Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-02-06
FOREST RESERVE POLICY
TO PROTECT OPEN RIVER
Continued from page g.

rather specious than just Provision is
now made in the regulations and in
the law for the elimination from re-
serves of tracts found to be more valu-
able for agricultural than for forestry
purposes. Whenever any considerable
area of reserve lands is shown to be
of the character stated it is promptly
restored to the public domain and rem
dered subject to settlement. In the
vicinity of Elk City there are certain
tracts of limited extent that are desir-
able for agricultural purposes, l have
i'm mind the meadow lands along Elk
creek and Red river, they are for hay
raising very valuable, and the time
is not far distant when even these rel
atively small tracts will be treated as
agricultural lands by the government
they are now occupied and used as such
as a matter of fact.
1T should be remembered that this
whole forest reserve business is as yet
in the formative stage; as time passes
what are now largely rules of a general
character relatively crude expressions
be modified and adapted to specific
conditions in particular localities. In
other words the details of the business
will be worked out in harmony with
the general plan. When this is accom-
plished there will be a better under
standing, on all hands, of the forestry
system, local irritation will be allayed
q M "a igry nf hA
ment in creating and maintaining for
est reserves will be appreciated and
approved.
Il would call your attention to one
feature of this Bitter Root reserve mat
ter that is too often overlooker, l refer
to the protection of the forests of our
mountains for the conserving of an
equable flow in our streams. An open
river to tidewater has been the dream
of this Inland Empire for over a quar-
ter of a century, Year after year APP
peals have gone up to congress for
appropriations for the Improvement of
the navigation OF the Snake and Co
lImhia rivers. How futile will he those
improvements if the grand mountains
surrounding the drainage basin of the
Columbia be dennded of their forests
The Clearwater river is a comparative
~ small contributor to the mighty flood
Of the Columbia but it is of very great
assistance in maintaining a nlvigable
stage Of water in the Snake at sea
SON when ii Is most needed. And not
only so. but there is another consid-
GRAFTON. Practically destroy the water
storing capacity of the Clearwater
watershed by removing the timber from
the mountains of the Bitter Root re-
serve and spring floods would sweep
Lewiston and send it to Join the other
Wrcckage that now strews the coast
near the mouth of the Columbia.
Every city and every town. every fruit
farm along our rivers is vitality inter
ested in whatever tends to regulate the
flow of those streams. Unless we
would see the devastation annually
Wrought ny the Ohio river repeated i'm
this northwest. we should avoid the
cause. Denudation of it's watershed is
what has made the Ohio demon of
destruction.
Continue the struggle for the all
water route TO the sea but do not fail
To guard with jealous care the timber
of our mountains which controls the
flow of the rivers and which in the
future will determine whether that
route shall be byword or blessing"