New-York tribune., 1901-12-04
FOREST CONSTIPATION.

The Department of Agriculture during the ias'
fifteen years has steadily broadened its work On
economic lines and has accomplished results OF leei
value in uppuilding domestic and foreign trade 1t
has gone into new fields until il is now IN TOUCH
with all sections country and with two OIL
the island groups that have lately come under our
jurisdiction, whose people must look to aerlcuitui7 {
as a livelihood. 1t is searching the "oflu t
grains. grasses. fruits and vegetables specidiis y
fitted for introduction into localities in the
States and Territories where they may add ma
teriaIly to our resources BY scientific attenuoh u
soil survey and possible new crops. to preeoliis "
new varieties of plants. to experimental shiphie'
to animal industry and applied chemistry, very
practical aid has been given our farming anu s'
growing interests The products of the farm nav
taken an unprecedented place in our export ha"e
during the year that has just closed
Public opinion throughout the United states mas
moved steadily toward just appreciation OF lhe
value of forests whether planted or OF hdlui"i
growth The great part played by them IN 'ne
creation and maintenance OF the nauohal "e" "
now more fully realized than ever before
Wise forest protection does not mean the VIII
drawal of forest resources, whether of Wood' water
or grass from contributing their full snare 10 'he
welfare of the people, but on the contrary gives
the assurance of larger and more certain suppheS-
The fundamental idea of forestry is the perpetual
ton of forests by Forest protection Is not an
end of itself: it is means TO Increase ana sustain
the resources of country and the industries
forests is an imperative business necessity we
have come TO see clearly that whatever destroys
the forest except 10 make way for agriculture
threaten webeing.
The practical usefulness of the national forest
reserves to the mining. grazing. irrigation and
other interests of the regions in which the reserves
lie has led to widespread demand by the people or
the West for their protection and extension Inc
forest will inevitably be of still greater use
in the future than the past Additions should be
ti0o and
funess should be increased by a thoroughly busi-
nesske management.
At present the protection of the forest reserves
rests with the General Land Office. the mapping
and description of their timber with the United
States Geological Survey. and the preparation of
plans for their conservative with the Bureau OF
Forestry which is also charged with the general
advancement of practical forestry in the United
States. These various functions should be united
in the Bureau of Forestry, to which they properly
belong The present diffusion of responsibility is
bad from every standpoint. 1t prevents that
effective cooperation between the government and
the men utilize the resources of the reserves.
without which the interests of both must suffer
The scientific bureau generally should be put under
the Department of Agriculture. The President
should have by law the power of transferring lands
for use as forest reserves to the Department Of
Agriculture. He already has such power in the
case Of lands needed by the departments of War
and the Navy
The wise administration of the forest will
be less helpful the interests which depend on
water than to those which depend on wood and
grass. The water supply itself depends upon the
forest In the arid region it is water, not land,
which measures production. The western half OF
the United States would sustain population
greater than that of whole country to-day II
the waters that now run waste saved and
used for irrigation The forest and water problems
perhaps the most vital internal questions Of the
United States.