The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1901-12-03
AnrIeuIturs Considered.

country ana with two OF tho iflhui
groups that have lately come under
our Jurisdiction. whose people must
look 20 agriculture ms q livelihood.
IL IL searching the world for grains.
grasses, fruits and vegetables spe-
cialiy ffted for Introduction into To-
califiea Ia the several states and ter
rliofies y here they may add ma
feriaily 90 our resources. Ny ecien-
tife attention 10 soil survey and pos
slbl~ new crops. to breeding o. new
varieties OF plants. 10 experimental
shipments, 20 animal industry and
applied chemistry. very practical aid
haa been given our farming ana
stock growing interests. The pro-
ducts OF the farm have taken an
unprecedented place in our export
trade during the year that has Just
closed.
Protection OF Forests.
Public opinion throughout the
United states has moved steadily to-
ward Just appreciation Of The
value 81 forests. whether planted OF
OF natural growth. The great part
played BY them in the creation and
maintenance ~ the national wealth
~ now more fully realized than ever
before.
Wise forrcf protection does not
mean the withdrawal on forest re-
sources whether ~ wood. water or
grass. from contributing their full
SHARE a. the welfare Of the people
but, on the contrary. gives the asEur-
ance Of larger and more certain sup.
plies. The Fundamental idea OF
forestry IL the psrpetuation Of for
ests ny use. Forest protection IN not
an and OF ltseif. IL IN n means 20 In
crease and sustain the resources OF
our country and the industries
which depend upon them, The pre-
s~ryatfou Of our forests IN m inn
narrative business necessity. We
have come 20 see clearly that what
ever destroys the forest. except 10
make way for agriculture, threatens
our xeii-b being.
The practical usefulness 81 the ma
,lonsi forest reserves TO the mining.
grazing. irrigation and other inter-
ests Of the regions In which the re.
serves lie has led 20 a Widespread
demand by the people Of the West
for their protection and extension.
THE forest reserves will inevitably
be % still greater use In the future
than in the past. Additions should
be made 20 them whenever prac-
ticable, and their usefulness should
he Increased by a thoroughly husi-
no~eilke management.
At rresens the protection of the
forest reserves rests with the general
land office, the mapping and descrsp-
tlon II their timber with the United
states geological survey. and the
preparation OF plans for their con-
sentative use with the bureau OF for
estry. which IN also charged with
the general Advancement OF prac-
teal forestry In the United States.
These various functions should be
united IN the bureau OF forestry. %
which they properly belong. The
present diffusion OF responsibility Is
bad from every standpoint. IL pre-
vents that effective cooperation be-
tween the government and the men
who utilize the resources Of the re-
serves. without which the Interests
The Scientific sureaua
Of both must suffer. The scientific
bureaus generally should be put I'M
der the department Of agriculture
The president should have by law
tha power 81 transferring lands for
use as forest reserves to the depart
ment Of agriculture. He already has
such power in the case of lands
needed by the departments OF wal
and the navy.
The wise administration OF the for
est reserves will be not less helpful
70 the interests which depend OF
water than to those which depen'
on wood and grass. The water sup
ply itself depends upon the forest
In the arid region II IL water, no
-.
The western half of the Unite,
States would sustain population
greater than that OF our whole coun
try today II the waters that now rtii
to waste were saved and used 10
Irrigation. The forest and waite
problems are perhaps the most vita
Internal questions OF the Unite'
States.
Certain OF the forest reserve
should be made preserves for tn
Wild forest creatures. All OF the re
serves should be better protecte'
from fires. Many OF them need spe
cini protection because OF the grea
injury done by live stock. above al
Wants Game Protected.
by sheep. The increase IN deer. ell
and other animals In the Yellow
stone Park shows what may be ex
pccted when other mountain forest
are properly protected by law am
properly guarded. Some OF thes
areas have been so denuded OF sur
face vegetation by overgrazing tina
the ground breeding birds. including
grouse and quail. and many nam
mails, including deer. have been ex
terminated or driven away. AT tn
same time the water-storing capacit,
of the surface has been decreased o
destroyed, thus promoting foods Il
times OF rain and diminishing tn
fiow OF streams between rains.
In cases where natural condition.
have been restored for few years
vegetation has again carpeted tn
ground. birds and deer are cominl
hack and hundreds OF persons. espe
ciaily from the immediate neighbor
hood. come each summer 60 enjoy tn
privilege OF camping. Some at leas
Of the forest reserves should afors
perpetual protection TO the native
fauna and fora. safe Ravens OF ref
uee TO our rapidly diminishing WIG
animals OF the larger kinds, ana fre'
camping grounds Tor the ever IN
creasing numbers OF men and womer
and recreation in the splendid for
eats and flower clad meadows OF our
mountains. The forest reserves
sbould be set apart forever for this
use and benefit OF our people as g
whole and not sacrificed 10 the
shortsighted greed OF few.
rho forests are natural reservoirs
~, restraining the streams In flood
ard repIenishinR them In drought
they make possible the use of waters
otherwise wasted They prevent the
soil from washing and so protect the
storage reservoirs from filling UT
with silt. Forest conservation Il
therefore an essential condition Of
water conservation.
Retaining Arid Lands.
The forests alone cannot, however
fully regulate and conserve the wa.
tcrs OF the arid region. Great stor-
age works are necessary to equalizs