Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-11
THE WESTERN FORESTS
STATEMENT or TIE POLICY OF
THE INTERPRETATION.
Preservation Of 1imbsr for Protection
Of Future Water supply = The
Question Of Yama Preserves.

The following statement respecting the
present and future policy Of this admins
tration relating to the establishment and
control Of forest reservations was made
yesterday by Commissioner Richards Of the
general land office
The Presidents purpose and desire Is to
protect and preserve the remaining forests
upon public lands from the devastation
and destruction which has been the fate
OF those in large portions of the Appala-
chan mountains and in other forested sec
lions of the country. In doing this sup
ply of timber will be preserved for future
needs and natural sources Of water supply
will be SO protected as to prevent flooding
Of the streams during the springtime and
the melting Of the SHOWS, and to insure
water for irrigation and other purposes
during the dry season. The establishment
and proper maintenance of forest reserves
Is indispensable to any extensive reclama-
ton or cultivation of lands in the arid re-
g1on under the recent act of Congress
which appropriates for that purpose the
proceeds Of the sales of public lands.
1T Is and has been the Presidents con-
ststent policy to encourage the actual set
tlement of the country by home builders in
every way, to see that actual settlers with
In the forest reserves are accorded every
reasonable protection, and that those living
within the immediate vicinity of these re-
serves. who are dependent upon the reserves
for grazing areas for cattle and horses and
for necessary timber for building and fuel,
are accorded access to the reserves for these
purposes under such reasonable restrictions
as will prevent waste and destruction. 1t
has been so conclusively demonstrated that
uncontrolled sheep grazing within forest
reserves Is Injurious to the forest growth
and to the natural water cover that the
great migratory flocks of sheep are neces-
sarily kept out of the reserves; but even
this policy is pursued with cautious atten-
ton to the prevention of injury to those
engaged in sheep raising. The preserva-
ton OF wild game, such as moose, elk and
deer, which is only minor feature of the
control Of the forest reserves, is authorized
by an act Of Congress- which directs that
In all practicable ways aid in the enforce
ment Of the game and fish laws Of the state
or territory in which the forest reserve Is
located. The law Of the state or territory
Of these officers. The United States has
interposed no law of its own, and the adj
ministration has given no directions to its
forestry officers other than that the local
laws, whatever they may be, shall be en-
forced. In some of the western states and
territories, notably Wyoming, the govern
ment forest rangers are by the laws OF the
state made assistant game wardens of the
state.
1.-THE work Of establishing and maintain
ing forest reserves will have such a vast
and beneficial influence in the settlement
and development Of the western states and
territories that it must be controlled by g.
fixed policy, to which matters Of minor or
temporary concern must give way for the
general and permanent public good. The
one guiding purpose Of the administration
in dealing with forestry, with pasturage,
with irrigation, with the land generally, is
to help and make easy the path of the
home builder, the small ranchman or tiller
of the soil, and not to let the land be ex-
plotted and skinned by those who have no
permanent interest therein. and who do not
build homes or remain as actual residents"