East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-01-12

Two political platforms in Colorado |
contain declaration favoring the
creation of state department of for
estry. This, II carried into effect by
the legislature, will notably benefit
both the state and forestry. since the
general welfare of Colorado is pecu-
liarly dependent upon the rigid care
and protection of its forests.
Almost one-third of the total area
of that state. or $500 square miles,
is woodland, of which about 10000
square miles are covered with valua-
BILE timber This is chiefly pine. al
though cedar, hemlock, spruce, fir
and other. species are also found in
merchantable size and quantity.
But the greatest value of the Colo
rado forests Is in their promotion of
agriculture through irrigation. AL
ready there are nearly 100000 acres
of farm lands under irrigation, but
great stretches of country are still
to be redeemed. This cannot 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 ravages 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 judi
/ ciously regulated with two ends in
view-their own welfare and contin
uation, and the protection of the for
ests. AS for fire, it is the same dead
| ly enemy in Colorado as in other large
/ forested areas, and restraining regu
| lations must be enacted and enforced.
Forest preservation is a vast econ
omic question, intimately interviewer
with many other matters of vital state
concern, but it is a question with a
/ distinct field of research and de-
mands specialized inquiry, enactment
and jurisdiction. Hence the necessi-
ty for the creation of a state depart
ment of forestry.
Through it all local work can most
effectively be done. and it furnishes
an agency through which the state
may come into closer touch with the
national bureau of forestry and thus
secure advice based on a wide range
of investigation.
The federal government has put
something over 100000 acres of the
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 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 100000 acres are small part
of the 21,44O,O00 acres of woodland in
Colorado. All the remaining $4,000
600 or more acres are to a greater
or less extent important in conserV-
ing the irrigation and farming future
of the state. 1t is therefore fortunate
that Colorado seems likely to handle
its forests in this practical way, the
only way by which the best results
can be accomplished.
Such action will increase to IL the
number of states which have created
separate departments of forestry
Yearly and daily the importance OF
understanding and guarding the for
est which stands in close relations t'
many and varied industries, is grow
ing.
Each state which adds the weigh
of it's official action gives new i'm
petus to the movement which aims u
secure the largest usefulness of ou
forests in the interest of the public
, welfare.