The Iola register., 1901-12-06
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
They Are of the Greatest Importance
TO the Welfare of The NntAn

The department OF agriculture during
the past 10 years has steadily broad
has accomplished results of real value IA
upbuildng domestic and foreign trade
1t has gone into new fields until IL 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
a livelihood. IT is searching the world nor
grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables sDe-
cially fitted for Introduction into locaH-
ties in the several states and territories
where they may add materially to our re-
sources. BY scientific attention to soil sur
vey and possible new crops, TO breeding OF
new varieties of plants, to experimental
shipments. to animal industry and applied
chemistry, very practical aid has been
given our farming and stock growing h
terests. The products Of the farm have
taken an Unprecedented place in our ex-
closed
Protect the Forests.
Public opinion throughout the United
States has moved steadily toward a tust
apprpt iatiou Of the value Of forests.
whether planted or Of natural growth
The great part played by them in the cFe-
alton 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, fron
gives the assurance Of larger and more
certain supplies The fundamental idea
of forestry, is the perpetuation of forests
by use Forest protection is not an end
of itself. It is a means TO Increase and
sustain the resources of our country and
the industries which depend aVon them.
The preservation Of our forests Is a., il,-
perative business necessity. We hav~
come to see clearly that whatever de-
StroNs the forest except TO make way for
agriculture threatens our well being.
The practical usefulness OF the national
forest reserves TO the mining. grazing r.
rigstiou ana other interests Of The regions
In which the reserves lie has led to a
widespread demand by the people of tho
west for their protection and extension;
The forest reserves Will inevitably be of
still greater use In the future than In thu
past. Additions should be made to them
whenever practicable, and their useful
ness should be increased by thoroughly
businesslke management.
BureGu of Forestry.
At present the protection OF the forest
reserves rests with the general land office.
the mapping and description OF their tim
vey and the preparation of plans for their
conservative use with the bureau of for
estry, which is also charged with the gen
eral advancement cf practical forestry in
the United States. These various fune-
lions should be united in the bureau OF
forestry, to which they properly belong.
The present diffusion or responsibility ~
bad from every standpoint, II prevents
that effective cooperation between the
resources Of the reserves without which
the interests OF both must suffer. The
scientific bureaus generally should be put
under the department Of agriculture The
president should have by law the powt r
OF transferring lands for use as forest re-
serves 10 the department Of agriculture.
lands needed BY the departments ot war
and the navy
Necessity Of TrrIEation.
The wise administration Of the forest
reserves will be not less helpful to the in
terests which depend on water than 10
those which depend on wood and grass
lhe water supply Itself depends upon the
forest. In the arid region IL ls wafer NOT
land, which measures production. The
western half OF the United States would
sustain a population greater than that OF
that now run 10 waste were saved and
used for irrigation, The forest and water
problems are perhaps the most vital in
ternsi questions Of the United states.
also be made preserves for the wild forest
creatures, All Of the reserves should ba
better protected from nres. Many OF them
need special protection because of the
great injury done by live stock, above all
by sheep. The increase In deer. elk and
other animals in the Yellowstone pa rlS
mountain forests are properly protected
by law and properly guarded. Some OF
these areas have been so denuded OF sur
face vegetation by oversrazing that the
ground breeding birds, including grouse
and quail and many mammals, including
deer, have heen extermnated or driven
away At the same time the water stor-
Ing capacity OF the surface has been de-
creased or destroyed, thus promoting
floods in times OF rain and diminishing the
flow Of streams between rains.
In cases whore natural conditions have
been restored for few years vegetation
has again carpeted the ground, birds and
deer are coming back and hundreds OF
persons, especially from the immediate
neighborhood, come each summer to en-
Joy the privilege OF samping, Some At