The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-23
The Wyoming Threat Against the
Presidents Nomination in
1904 Explained.
An Aggregate of 18,778,4O0 Acres
Of Land on Which Entries
Cannot Be Made.
Tracts Run from Lake Superior
IS Across the Continent and
Along the Rockies.
From The Journal Bureau, Room Is, Post Build.
ing. WASHINGTON.

Washington. March 2s.-The f1utter ere
ated in Washington early this week by an
interview, telegraphed from Cheyenne, in
which Governor DeForest Richards Of
Wyoming predicted that not only his
state, but several other western states,
re would send delegations to the next repub-
lican national convention antagonistic to
Roosevelt, has called renewed attention
to what has been done in the past fifteen
or eighteen months In the withdrawal Of
lands from settlement and entry with a
view to creating forest reserves.
Every few months All item appears in
the press dispatches from Washington to
the effect that the secretary has with
drawn a, bodyof land from settlement and
entry with this end in view. The areas
withdrawn in each instance vary in size
from half million to several millions Of
acres. In some instances the withdraw
ais are made for the purpose of connect
Ing and consolidating two or more exist
ing reserves. In others it Is an original
proposition looking to the preservation
of considerable body of timber, the
conservation Of the water supply in a
certain locality, or for other reasons.
The Yellowstone Reserve.
The particular act about which Governor
Richards appears to feel aggrieved, was
that making additions to the Yellowstone
reserve in Wyoming and Montana, and in
consolidating three existing reserves in
those states. The reserves formerly Gre
ated were the Absaroka, the Yellowstone
and the Teton. These three covered an
area Of 7,273, 900 acres. In order to con-
solidate them it was found necessary to
add 100000 acres, making a total Of
S,s75.000 acres in what Is now known as
the Yellowstone reserve, which surrounds
the Yellowstone National park. This was
not mere withdrawal from settlement
and entry with g. view to the establish
ment of a. reserve, but the actual creation
of the consolidated reserve by presidential
proclamation. It is said that the land
added included many good sheep and cat
tie pastures. where the stockmen of Wy
oming and Montana had been accustomed
to Craze the herds. and Governor Rich
ards perhaps had in mind the interests of
his most influential constituents, when
he gave out his interview.
=. There has not been a, withdrawal for
forestry purposes since the passage of the
act authorizing it that has not been fol-
lowed by protests. Nevertheless, with
drawals are being made until now there
is an aggregate Of 1S,77S,400 acres on
which no entries can be made, in the
states extending from Lake Superior to
the Pacific ocean and down the coast
through Washington, Oregon and Cali
fornia.
The withdrawals include the following
proposed reserves:
~. Here Are the Tracts.
In Minnesota. the Lake Superior re-
serve. just north Of the lake, with an es-
timated area Of 100000 acres.
f, In Idaho and Montana, the kootenal re-
serve. $4,000 acres.
: In Washington, additions to the Wash
ington and Mount Rainier reserves, to con.
meet and consolidate the two, 2,557, 44t
acres.
In Washington and Oregon, the Blue
Mountain reserve, 3,196,S00 acres.
.- In Oregon. the WalloWa reserve, $50,
$50 acres.
The largest area Of pending reserva.
tions, however. is in California. Five
forest reserves are projected In that state
which, if finally created by the president
will comprise chain Of reserves extend
ing from the British boundary line on thu
north to Lower California on the south
and include every considerable body O.
timber land in that section. These five
proposed reserves with their respectiv,
areas are as follows: Diamond Mountain
506,ss0 acres; Lassen Peak, 1,o36,S0
acres; addition to the Lake Tahoe reserve
e,474,24o; klamath, 2,373,120 acres; Ston!
Creek, $4,000 acres.
Ii, "Mere Game Preserves"
Governor Richards stated in his inter
view that in following out his presen
policy Of withdrawing lands for forest re-
serves the president was creating mer,
game preserves in which visotors from tn,
east might hunt and fish. But official
Of the interior department say that tn,
creation Of reservations will have no sucl
effect They say that the president i
pursuing policy begun in the CLEVELAND
administration, which will result in tn
preservation of the comparatively small
remaining forested area and the conserva
ton Of the water supply, thus insuring tn
success Of the national irrigation law
These officials point to the condition O
the "cut-over' lands in northern Michigan
and in Wisconsin as an example Of wha
z the western country would become if tn
timber land were to pass into the hands o
the big lunbermen who could cut it a
will. and without any thought of tn
4 future water supply. One of the problem
III the government Is now wrestling with i
n how to make the "cut-over'' lands In tn
middle west productive. Just now the,
are practically fit for nothing, except pos
sibly grazing, and even that is not as
i sured,
Ex-Governor Richards Statement.
ss Land Commissioner Richards, who wa
himself once governor of Wyoming, de
tends the policy Of the administration Wig
orously. In an interview following tn
publication Of that with his namesake