Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-08
COLORADO AND THE
FOREST RESERVES IDEA
Platforms OF Both Political Parties Proclaim
ia Favor of Separate Department to
Look After and Preserve the
States Timber.

Two political platforms iE Colorado
contain declaration favcring the Gre
alton CT State department OF forestry.
This, If carried into effect by the Leg
islaturc. will notably benefit both the
State and forestry, since the general
welfare OF Colorado is peculiarly de
pendent upor the rigid care and pro
tc:tiCn OF its forests. Almost one-thiri
of tho total area Of that State, or 49,.
5tl'' square miles. is woodland, of which
about 10000 square miles are covered
,H;t,l valuable timber This is chiefly
pine, although, cedar, hcmlock spruce.
mr. and ether species are also found in
understandable size and quantity But
inc greatest value Of the Colorado for
ests is in their promotion OF agricul-
turc through irrigation Already there
arc nearly 1000 900 acres Of farm lands;
under irrigation. but great stretches
III country arc sill to tc redeemed.
This cannot be done unless, the water
shc'lS OF tue State in the mountains
and hills arc vigorously kept undc,.
forest cover
The grazing and lumber industries.
as now conducted, and the ravares of
'ires arc against the forests. The lem
boring and still more the grazing inter.
sstS ct tho State arc too valuable net
10 receive careful consideration. Each.
ana more particularly tho latter. must
he carefully and lu;llciously regulated
win Two ends i'll view-their own vel
1are and continuation ana the protcc-
ton CT the forests. AS fer fire. il is
me same deadly enemy in Colorado a.;
III Other large fcrcstcd areas. and re-
slralnins regulations n,uss be enacted
and enforced.
Forest preservation is vast eco
nomic question intimately interviewer
with many ether matters Of vital
STATE concern. bnt it is question with
Il instinct field Of research and de
,aands specialized inquiry, enactment
and Jurisdiction. Hence the necessity
1or the creation OF a State department
of forestry. hrongh it all local work
$3.50 'i'o'e SiASSllNElN nc QoNc, diiG IL
also furnishes IN agency through
which the Stale may como inJo closer
tonsh with the National Bureau of Fer
cstry and thus secure advice based on
wide range Of investigation.
The Fedora. government has prt
soE'cthing over 100000 acres Of he
public land on the watersheds under
forest reserve. In addition, agents of
the Bureau Of Forestry have. within
the past Two years. made careful
studies II boil, these reserves and 9th.
or public forests CT the State to the
end that the Federal forest reserves
may accomplish the greatest possihla
s;cou. Rut 3.eG0 600 acres are !, small
part Of the 2!.44n,0oo acres of wood
land III Colorado. All the remaining
ls.or0c coo CT more acres are 10 {;
greater or less extent Important in
conserving h. irrigation. and farmin,
l'iture Ct the State. 1t is. therefore.
fortunate that Colorado seems likely
10 han'ile its forests III this pra ctlcal
%ay. HE only way by which the best
results can he accomplished.
Such action will increase to l2 the
lu'hlcr of States which have created
separate DEPARTMENTS OF forestry.
Yearly and daily tho Importance cf IN
dcrstanding and guarding the forest.
which stands III close relations to
many and varied industries is grow
ms Each State which adds The
Weight Of its official action gives now
''npetrs 10 tl,, movement which aims
tc secure the largest usefulness Of o,;r
ior"st; IN the interest Of the public.
welfare Other States, particularly
sEcse whose forests arc among their
greatest resources. could do nothing
more practically beneficial. to their fiji.
\ lure than quicklysto follow the policy
new demanded ty the people Of Colo.
RADIO.