The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-12-06

be just to and open to all shippers ale.
The Government should see to II that
within Its Jurisdiction this is so, and
should provide a speedy, inexpensive and
effective remedy to that end.
Department OF Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture, during
the past Is years, has steadily broadened
its work ON economic lines and has ac-
complished results of real value in up
building domestic and foreign trade. 1t
has gone into new fields until 1t is now in
touch with all sections OF our country and
with TWO Of the island groups that have
lately come under our jurisdiction, whose
people must look to agriculture as live
lihood. 1t Is searching the world for
grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables spe-
cially fitted for introduction into localities
OF the several states and territories where
they may add materially to our resources.
value of the Forests.
Public opinion throughout the United
States has moved steadily toward a just
appreciation of the value of forests,
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.
The practical usefulness of the National
forest reserves to the mining. grazing, ir-
rigation and other interests of the regions
In which the reserves lie has led to wide
spread demand by the people of the West
for their protection and extension. The
forest reserves will inevitably be of still
greater use in the future than in the past.
Additions should be made to them when
ever practicable, and their usefulness
should be increased by a thoroughly busi-
ness-like management.
Protection of Reserves.
At present the protection of the forest
reserves rests with the General Land Of
fee. the mapping and description of their
timber with the United States Geological
Survey. and the preparation of plans for
their conservative use with the Bureau
Of Forestry, which is also charged with
the general advancement of practical for
estry In the United States. These vari-
Gus functions should be united in the Bu-
reau Of Forestry. to which they properly
belong.
The wise administration of the forest
reserves will be not less helpful to 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 our whole country today If the waters
used for irrigation. The forest and water
problems are perhaps the most vital inter-
nal questions of the United States.
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.
Forests Are Reservoirs.
The forests are natural reservoirs. BY
restraining the streams In flood and re-
plenishing them In drought. they make
possible the use of waters otherwise vast
ed. They prevent the soil from washing,
and so protect the storage reservoirs from
filling up with silt Forest conservation
water conservation.
The forests alone cannot, however, fully
regulate and conserve the waters OF the
arid region Great storage works are
and to save the flood waters. Their con-
stTuction has been conclusively shown to
be an undertaking too vast for private
effort. Nor can II be best accomplished
by the individual states acting alone. Far
reaching interstate problems are involved !
and the resources OF single states would
often be inadequate 1t is properly a Ma
tional function, at least in some OF Its
features.
The Government should construct and
maintain these reservoirs as 1t does other
public works. Where their purpose is to
regulate the flow Of streams, the water
IN the dry season. to take the same course
under the same laws as the natural flow.
Reclalming Arid Lands.
The reclamation OF the unsettled arid
public lands presents a different problem
Here It is not enough TO regulate the flow
Of streams. The object Of the Government
Is to dispose OF the land TO settlers who
will build homes upon 1t. To accomplish
this object water must be brought within
The reclamation and settlement Of the
arid lands will enrich every portion OF our
country, just as thessettlement OF the OHIO
and Mississippi Valleys brought prosperity
mand for manufactured articles will stim-
ulate industrial production, while wider
home markets and the trade OF Asia will
consume the larger food supplies ana ef-
fectually prevent Western competition
with Eastern agriculture. Indeed the
products of irrigation will be consumed
chiefly In upbuilding local centers of min
ing and other industries. which would
otherwise not come into existence at all
Our people as Il whole will profit, for sue
cessful home-making is but another name
for the upbuilding of the Nation.
The necessary foundation has already
been laid for the Inauguration OF the poi
icy Just described. II would be unwlse 10
begin by doing too much, for a great
deal viii doubtless be learned. both as 10
what can and what cannot be safely at
tempted. by the early efforts. which must
Of necessity be partly experimental in
character. At the very beginning the Gov
ernment should make clear. beyond shad-
ow of doubt. its intention 20 pursue this
policy on lines Of the broadest public in
terest No reservoir or canal should ever
be built to satisfy selfish personal or %
cal interests. but only in accordance with
the advice OF trained experts. after long
Investigation has shown the locality where
an the conditions combine to make the
work most needed and fraught with the
greatest usefulness to the community as
whole. There should be no extTava-
gance. and the believers IN the need OF
irrigation will most benefit their cause by
seeing to Il that It Il free from the least
49, ~ n.rc..l..n ~ ra.L,n.. ..-..-... aIa....