The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-07
SAVE And AUGMENT
GROWTH OF FORESTS
American Congress FormuIates
a Plan to Attain This
Object

eounS- iHe iSSolutiOfS as adopted urge
on all legislative bodies full protection
and preservation of the forests; ade-
quate legislative protection of forests
from hire, and reduction of the burden
OF taxation on lands held for forest re-
production so as to induce forest con-
servation; repeal of the timber and
stone act and enactment of substitute
authorizing the proper federal officer to
sell timber growing on public lands
When the sale shall be for the public
welfare; congressional action combining
exchanges of lands within forest re-
serve or lieu selection to lands of eauiv-
aren't value or of similar forest growth
conoition; immediate consolidation OF
all government forest work in the de-
partment of agTiculture; legal author
1ty for the sale of all n-mineral prod
ucts OF the forest reserves, the proceeds
10 20 De applied to the management of
the reserves and road and trail con-
struction within the reserves. reneaI of
the law prohibiting export of forest re-
serve tlmDer from the state in which it
IS grown so far as it concerns states
IN which such exports are in the public
interest; tree planting and preserya-
tlon OF shade trees along public high
ways throughout America; increase of
opportunities for general forest educa-
- SNoS1ttOlitl and GX-
tension and systematizing of industrial
education; congressional appropriations
10 promote forest education and exper-
lment work in all agricultural colleges
and experimental stations of the United
States; immediate purchase of the CAL
aVeras grove Of big trees by the ma
tlonaf government and reconveyance
OF the Yosemite park by California to
the ndllohal government.
Forfeit Right of Way
The resolutions favor the proposi-
tion that congress declare forfeited all
right of way permits not exercised
promptly on issuance and grant to all
industries engaged in lawful business.
and which will promptly use their per-
mus, the possession or necessary
rights of way similar to those of rail-
roads and irrigating companies, rea-
sonable payment to be exacted for the
use or rights of way on forest reserves
and other public lands; that all
scnoois, especially rural, should study
forest and tree planting in their ef-
feet on national welfare, particularly
through the modification of local eli
mate and that all state legislatures
provide laws and financial aid to con-
sol1date the rural schools in units suf-
nc1ently large that forestry, agricuI-
ture and home economies may be sue
cessfully taught by precept, example
ana practical work; amendment of the
homestead law to require the planting.
under the supervision of the forestry
bureau, OF at least per cent of the
area OF the homestead before final til
tie Is acquired; that Oklahoma be en-
powered to offer occupants of school
lands reasonable reduction of the
realty tax during a stipulated growing
period of tree windbreaks. so as to Sc
cure greater crop capacity through
wind protection; protesting against
the attempted reduction of the area of
the Minnesota national forest reserve.
Seth Bullock Is Heard
The Importance of public forest
lands to mining was the theme of the
morning meeting. A. L. Fellows, con-
sultlng engineer of the government re-
clamation service, discussed the de-
yelopment of water power as related
to forest reserves.
DR.. David T. Day, chief of the dfvi-
sion OF mineral resources of the United
States geological survey, who presid-
ed, contended that it was no longer
necessary to give coal, asphalt and 9TH
er mineral lands in government domain
practically free to prospectors, and
said that the government should apply
some such regulations to govern the
sales and leases of these public min
belonging to Indians.
Capt. Seth Bullock, of South Dakota.
supervisor of the Black Hills forest re-
serves, discussed the effect of consery-
at1ve forest reserve administration on,
mining development He pointed out
how, in the successful prosecution of
the work required to make mine pro-
ductive and remunerative to it's owner,
the use of forest timber is an absolute
necessity. A veritable forest has been
used under ground in the mines of the
Black Hills during the few years they
have been in operation. In addition
large quantities of timber, Capt Bull
lock said, are required on the surface.
Large sums of money have been ex-
pended in supplying the stamp mills or
reduction works with water derived
from mountain streams, the continu-
GUS flow of which is dependent on the
and maintenance of the
forest conditions at their source That
the cutting of timber upon the public
domain should be permitted only under
wise legislation is a self-evident fact,
approved of by every one acquainted
with the subject. When no restrictions
We're placed upon it, these cuttings had
nearly all resulted in the total disap-
pearance of the forest. "The preserva-
ton and propagation of the timber will
not, in my opinion, retard mining, but,
on the contrary, materially assist it."
Attacks Public Lands Committee
A sensational address was made by
George. H. Maxwell, the executive
chairman of the national irrigation
congress, who spoke as delegate from
California. He scored congress for it's
refusal to repeal the timber and stone
act and declared that the house public
lands committee, the Western mem
bers of which he alleged had deliber-
ately prevented action on the measure
and thus allowed, the stealing to con-
tinue, should be held up to public
obloquy and lashed at the carts tail
with the whip of outraged national
sentiment. He took issue with a state
ment in President Roosevelt's address
yesterday by saying that if the for
ests were left to the West they would
continue to be Skinned" but added.
1t is to Eastern sentiment and such
men as Theodore Roosevelt and Grover
Cleveland that we owe forest reserves
and protection" Mr.. Maxwell added:
Last year, with 175,000 acres in the
Chippewa Indian reservation, Mime
sofa, the stumpage alone was sold. and
the government realized $15.O6 an acre.
still owning the land. At this rate the
government lost, under it's disposal OF
100000 acres through the timber and
stone act since President Roosevelt's
in December, 1902, recon-
nending it's repeal, $38, SIS, 900, beside
losing control of the land. But the ma