The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-04
FORESTS SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND
ARID LANDS OF THE WEST RECLAIMED

the past fifteen years has steadily
broadened its work on economic lines,
and has accomplished results of real
value in upbuilding domestic and for
eign trade. It has gone into new
fields until it is now in touch with all
sections Of our country and with two
or the island groups that have lately
come under our Jurisdiction, whose
people must look to agriculture as a
livelihood. It is searching the world
Tor grains, grasses, fruits and veg
etables specially fitted for introduce
ton into localities in the several states
and territories where they may add
materially TO our resources. BY sCien-
tific attention to soil survey and pos
sible new crops. to breeding of new
varieties Of pants, to experimental
shipments, to animal industry and ap-
piled chemistry. very practical aid has
been given our farming and stock
growing interests. The products OF the
farm have taken an unprecedented
place in our export trade during the
year that has just closed
Public opinion throughout the Unit
ed States has moved steadily toward a
just appreciation of the value of for
ests. whether planted or OF natural
growth. The great part played by
them in the creation and maintenance
of the national wealth is now more
fully realized than ever before.
Wise forest protection does not mean
the withdrawal of forest resources.
whether of wood water or grass, from
contributing their full share to the
welfare of the people, but, on the con-
trary, gives the assurance of larger
and more certain supplies. The fUnda-
mental idea Of forestry is the perpet-
uatiOn of forests by use. Forest pro-
lection is not an end of itself; it is a
means to increase and sustain the re-
sources Of our country and the indus
tries which depend upon them. The
preservation Of our forests is an i'm
perative business necessity. We have
come to see clearly that whatever de-
stroys the forest except to make way
for agriculture, threatens our WE'LL
being.
Mining, Grazing and Irrigation.
? The practical usefulness of the =
= national forest reserves. to the =
= mining, grazing, irrigation and =
= other interests of the regions in =
2 which the reserves lie has led TO =
> a widespread demand by the peo- ,
= pie of the west for their protec- =
> ton and extension. The forest re-
= serves viii inevitably be of still ,
= greater use in the future than in =
= the past. Additions should be =
? made to them whenever praetic- ,
able, and their usefulness should >
= be increased by a thoroughly =
business-like management.
At present the protection of the for
est reserves rests with the general
land office the mapping and descrip-
. srva &c
States geological survey, and the prep
aratiOn Of plans for their cOnserva-
tive use 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 bu-
Teau of forestry, to which they prop
erly belong. The present diffusion of
responsibility is bad from every stand
point. It prevents that effective CO.
operation between the government and
the men who utilize the resources OF
the reserves, without which the inter
ests of both must suffer. The scien-
tifiC bureaus 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 for
est reserves viii be not less helpful
to the interests which depend on water
than to those which depend On wood
and grass The water supply itself de-
ponds upon the forest. IN the arid re-
gion it is water, not land which meas
ures production. The western half of
the United States would sustain
population greater than that of our
whole country today if the waters
that now run to waste were saved and
used for irrigation. The forest and
water problems are perhaps the most
vital internal questions of the United
States.
Preserves for Wild Creatures.
Certain of the forest reserves should
also be made preserves for the wild
forest creatures. All of the reserves
should be better protected from fires.
Many of them need special protection
because Of the great injury done by
livestock, above all, by sheep. The in
crease in deer, elk and other animals
in the Yellowstone park shows what
may be expected when other mountain
forests are properly protected by law
and properly guarded. Some of these
areas have been so denuded of surface
by overgrazing that the
ground breeding birds, including
grouse and quail, and many mammals,
deer, have been exterminated
OF driven away. At the same time
the water-storing capacity of the sur
face has been decreased or destroyed,
thus promoting foods in times of rain
and diminishing the flow of streams
between rains.
In cases where natural conditions
have been restored for a few years,
has again carpeted the
ground, birds and deer are coming
back. and hundreds of persons. espe-
sally from the immediate neighbor-
hood. come each summer to enjoy the
privilege Of camping. Some at least OF
The forest reserves should afford per
Detual protection to the native fauna
and fora, safe Ravens Of refuge to our
rapidly diminishing wild animals OF
he larger kinds, and free camping
grounds for the ever-increasing num-
Ders of men and women who have
earned to find rest health and recred- |
ion in the splendid forests and flower
lad meadows of our mountains. The
forest reserves should be set apart for
eyer for the use and benefit Of our
people as a whole and not sacrificed /
20 the shortsighted greed of a few
IMAM cr.1o ncsr xu01c