The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-23


To the Editor: Congressman Jones. In
an open letter to the public, recently pub
lished, requests an expression of opinion
from the citizens of the state OF WASH
ington on the subject matter of Senator
Fosters proposed grazing bill. This is
a very commendable act on the part OF
Hon. w. l.. Jones' He realizes the fact
that there are others among his con-
stituents, besides the stock owners, who
have a right to be heard. 1t would have
been a graceful thing on the part of Sen
ator Foster and Representative Cushman
had they done likewise.
The sheepmen in especial. in whose In
terest principally the bill was formulated,
and who are to be its chief beneficiaries.
left no stone unturned and no reasonable
effort untried to further their interests;
there was little individual and no organ
ICED effort in opposition to them, and
hence the proposed bill. AS a citizen of
the state of Washington. and one who
has taken and still takes deep interest
in this subject at least in one of its bear
ings, l accept Mr.. Jones invitation and
will briefly express my opinion of the
measure.
The proposed bill has. in my humble
opinion, two very Objectionable features.
In the first place. If the transcript OF the
bill which appeared in the public prints
recently Is correct there is not d clause
or word in 1t to show that the Alpine
meadows Of the Mount Rainier national
park are excepted from the provisions
of the bill; in fact, It Is safe to infer that
the beautiful meadows Of our noble
mountain and those of its companion
peaks were especially intended to be in
cluded In the leasable lands treated of in
the bill. Secondly, by the provisions of
this bill, IL 1t becomes law, the general
government will enter into the grazing
business and thus become formidable
competitor in that line of many of Its
private citizens. 1t has been the policy
of our government (and 1t il one of its
admirable cfAracteristics) to scrupulously
avoid entering into competition with its
citizens in any of the lines of industry
in which they are earning a living and
by which they are developing the re-
sources of the country. How can a citi-
zen, who perhaps has paid a good price
for his grazing land, fenced and other
wise improved 1t and yearly paid taxes
on 1t, successfully and profitably rival a
powerful competitor which has not been
compelled to buy its land, fence or pay
taxes on it, and which can probably
farm 1t out to paying customers at
cent an acre per annum? When the
Introduction of the grazing bill in the
senate was announced in the press dis
patches 1t was hcralded as wise meas
ure, because 1t was to add to the reve-
nue. of the government to the extent OF
from TOUR TO SIX inllliOnS annually. lNoWs
If il is legitimate and proper for the gov
eminent to embark in the grazing busi-
ness, why not further increase the ma
tional revenue by. leasing, for instance.
the unappropriated mineral lands. exact
ing a slight royalty on each ton of ore
produced. OF by leasing the vacant tim
Der lands. charging n small stumpage
rate? Abundant syndicates would rush
such opportunities. 1t would be hard on
| private parties and small concerns ems
gagged in these lines, batit would put the
national Golfers in plethoric condition.
This policy might be extended and added
to till finally we would reach a system
of government control or management
such as exists now only in the dreams
of the most ardent Populist or visionary
Socialist. While l have very grave
doubts of the wisdom of this wholesale
grazing In the government forest reserve,
doubts fostered partly by personal ex-
perience in pasturing sheep on our ma
tive grasses. partly by testimony received
from high authorities on this subject, but
principally by personal observation made
some years ago during an extended tour
on foot through the mountain ranges of
Oregon and Northern California still,
for the sake of compromise "a good Amer
lean princfple). l am not disposed to an
tagonze the sheepmen as, to the forest
reserve at large; but am unalterably
opposed to allowing the stockmen espe-
cially the sheep owners, TO take their
focks, in any numbers and on any terms,
into any part of the Mount Rainier ma
tional park. For years had earnestly
advocated the creation of national park
for the protection of our grand mountain
and its beautiful enyirons, and when the
time was ripe for the consummatlcn of
that object ! did all ! could to promote
Continued on Page Six.