The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-05-21
Continued from Page 81


storage unless assisted to the greatest
possible degree by forest storage And
the lands covered by the above statis-
tics lie almost wholly on streams rising
in the proposed forest reserves recon-
mended by the department OF agricul-
tuTe.
Hitherto. except in a few localities,
the various destructive agencies nave
not pushed back into the mountains far
enough TO denude the watersheds, and
perceptibly affect the flow of the
streams: therefore the water users,
while suffering from shortage already
have not learned the lesson of forest
protection through experiencing the
diminutiOn Of supply which follows de
stTuction Of the forest They realize
fully the obstacle to further develop
mcut of arid lands but base their cal
CulatiOns on the present stream flow
~-thOUt considering the even more SeTl-
Gus possibility Of the present supply
being diminished. It is for these rea-
sons that the water using classes Of
Idaho have not organized to secure
forest protection as much as they have
elsewhere, where the necessity has been
proved by bitter experience
Timber is Required.
'T need not argue that mining absO-
1Utely requires a sustained supply of
timber and water, and that its profits
~ greatly d4ttlAt.l l1 NllE fllSd press VI
btOh. TIE point is whether such IA
VOrable conditions are assured to those
who are spending their lives and money
10 develop this great industry Of Idaho
Experience has shown otherwise.
Countless camps have seen the timber
and water, second only 10 ore in ueceS-
SIty to their growth. either destroyed
by fire or diminished so as to greatly
imperiI their future. And now that
saWmiIls are becoming their active
competitors, many have not long to
wait before the supply which they con-
fdently relied on VIII be cut before
their eyes and shipped out of the state
No industry has more to gain than min
ing from a system which brings pToteC-
tioH against fire and Cwhile freely al
lowing timber to those who need and
have a right TO IT'D against waste and
unfair competition
But while forest reserves protect the
local consumer where the supply is
rightly his they do not iniuTe Iegiti-
mate numbering. On the contrary. one
Of their prime objects is to foster and
make permanent this industry. Much
Of Idaho especially the northern part,
Is ideally a. tImbeT-pTOdUCinE country.
II should maintain. for all time. a lum-
Der business which VIII employ thou
sands of men. bring vast wealth to the
state. and support a large dependent
population in towns and farms It Will
he great misfortune if Idaho repeats
the history of most other timber states
# its timber passes entirely into the
hands of few SyndicateS. and If these
employ tho usual methods of their
great wealth-immeuSe mills and
armies of men intent on the greatest
exploitation i'm the shortest Jime-the
permaueuCe of numbering i'm Idaho viii
be- doomed The small mill will disdp-
pear. the price of lumber to the miner
Inv
monopoly. and i'm a short time even the
big mills viii move away. leaving de
preston In every business following the
temporary abnormal stimulus. The
timber viii be cut while Idaho IS too
uudevelopcd To use much, therefore it
viii be shipped away When Idaho has
grown To need d large supply it viii be
gone
Forest Reserves Beneficial.
The object Of forest reserves is to
prevent this All the timber which can
be spared viii be- sold from them. and
this viii he enough TO support a large
numbering industry but the future viii
also be kept I'm miTsL The young tim,
Der viii he protected fires and waste
viii be prevented. and local demand
viii he insured permanent supply
SO closely allied with forest pTotec-
tiou that separation Is difficult. is the
cattle grazing is the source OF much of
ldaho'S wealth. and the summer range
is usually IN the regions where forest
reserves are recommended Fortunate
~, however, the establishment OF re-
serves IS an advantage. not an injury to
this interest While the early policy
was not always sufficiently liberal the
government NOW recognizes the i'm
pnTtdnCe OF this subject. and desires
instead Of hamDeTiuC the use Of the
summer range To bring il TO its highest
permanent utility on the public do
main. unrestricted grazing competition
has generally resulted in disadvantage
10 the small stock owners and deteriOr-
alton in the carrying Cauacity Of the
range which Is realized too late to pre-
vent permanent injury Upon forest
reserves the aim IS 20 allow all the
grazing either of sheep or cattle, which
VIII not decrease next years supply
and To- allot it on an equitable basis
The settler Is protected first Of all and
others considered according TO their
rights or priority and location
These, then are the present objects
nf forest reserves What valid Objcc-
ZION can he urged against them
Whether it Is successful depends upon
the administration of the reserves and
upon the cooperation of the citizens of
Idaho On Feb l. 1903. the adninfstra-
ton was transferred 10 the department
Gf agriculture. and the forest service of
that department has nearly COMPLETED
q revision of the regulations upon an
entirely new policy. Control from
Washington viii he reduced and much
more authority given To the local Off
GERS Being ON the ground and familiar
with local conditions. they viii he able
10 do business promptly without DELAY
Of correspondence and red tame. The
present policy IS based upon tho use Of
the reserves by the pe0nIe with ONLY
such restrictions as are necessary to in
sure the fullest use.
Free for Settlers.
The regulations provide for free use
by settlers and proSpectors of ali the
material they need. Large consumers
can purchase as freely and as cheaDIv
as from private spectators. although
they must not destroy the growth
which viii provide a second crop The
mining laws apply exactly as they do
tn outside reserves Private enter
prlSeS, like reservoirs bitches. taIe-
phone lines, stores and summer re-
sorts. are allowed upon application
Grazing is regulated only 50 far as
necessary to prevent destruction of the
range or unfair competition Better
pay viii be given forest officers and
better men secured Tor the service
Forest reserves not only do not hin
der development but they actually as
SiSt u in many ways For exaruuIa
outside OF them there is usually uo Te-
Ultimate way to get timber cvreDt bv
buying the land. which cannot be done
unless IL is surveyed Cutting ON nm
surveyed land Is usually treSpa-S. pun