The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-08

rhs people living In the Methow valley,
embraced in the Washington forest re-
lserye are making a vigorous effort TO
have their section thrown open TO set
tleuent. A petition to that effect, signed
b. a number Of the leading residents, has
been prepared and is being sent TO ID. b.
leheilar, state superintendent of the re-
serves. with request for immediate ac-
non The aid OF the Seattle Chamber of
yCemmercs has been invoked by the petit
lfioners and yesterday the chamber ap-
pointed a committee to investigate tho
matter.
The petition Is backed by the statement
tha, Prof. Charles s. Sargent, who was
chairman OF the committee which located
the reserve, says that its action In In.
Guiding Methow valley was done in ig-
norance OF the true conditions. The De-
titioners declare that the valley II in no
way suited for growing timber, and that
By the forest reserve act strip OF fine
agricultural land sixty miles long and
averaging three miles in width In rem
dered useless. In letter 20 the Chamber
Of Commerce. Guy waring, OF Winthrop.
town In the Methow valley, points out
that all development In the section has
been practically arrested. 1t being impos-
sible for new settlers TO locate there.
what the Petitioners say.
Tho petition. which is signed only by
homesteaders who settled In the valley
prior to March /. 1928. and by persons
holding decided land. is as follows:
winthrop, Wash, May TO-
~To d. d. shcllar. Forest Superintendent.
Tacoma, Wash:
"sir-We. the undersigned, residents
inx land that lies Within the washington
forest reserve, respectfully petition that
you win use your best endeavors to have
certain parts Of the reserve. as set forth
1sss prior TO February q. 1887
What we ask had the full approval Of
primer Forest saperin'endent T.: b,
Der. 'ss was not acted upon. We here re-
peat 10 you our desires In the same terms
- laid before him. For three years we
section by the reserve. and we feel that
is no longer proper for us TO extend our
patience. but that instead we should take
strong measures to have our beautiful
fertile and open farming and grazing
country restored to public domain to the
end that PROSPERITY may once more return
10 us and that our farms may reap some
OF tho benefits that should accrue to the
early settlers upon a fuller development
Of this locality development that Is pos
sible only by continuing the advent OF
new settlers
This Methow country has been settled
upon by us since the opening OF the CO.
1891, the population OF the reserve lands
IN tho Methow valley has been zoo. In
the summer of 1898 II had nearly 1000 but
since that time II has diminished. a. cid
settlers have moved out and new ones
sss nominai,y not admitted As ono as
rssr. the valley breadsns considerably
until Mt forty miller above, or where Win
throp IL situated. there Is a stretch OF open
width. Ions and wide vista almost bare
OF trees and land where trees have
never grown. All through the valley. for
~ te verv freauent iniervais' raaeh,ns b hank
into tho country and foothills from four
TO eight miles.
Logs Hauled six Miles.
The country Is not capable OF being
turned into forest, even at any cost. For
example, the log houses that have been
built near Winthrop are constructed OF
logs that have been hauled on an average
Of six miles Even the fire wood is hauled
from three TO four miles away, and then
cut from scattered bull pine
II |. estimated that In tho valley 10
square miles OF grazing land IL covered
By the reserve and room for 1000 home
steads upon good land can be found in the
I'VE then most urgently request you
make an examination OF the case In de-
tail and cause 10 be eliminated from the
reserve the land as specified below
=. North half of township *. all Of 81 and
8 north range q east Southeast quar-
zee ot township 81 north. range II east,
East half Of township il and east half OF
= ard all ef % and "a. and the southwes,
quarter OF Is north range - east
II Il possible that the west half Of
Townships 81 and a2 north, range % east.
pay upon examination, seem suitable TO
b. eliminated also. As IN the southeast
East this 70 also settled more or less
throughout. but aside from the southeast
quarter % seems that only the tlnt lands,
e. about one mile ON either side % the
mellow, need &C. lee opened for settlement