Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-18
CLIFFORD PINCHOT.
Discourses on the Importance of
Forest Reserves.

president Roosevelt has said that the
pilhClpal VDJect OI the forest pOucy OF
the thled States Is, ana must ne, "
make prosperous hOmes ana TO keep them
plVsptiVus. Ine ouJect OF the govern
uloht IN uealins wth the Ioresl reserves
II, therefore, ~ give them tnelr greatest
permanent useruiness 10 the settler ami
the hOine MAKER, wise forest admins.
ldtlvh ~ Impossible MltnouI IA knUwIeuse
OF local conuiUons ana local needs ana
without the careful adaptation OF the for
tst reserve rules 10 meet those neeus.
IN tnv delltate ana important TASK Of
administering the forest reserves winch
are 80 NitaiN necessary 10 tns well-
BENG OF industries and communities
Throughout the west. the government Is
constantly met by the uenlanas OF con-
mcuhB interests. In eacn case It IN es-
sentai that lne administration of the re-.
serve should meet the needs OF the peO-
PIE, ana That each reserve should be gwen
us highest possible present usefulness
While protecting with the greatest care rs
continued utility to the community. The
ldta or permanent usefulness Is funda-
mental In every case
'lhe four great timber using industries
numbering Dunding, mining ana trans
portallon-are peculiarly depenaent for
tnelr future prosperity upon sustained
supply OF timber from The government
forest reserves and special provisions
must be made to meet their needs The
use OF the mature timber is often essen
tlal ana almost universally advisable in
healthy growing forest and provision IL
made by the law for It's disposition TO
those who need II. This use OF the re-
serves VIII grow steadily greater ana more
essential as time goes on, and every care
should De taken TO safeguard the young
growth for the future.
For the present much the most i'm
portHnt use OF the forest reserve is to
supply water to the irrgator, ana us
uulty IN this respect should be safe
guarded IN every possible way. This use
100, VIII Increase with time, and IT Will
become more and more evident that the
foundation OF the irrigation development
OF the west lies In the wise administra-
ton of the forest reserves. Not only can
the present supplies of water be con-
served by the right handling OF tn forest,
but there IL no question whatever that in
point OF view, as well as from many 9th
ers, protection against fire Is the first
DUTY or the government toward the re.
serves
Opposition to the forest reserve policy
mas arisen chiefly from three sources
irst understanding of the govern
ments policy IN the creation of reserves
second, NeNatious and unnecessary delays
ana restrictions certain to disappear as
the reserve management improves but
for the present serious hindrance to the
usefulness OF the reserves; third the sud-
den disturbance OF business conditions
when n reserve Is created has sometimes
IN the past Occasloned serious losses 10
legitimate business enterprises When. as
sometimes happns, the continued use of
an area set aside as forest reserve as Il
was used before is no longer compatible
with the public interests, then, unless the
public good absolutely demands sudden
action, which is but rarely the case, these
private enterprises should be given time
TO adjust themselves to the approaching
change.
When Ignorance OF the objects Of for
est reserves disappears, opposition to
them disappears with IT, The sentiment
IN favor Of the protection of water and
or other interests of the west, through
the protection of ts forests awaits hut
the adjustment Of n few differences 10
become unanimOus 4"