The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-06-06
Washington Objects
TO Government Cob
bling the Forests
Makes Strenuous Protest to
the Department, Against
Holding Out Fertile
Valleys

| Inc proposition OF eNtenuluB the
government forest reserves in Wash
ington is attracting a good deal of at
tention, both in this state and in
Washington. ID. @ Senator Foster
has received word from the geological
survey of the interior department that
representative will be sent out here
soon to investigate concerning the
proposed reserve extensions in What.
com, Snohomish and Asotin counties.
Word has also been received from
Clifford Pinchot. chief or the bureau
OF forestry OF the agricultural depart.
ment, who is practically at the head
OF the movement for increased forest
reserves, that he will also visit the
Sound, probably about the last OF June
or the first OF July. He will make
several public addresses. and will en-
deavor to allay the opposition to the
reserves met with in the several coun'
ties. Mr.. Pinchot is a man OF large
means aside from any government
connection, and he accepted the posi-;
tion as chief of the bureau Of forestry
to be able TO carry out his ideals in re.
gard TO the preservation OF the for
ests as a benefit 20 the country and
people. a subject in which he is deeply
interested, rather than from any mo
tive OF honor or emoluments. He is
trying TO get the matter OF forest re-
serves transferred from the interior
department TO his department, and an
amendment to the agricultural bill
will be introduced at the next session
OF congress providing for such a
change.
Protest Of Whateom County.
The matter OF increasing the forest
reserves In this state is meeting much
opposition, the numerous protests
have been sent into the interior de-
partment, particularly from Whatcom
county. which sent In protest carry
ing between 700 and 500 names. The
whatcom people claim that 10 make
the large Withholding OF lands east
the old reserve. as proposed, would
turn practically the whole OF the coun-
~ into forest reserve. and leave not
nearly enough land for purposes of
numbering and settlement, as half OF
the county is already upder the re
serve. Many think that the reserves
have already been extended too far
They claim also that there are many
fertile valleys entirely suitable for ag
rlcultural purposes included in the re
serve. to the great detriment Of the
country.
The claim made by the department
Oficials. and advocated by President
Roosevelt himself. as partially ex
pressed in his recent Everett speech
is that the forests should be preserved
from devastation and wasteful lumber
ing industry, and also that the for
ests, particularly OF the mountains
act In the nature OF immense reser
yoirs in Withholding the precipita
tion OF rain and SHOWS from rapiC
evaporating or melting, storing uI
moisture at the headwaters OF th'
streams to be liberated gradually. l
II we're not for the forests, Il 4
claimed. the winter SHOWS on tn
mountains would melt on in a rush
causing damaging floods and leaving
the country dry months earlier in tn
the year than now.
Settlers Claims
Chief Pinchot is confident of beinl
able 20 present the matter in sucl
light that the Washington people viii
readily assent TO the reserve exter
sions as a direct benefit 10 them an
the country.
One OF the arguments pro and col
on the reservation question is as :
the rights OF the early settlers. II
held by some OF the settlers who hav
taken up homesteads in remote plaS
es that 1t is unfair to them to hav
the government put all the surround
ing land under reserves. thus shuttin
them out from the advantages OF IN
development OF the country, transpol
tation facilities, neighbors, education
al institutions for their children
churches and other advantages OF civ
ilization which the. settler usually e.
poets TO follow him in due course Z
time The oifer OF the government I
/ give the settler lieu land In som
! other location for his holdings In IN
reservations is not regarded Wit
favor. as It practically entails besiI
! ming life over again.
~ On the other hand. some Of n
settlers have expressed themselve