The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-04
FORESTS AtD ARID LANDS.
RESERVES aND PRESERVES.
Forest PrOtectitn and Haven Of Ref
NE for AId Creatures.

ne for lid Creatures.
Public opinion throughout the United
States has movee& steadily toward a just
appreciation of She value OF forests,
whether planted & Of natural growth. The
great part played Soy them in the creation
and maintenance sf the national wealth Is
now more fully reklized than ever before
Wise forest PROV ction does not mean the
withdrawal Of foesst resources, whether OF
wood. water, or Grass, from contributing
their full share to- she welfare OF the people,
but on the contSry, gives the assurance
of larger and ME certain supplies. The
fundamental ideas Of forestry is the per-
petuation of foreess by use. Forest protec-
ton is not an emo .,f itself; 81 is means 10
increase and sustSin the resources OF our
country and the industries which depend
upon them. The observation OF our forests
is an imperative fbusiness necessity We
have come to see clearly that whatever de-
stroys the forest 4except TO make way for
agriculture. thres:ens our well-being.
The practical t:efulneSs OF the national
forest reserves Z. the mining; grazing, r.
rigatiOn ind othGH interests OF the regions
in which the reserves lie has led 10 a wide
spread demand b. the people Of the West
for their protect@on and extension. Inc
forest reserves v-Jn inevitably be Of stil
greater use i'm this future than in the past.
Additions shouldsbe made 10 them when
pract1cable. ana lnelr usefulness
should be increas.xd by a thoroughly busi-
nesslike management.
At present the Eotection OF the forest re-
serves rests withAthe General Land Office,
the mapping an6s description of their tim
Der with the ,UnSed State Geological sur
Vey. and the PREPARATION Of plans for their
conservative use. swith the Bureau OF For
estry, which is $3.50 charged with the gen
eral advancemenr Of practical forestry IN
the United Statesz These various functions
should be united IN the Bureau OF Forestry,
s-l, Is1g
diffusion Of responsibility Is bad from every
standpoint. 1t pteVents that effective CO.
oparatiOn betWee< the government and the
men who utilizesthe resources Of the re-
serves without Which the interests of both
must suffer TIL scientific bureaus gem
eralIv should be INT under the Department.
Of Agriculture. She President should have
by law the power of transferring lands
for use as forest reserves TO the Depart
rnent of AgricultG-e He already has such
power in the cas-: OF lands needed by the
departments Of We and the navy.
The wise ADMINISTRATION OF the forest re-
serves will be mr. less helpful TO the in
terests which depend water than 70
those which derend on wood and grass.
The WAFER supple. itself depends upon the
forest. In the assd region il is water, not
land which m;hsures production. The
western half Of .he United States would
sustain a popula; greater than that Of
our whole cOun~y to-day II the waters
that now run 10 waste were saved and used
for irrigation. T&e forest and water prob
lens are perhaTs the most vital internal
Certain OF the '.rest reserves should also
be made preserves for the wild forest crea-
lures All OF the:reserves should be better
protected from Ties Many OF them need
special protection. because OF the great in
jury done by live stock. above all by sheep.
The increase in T. er. elk and other animals
in the Yellowstone Park shows what may
be expected whe. other mountain forests
are properly prot cted by law and properly
guarded Some < these areas have been 50
denuded Of surfa4e vegetation by overeraz-
ing that the gro1ad breeding birds includ-
ing F-ouse and tuail. and many animals.
including deer. We been eXterminated or
driven away. Atsthe same time the water
storing capacity Of the surface has been
decreased or destroyed, thus promoting
floods In times % rain and diminishing the
fow OF streams lftween rains
In cases whers natural conditions have
been restored fos few years vegetation
has again csrpe % the ground, birds and
deer are coming :ack, and hundreds OF per-
sons, especially .fom the Immediate neigh
borhood, come eZch summer 20 enjoy me
privilege Of canning. Some at least OF the
forest reserves s.Ould afford perpetual pro-
lection 10 the nl:ive fauna and nora. safe
havens OF refugs 10 our rapidly diminish
ing wild animals OF the larger kinds, ana
free camping grends for the eYer-lncreas-
ing numbers OF Aen and women who have
learned 10 find WSt health and recreation
In the splendiF forests and hower-clad
meadows OF our zaountains. The forest re-
serves should bexset apart forever Tor the
use and benefit II our people as whole
and not sacrifcex 10 the shortslghted greed
of a few.