Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-15

ing out into those briny waters and To-
eating even there a new forest reserve.
He has done all else but that, for
neither betting cliff nor s|corchlng des-
ert has escaped him. Provision Is now
ample not only for the protection OF
all the timber In the state. both large
ana small. but also OF all the scrub
oak and gToasewOod and cacti and rab-
bit brush and sunnowers and milk
weeds we have or ever can have, aud
yet who knows but under this benefl-
cent policy and program. we may,
within our children's time at least,
have great forests OF cookie burrs, vast
uplands OF thlstles and hosky dells and
shaded hooks filled with the rich aroma
OF burdock and diil weeds-with forest
rangers everywhere enjoying the
sweets Of the wild wood under their
wi vine and sage brush, with none
TO modest or make afraid Let us be
grateful for ever the contemplation Of
IA prospect so elysian!
RIDICULOUS IGNORANCE,
My friends, ! have tried TO discuss
this matter seriously, as BELTS its i'm.
rortance. / have various objections
to urge against the policy of forest
reservation as at present in vogue.
Experience has shown that in the selec.
ton Of many OF these large tracts-so
far as pertains to my own state at
least-there Is the most ridicul-
u ignorance as to their ma
ture and suitability for the pur-
pose Intended. Furthermore. they are
altogether disproportionate in area to
the needs which they propose TO REM
edy. There Is a woeful lack Of dis
elimination and Judgment In both these
respects, When a would-be buyer Of
public lands comes before the proper
officials to negotiate a purchase, he
certlHes as to what the nature OF tho
land is, whether more suitable for
grazing, or agriculture, or timber, or
coal, or stone. etc, The interior de-
partment IN It's wholesale selection OF
forest reserves. In loftily above and be-
yond such perfectly reasonable require.
ments; II chooses what 1t will, regardless
alike Of a~daptabillty for timber growth
and Of the injury II may 90 10 the
state by depriylng some worthy settler
Of a chance to make n home; for mind
you, these reserves are so widespread
ing in their boundaries. and seem in
deed to be especially planned as to
courses-the only lands Ia fact, upon
which people in the arid regions dare
try to establish their hearthstones.
The consequences Is already apparent,
the result Is inevitable that our young
men who choose to follow the soil for
a livelihood are compelled to go else.
where. The state not only loses the
benefit Of their Drawn and industry
and good citizenship; II also loses the
revenue TO be derived firstly from the
sale OF lands, which the forest reserve
has taken to Itself, and secondly from
the Just taxation which flows from the
thrift and advancement Of the home
maker.
FUTILE AND FRANTIC.
Certainly the preservation Of what
remains Of our forests and the protec-
ton OF a new growth, Is desirable: but
II occurs to me that there is much
which Is futile and frantic In the pres
ent governmental concern over tracts
OF land which were either long since
despoiled and are now much better
suited TO other purposes, or which are
o and always will be as destitute
OF timber growth as is the bald head
OF the baldest headed nan In this con
ventIon. / have had the honor TO fire.
quently recommend to the municipal
officials OF my state that under the
liberal terms OF purchase provided IN
our statutes they acquire absolute ute
to the lands which embrace the head"
waters OF the streams from which they
draw their water supply, Like the
voice OF one in the wilderness am
still urging this as the best policy for
these municipalities. To a considerable
extent this advice has been followed.