The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-27
FOREST RESERVES REQUIRE
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION

Especial to The Rerald)
Washington, Nov 26.-.The work OF
! this office connected With the extension
: Of forest reserve area and the adjust
ment of boundaries of existing reserves
has now reached stage where most
careful elaboration is demanded. the
most urgent need for establishing such
/ reserves having been met" This is the
manner in which Commissioner Rich
ards OF The general land office takes
up the forest reserve question i'm his
annual report, just published. He con
tinues:
Both the Importance of the objects
to be accomplished by the reserves and
/ the many local interests TO be consid-
cred necessitates great care in pro-
ceeding further in this direction The
government can well afford. at this
Juncture to delay action in establish
ing additional reserves until the force
of forest experts now engaged upon
the work can, by practical field exam
nations and the necessary scientific re-
search, establish beyond reasonable
doubt in what localities and to what
extent further areas should be set
apart for this purpose.
ANApOAdAy WlIuQIdWdl-
The delay in determining what fur
| lher reserves viii be ultimately pro-
claimed has necessitated holding extern
slve areas temporarily withdrawn, in
order to prevent speculative appropria-
ton Of the lands in advance Of the
creation of the reserves. AS rapidly
as the reserves are finally established
these Withdrawals are revoked as re-
CARDS all lands not included therein
From June 30, 1905 to Oct. l. 1904. 3.6Se. -
900 acres were restored to the public
domain and thrown open TO settlement
and entry. All lands of this character
are thrown open to settlement as soon
as restored to the public domain, but
are not open to entry or selection until
after notice TO that effect has been
published for sixty days"
Legislation Recommended.
Commissioner Richards urgently
recommends the passage Of bill now
pending before congress. throwing open
to agricultural entry all lands within
forest reserves that are of such char
acter as can be farmed He thinks
such law would tend to put 10 good
use lands that now go to waste
Another bill. now pending authoriZ-
ing forest officers 10 make arrests for
violation OF the laws and regulations
relating to forest reserves is also
recommended for passage. The alb
sence of such authority has had a ten
dency to handicap the very men en-
trusted with the care Of great reserves.
The commissioner reviews his recon-
mendaton that congress enact ade-
quate legislation which will tend to
harmonic state legislation upon the
subject Of protection OF game and fish
ttrftl
ing divided jurisdiction over such re-
serves, and which would not encroach
upon the rights of the states TO control
the game and fish within their respec-
tive boundaries.
Sawmills in Reserves.
A considerable number Of permits
have been issued 10 persons of I'M
doubted character and responsibility
authorizing them TO install and operate
Sawmills within forest reserves where
conditions seemed to demand such ac-
ton. The results have justified such
action, says the commissioner. So far
as known, not one case has resulted
unfortunately. but on the contrary the
practice of locating such mills near
the cutting area la some cases has
tended TO promote a more economical
use of the timber better facilities for
supplying the products TO the consumer
and more satisfactory understanding
with all concerned 1t is said further
that this practice has resulted in more
careful methods iTE the management
and control of fires, and has furnished
corps Of trained assistants i'm cases
where fires have attained proportions
beyond the control of the forest Of
ficers.
The government last year realized
$58.436 from the sale of timber within
forest reserves, and has applications on
hand for large additional quantities
The timber sought and sold has been
largely dead, or infected with insects,
making its early destruction certain
Both classes of timber are undesira bic
in the reserves. and the government is
glad to sell It, ever at low prices.
Beginning to Understand.
People are rapidly coming to under
stand the free-use permit system in
procuring timber needed for individual
use Of settlers, miners prospectors and
residents, forehrewood, fencing. build
ing. mining, prospecting ana other do
mestic purposes. and the number who
take advantage of the privilege IS
some dissatisfaction expressed because
Of delays in securing these permits
but in most cases the delay has been
attributable to the settler.
Commissioner Richards states that in
the Black Hills forest reserve, in South
Dakota. where a great deal Of mature
timber is sold. the revenue has for
three years past been in excess of the
total outlay for the administration of
that reserve. He advocates an extern
sion Of the sale ard lease proposition.
SO that the government may make all
of its forest reserves seld-sustaining.
He believes a reasonable charge should
be made for the privilege of grazing
stock in reserves. The revenue that
should be derived from such 3 charge
would he says. be in proportion TO the
magnitude Of the great wool industry
in those localities; and there certainly
appears to be no good and sufficient
reason for allowing that industry use
Of the heritage within the reserves free
of charge while requiring that the lum-
DER trade shall pay for it's supplies
drawn from the same source.
There are also numerous SaWmillS,
hotels. road ranches, summer resorts.
stores and other establishments with