Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-28
TO SAVE THE FORESTS
Exposition Of the Govern
ment's Policy.
TN PEOPLES INTEREST
SOURCES OF THE LAND.
The Objects and Effect of Maintaining
Reserves - Mr.. Clifford Pin
chot's Statement.

Before any discussion of the forest re-
serve question in the west there should be
a clear understanding of the governments
policy in creating and managing these re-
serves said MIR. Clifford Pinchot, forester
of the bureau Of forestry.
Through ignorance OF this policy, pos
sibly justified in some measure by occa-
siohal mistaken Interpretation of it by over
jealous or incompetent officials many citi-
zens have objections to reserves which they
would be the first to drop if they understood
the true situation. The government has but
one aim in creating forest reserves-the best
permanent use of the land by the people
and the prevention of waste of any of its
resources.
1.-THE possible uses of most forest areas
are manifold. They may include the pro-
duction of lumber, or of mineral, or of
pasture, or the conservation of water. One
of these functions may be the most inn
pOrtant or all may be fairly well balanced,
but in any case the industries and resources
of a region or a state should be considered
as parts of a whole, each contributing to
and sharing the general good. Practically
every important industry in the inter-mOun-
tain states, whether mining, agriculture,
grazing or numbering, depends for its exis-
tence upon the forests of these states, and
the forests can serve all these interests best
only If placed under management which
will prevent undue promotion of one at the
expense of the aggregate good of all.
Abuse of Timber Resources.
"A trip through the white pine states of
the Great Lakes region, or through a hum
bred other once forested districts of the
world, will convince any man of the short
sighted abuse of timber resources and of
the effect of attendant forest fires on per-
manent prosperity. For while times are
good towns and railroads are built, farms
are cleared and prosperity is evident every
where, but ii does not last Only the best
timber is cut, while millions of dollars
worth of poorer material which in time
would be worth quite as much, is destroyed
by fires. These fires also kill all young
growth and seed trees and eventually turn
the land into a desert, which is Abandoned
by its owners and does not even pay taxes.
The mills are moved away, the towns ADAM
doned, the farmers find themselves without
"a market, and the enterprises, and some-
times even the counties, which were built
upon such unstable foundations, become
bankrupt This is not theory. 1t is history
written in lumber district after lumber dis
trict, not only all over the United States,
but throughout the world.
THE lumbermen were not TO blame; 1t
was only the natural outcome of conditions
which obliged them TO conduct their bust
ness in this way or lose money. The pri-
vate owner of timber often cannot afford
to do otherwise But the government can,
and this is the reason why every civilized
country in. the world, including our own,
has adopted the forest reserve system.
The Effect of Holding Reserves.
eff sufficiently large and well distributed
areas can be held as reserves, only the ma
ture timber cut, and the young growth pro-
tected from fires, there is no reason why
numbering should not be permanent and
profitable industry Small mills, scattered
over the timber districts will perpetuate local
prosperity, and the price of lumber to the
resident will be low. Without reserves the
present tendency toward syndicate owner
ship of all commercial timber is apt to re-
suit not only in wasteful use. but in the dis
appearance of the small mill and in high
prices for lumber.
Almost If not quite. as important is the
relation of forest reserves to mining which
absolutely requires an immense amount of
timber and a sustained supply of water, In
all cases its profits depend directly upon
the cheapness of these commodities. With
out protection from fire. and from enter
prising lumbermen who may acquire all the
timber around them and ship it out of the
states many important mining camps are
certain to be in serious straits in few
years
Objects to Be Maintained.
"One of the objects of forest reserves Is
to preserve the timber for its logical users.
Reserves do not make it more difficult for
miners to secure timber for prospectors
allowed Tree use OF all lLey ueeu, anu
large concerns can purchase as cheap or
cheaper than from private spectators.
There Is no intention Of working hardship
on legitimate industries, for the desire is
simply to secure the following objects:
II. Maintenance OF the area intact under
one management
"2 Establishment of fire protection.
"3. Preservation of resources for local
use.
~. Regulation, as far as practicable, of
grazing and timber cutting. SO as to pre-
vent waste and utilize the full production
of forest and range.
20. Protection of young growth so as to
insure future supply:
Prospecting and locating of mining
claims are in no way interfered with by
reserve regulations, for the mining laws
apply exactly as on the public domain |
Settlers and Others are allowed free all the i
timber they use. Reservoirs, roads, stores
and similar enterprises are permitted upon
application. Grazing by sheep and cattle is
prove necessary to preserve the range and |
protect settlers or others having rights of |
priority and equity from outside compe- |
tition
Examination Of the Land.
"While 1t IL true that many of the earlier |
reserves were established without investi-
CATION sufficient to prevent the inclusion of |
some agricultural land. this Is impossible
under the present system. Now the land
is carefully examined and mapped, and |
the lines are drawn to exclude all con-
siderable areas susceptible of settlement.
Small agricultural areas are provided for
in the legislation just recommended by the |
public lands commission. This system re- |
moves one of the strongest arguments |
which has been made against reserves. A
no less welcome change will be the pro- |
posed new policy OF reducing control from |
Washington to "a minimum and placing /
more authority In the hands of local Of |
fieers. who are familiar with their state con- |
ditions, and will thus be free to conduct |
the business promptly and acceptably to |
the people. unhampered by red tape. UNI
necessary restrictions and delay. To ac- |
cOmplish this end bill has been introduced |
in Congress to transfer the reserve manage
ment to the bureau of forestry, in the De-
partment OF Agriculture. and It's passage |
Will result in an immediate revision of the |
many cumbersome and restricting regula- /
tons which have caused dissatisfaction.
These two changes win remove practically |
all objections which are now urged against |
forest reserves. In Short the object OF the ]