Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1903-09-03
HAIR GONE TOO FAR.
Creation of New Forest Reserves
Should End.

w
hanson dec ared light saws Sain,
days Oregonian, that creation of the
proposed forest serves in D, egon vi |
be very unfortunate f the state Mr.
Williamson came down fl tfooted in op
position to the policy which tn Interio
Department has nangnra ed in Oregon
"Th,s smearing of fesnrves," eaid he,
promiscuously and arbitrarily, without
regard to the welfare of TIE com
munites affected is what | call abuse
of the forest reserve policy. The Cas-
cade reserve has been and will b a
benefit. Certain regions of the Blue
Mountains might also be set aside to
advantage. The reserve system we'll
used should be commended; abused it
should be condemned"
The theory If forest reserves M :,
Williamson approves. Wise appllca'
tion of the theory he commends But
he thinks that Eastern enthusiasts have
allowed the theory to cover up many Of
the practical aspects of the question in
this state The paramount need of Ore
gon is the development of more re
sources and the enlargement of fields Of
industry. "When the Eastern theor
lsts,' remarked Mr.. Williamson "see us
arguing the practical side of the ques
ton and trying to hedge their ideas with
practical limitations, they call us can
nibals.
"The man who understands the needs
of this state sees that it's progress will
be retarded by creation of the proposed
reserves The reserves are intended os
tensibly TO promote progress but they
remove the means Of attaining the very
object they aim at. Their purpose is
the upbuilding OF the common wealth,
but their effect is the repression of the
energies that upbuid the common
wealth.
"Consider, for example, the proposed
reserve in Northern WalIowa County.
All the valuable timber in that with
drawal is already in private ownership.
What good can come of depriving the
persons who own those lands of owning
the intervening lands? Why not per
nit development to proceed, the timber
that is available to be sold and the
lands to be devoted to agriculture. live
stock and other uses?
"Then consider the proposed reserve
in Southwestern Oregon. AS in North
ern Wallowa, there the valuable TINT
IS already owned by individuals. What
good can come of reserving the inter
mediate 'scab' lands in section of Ore
gon which already has enough and too
much moisture?
"Now look at the proposed reserve in
Southern Crook County and Northern
Lake and Klamath The good lands
are all taken up and the poor lands,
whose use is necessary to the develop |
ment of the good, are TO be reserved |
Industrial projects are hesitating. in |
doubt about the privileges they will
have on the intermediate lands. Why
put such ban on progress in region
whose energies are striving to get loose
1.-THE policy behind the creation of
these reserves is altogether wrong, Its
objects are ill-advised. It's effects are
misjudged.
"People in Interior Oregon don't
know what to make of it. And their
grievance is the same as that of the
people OF all western States. tell you
that this reserve business is getting to
be live issue. 1t is the substance of
the conversation of all classes of citi.
zens, And when so many people raise
protest, they are to be reckoned with.
Hundreds and thousands of acres are
withdrawn that are not sources of water ,
supply. Miles and miles OF lands are ,
withdrawn that contain dry sand or