Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-01-12
Colorado Prac.
ticins Forestry
THE STATE TO CREATE A sepA.
RATE DEPARTMENT TO CON.
TRoL ITS FORESTS AND BUILD
UP ITS INDUSTRIES.

W political platforms In Colorado
contain a declaration favorius the
creation OF a state department of for.
estry. This II carried into effect by
the legislature will notably benefit
both the state and forestry, siuce the
general welfare OF Colorado Is pc.
culiarly dependent upon the rigid care
and protection of its forests. Almost
one'third OF the total area of that
state, or $4,000 square miles. is wood.
land. of which about 10000 square
miles are covered with valuable tim.
Der This is chiefly pine, although
cedar, hemlock, spruce, fir and other
species are also found In merchant.
able size and quantity. But the great.
est value of the Colorado forests is In
their promotion of agriculture through
irrigation. Already there are nearly
2%,ooo,0oo acres of farm lands under
irrigation, but great stretches of
country are still to be redeemed. This
can not be done unless the watersheds
OF the state In the mountains and hills
are vigorously kept under forest cover.
The grazing and lumber industries.
as now conducted, and the rayages Of
fires are against the forests. The
numbering and still more the grazing
interests of the state are too valuable
not to receive careful consideration
each, and more particularly the latter.
must be carefully and judiciously reg
ulated with two ends in view-their
W. welfare and continuation. and the
protection of the forests. As for fire
1t Is the same deadly enemy in Colo.
RADIO as in other large forested areas.
and restraining regulations must be
enacted and enforced.
FOREST preservation is a vast econ.
omic question intimately interviewer
with many other matters OF vital state
concern, but II Is a question with a
distinct field of research and demands
specialized inquiry, enactment, and
jurisdiction. Hence the necessity for
the creation Of a state department of
forestry. Through it all local work
can most effectively be done. and II
also furnishes an agency through
which the state may come into closer
touch with The national bureau of for
estry and thus secure advice based
on a wide range of investigation.
The federal government has out
something over 5000, 900 acres of the
pubic land on the watersheds under
forest reserve, In addition, agents OF
the bureau OF forestry have, within
the past two years, made careful
studies of both these reserves and
other public forests of the state. TO
the end that The federal forest re-
serves may accomplish the greatest
possible good. But 5000, 600 acres
are d SildA part OF the Zl.44O, 900
acres of woodland in Colorado. All
the remaining $4,000, 900 or more
acres are to a greater or less extent
important In conserving the irriga.
zion and farming future of the state.
It is, therefore, fortunate that Colo
RADIO seems likely to handle its for
ests in this practical way, the only
way by which the best results can
be accomplished.
Such action will increase TO twelve
the number OF states which have
created separate departments OF for.
estry. Yearly and daily the import
ance of understanding and guarding
the forest, which stands in close rela-
tions TO many and varied indus ries,
Is growing. Each state which adds
the weight of its official action gives
new impetus to the movement which
aims to secure the largest usefulness
of our forests In the interest Of the
public welfare. Other lates, palt.c-