The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-10
FOREST RESERVES
CREATE TROUBLE
"Checkerboards" Especially
Do, and Washington State
May Have One
Globe Special Washington Service
1A4z n NA...G

1417 G Street
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 9.-Sev-
eral of the large tracts of forest lands
which have been temporarily with
drawn from settlement during the last
year and a half will be partially re-
stored to the public domain during the
summer. Some of these tracts are
covered to a large extent with some
Of the finest timber in the United
States, and lumbermen all over the
country are interested in the recent ac-
tons of the interior department with
regard to these lands.
The wholesale Withdrawals of tim
Der lands began in the fall of 1902 and
continued actively until a few months
ago. 1t appeared last winter that the
Withdrawals were not made entirely in
good faith-that is, that the interior
department did not necessarily intend
to include all of them in permanent
forest reserves. The secret object of
the Withdrawals in some cases was to
prevent the land sharks who had been
defrauding the government from car
rying their operations further In the
meantime the investigation was begun
which has resulted in several indict-
ments and in which there are expected
to be further sensational developments.
Bad Feeling in Washington State
Some of the largest Withdrawals
were made in the state of Washington,
some of the largest holders of forest
lands. There has been much bitter
feeling on account of the character of
the Withdrawals, the lumbermen on the
one hand complaining that the legiti-
mate prosecution of their business has
been interfered with, and agricultural
settlers, on the other hand declaring
that large portions of the withdrawn
areas were really not timbered at all,
and were suitable only for agriculture
or grazing.
These complaints have been heard
for more than a year in the Pacific
Northwest, and the policy of the in
terror department has been roundiy
denounced. Clifford Pinchot. chief of
the forestry bureau of the agricultural
department, is a close personal friend
of President Roosevelt, and his poll
cy is to include vast areas in perma-
nent reserves. His policy of course,
takes little account of the present lum-
Der industry, and there has been much
hostility toward the wholesale with
drawal of lands.
During the coming season it is prob
able that a part of two or three large
Withdrawals Of forest lands will be re-
stored to public entry. These tracts
which adjoin the Washington and
Mount Rainier forest reserves, were ex-
amined by special agents of the inte-
rior department last season to deter
mine what lands should be permanent
ly added to the reserves and what
should be restored to public entry
Altogether these Withdrawals cover
| sixty-one townships in Washington. II
is not unlikely that 20 or 80 per cent OF
| these will be restored to the public
domain, giving settlers the chance
which they have been clamoring for.
Second "Checkerboard" Reserve
1t is proposed to create a further
| forest reserve in the. state of Wash
| ington, and if this proposition is car
ried out the whole mountain region in
Central Washington from north tc
south will be reserved from numbering
/ operations. If the withdrawal of the
proposed new area is made. and the
withdrawal becomes permanent after
expert examination by the government
agents, this will form the creation OF
the second "checkerboard' reserve in
| the United States. The reason for this
| IS that the Northern Pacific railroad