomish coun-
ties, organized school districts were
wiped out, and the former county
merely shoe string of land was left
for occupation. In this latter county
the condition is SO serious that if relief
is not granted it is probable that the
county will be forced to repudiate its
debts, for there will be but little taxa
BILE property left within its borders.
Already many farmers have abon-
/ doned their homes and the work of
years to begin anew in some other
section. A large portion of the coun-
! ty debt has been incurred in building
roads through this portion of the coun-
try which is now increased two-thirds
leaving the burden upon few who
were fortunate or unfortunate enough
to be left out side the reserve when
the boundaries were established.
Out of 100000 acres of agricultural
lands in the county it is claimed that
j 450 900 acres are included within the
reserve. Thirteen voting precincts,
/ with one-third OF the voters, eleven
entire road precincts and portions of
seven more, nineteen school districts
/ with twenty one school houses; It's
miles OF road, ST $50 worth of bridges
and the farms and homes of hundreds
of settlers have been wiped out by be-
i ing included within this forestry re-
serve because Of the desire of Eastern
theorists.
j These facts are serious enough to
startle the authorities at Washington,
and immediate action should be taken
to relieve the distressful conditions.
i Much of the harm has already been
done, but not all that will be if relief
is not granted.
The Chamber of Commerce can do
no better work than to take immediate
. action looking 10 the matter being
placed before the authorities of Wash
4 Iington without further delay and re-
lief secured. Ledger.