Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-07
FOREST LANDS AND
MINING INDUSTRY.
To Make Mines Productive the
Use of Forest Timber is An
Absolute Necessity.
SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY.
Largely Dependent on the Forests -'
Geo. Il, Maxwell Attacks Land Laws
Forestry Congress AdjOurns,

washington, Jan, G-The Importance
of public forest lands TO mining was the
theme of the morning meeting OF the
concluding session of the American
vbrestry congress. A. l.. Fellows. con-
aIting engineer Of the government
reclamation service, discussed the de-
yelopment Of water power as related to
forest reserves lie contended that the
forest areas should be reserved by the
government and should not be left In
the unregulated domain of the United
states.
Or. David n Day, chief Of the diyi-
sion of mineral resources of the United
states geological survey, contended that
twas no longer necessary to give coal,
asphalt and other mineral lands in gov
emment domain free TO prospectus and
SAID that the government should apply
some such regulations to govern the
sales and leases of these public mineral
lands as are applied to the lands be-
longing TO INDIANS
Capt Seth Bullock of South Dakota,
supervisor OF the Black HIS forest
reserve. discussed he question, "Will
the Administration Of the Forest Re-
serves ON a Consel vatiye Basis Retard
Mlning?' 10 arrh g properly az a 80
ution Of this question, he said II would
be necessary flfst to determine TO what
extent the mine is dependent on the
forest and ia discussing the matter
he referred chiefly TO conditions eN-
lsng ln the Black Hlls forest reserve
win which he $ thoroughly familiar
He then pointed out how IN the sue
ccesful prosecution OF the work required
20 make mine productive and remun-
erative to It's owners the use Of forest
timber is an absolute necessity.
elt could be truly said that a yeritable
forest has been used underground in
the miens of the Black Hills during the
few years they have been I'm operation.
In addition to the timber used UNDER
ground I'm precious metal mining large
quantities" capt. Bullock said, "are re-
quired ON the surface in the erection of
one reduction works and buildings re-
oured to house the machinery neces-
sary In conducting the business of the
mine.
1.-THE question Of an ample supply Of
water he said, lis an important one
I'm the business az mining In the Black
Hills. Large sums Of money have been
expended Ia supplying the stamp mills
N reduction works with water derived
from mountain streams, the continuous
Now OF which is dependent ON the pre-
saryaUQn and maintenance of the for~
ed conditions at their source,
III follows then, that the forest and
steam are dependent each upon the
other and successful mining upon both
The dependency Of the mine upon the
forest having been established, the
question arises, what is the best plan
for securing permanent supply Of the
necessary timber? My reply s intelll-
gent and practical forestry which can
best be obtained under forest reserva-
ton laws administered with business
like methods. our system Of forest res
eryation, as at present conducted has
been established but a short time, the
first public timber sale under II having
been made In November 1900. Since
then giant strides have been made in
projecting the forest from waste dep
relation and FIRE, and the pronounced
benefits arising are apparent TO tho
most casual observer.
THE present system could be Inn
proved upon by replanting and re-
forestng," said Capt Bullock, in
successful forestry there should be u
seed time as well as q harvest. De-
nuied areas I'm and adjoining the re-
serves, suitable TO the gorwlng of tim
her should be then planted with trees
adapted TO climate and soil, This with
practical administration Of the forest
reserves m administration beneficial
alike To the forest and the mine, one
that takes into consideration not only
the preservation and propagation Of the
timber but the necessities Of the mine
rs we'll and gives the latter the most
liberal treatment compatible with the
t9manoncy OF he forest, will not IN
my opinion retard mining, hut, on the
contrary materially assist IT,"
j, GrIer superintendent OF the
homestake Mining company Of South
Dakota, made several suggestions as
o how forest reserves help mining. He
recommended that the government
give away for the taking an the dead
and down and insect ridden timber now
told or from the government lands.
sensational address was made by